17. Keeping 'em Flying: Tomcat Technicians

The AWG-9 radar was one of the systems that made the #tomcat a remarkable #fighter when it was introduced. The #radar offered exceptional range and multi-shot capability, but required specialized #maintenance to operate at full capability.
On this episode, former #usnavy Aviation Electronics Technicians Barry Shumate and John Kovar provide a different perspective on the beloved #f14tomcat, including training, schools, and the shenanigans they pulled once in awhile.

[@jim-gb7sj]

Former AE3, good story first day in my squadron (HT-8). WC 140 needed an AE so I went directly to the shop. Got a 1 hour training program. I picked up my clipboard and started my inspection. I told the guys I was going to power up the helo and check all the lights. I pulled the appropriate circuit breakers and turned on the battery master. I heard a whining sound and noticed guys jumping off the helo. A hand came into the cockpit and switched off the master. I noticed the main rotor had started to turn (in the hangar). The starter relay had frozen in the on position. The chief said God###### we don't start the helicopters in the God#### hanger now get back out there and don't f### up again. That was in 1973 and today I'm a retired pilot telling Navy stories. A great way to start out adulthood.

[@Tyrannosaurus_STFU_III]

This popped up as I'm watching "The Final Countdown".... Appreciate you giving the maintainers some love finally. I was an I lvl engine mech for the Prowlers J52... it's not an easy job.

[@darrenschultz3572]

Oh the memories. 11 years on Tomcats until I was forced to work on Hornets. VF-213 as my first command, nights worked an avg of 14 hrs a night. The kapton wiring sucked, a lot of wiring gripes. I was in 213 when they went from A’s to D’s that was nice. Hulbert was there so we were forced to keep the jets in good shape. Went to VF-101 as my second command. One of the memorable “work” related things there was every Sunday night we would have to do an “All shops turn” on all the jets that were on Mondays FLT SCHD. Since I was a low-power quailed AE, on some Sundays I would read 5 ADB’s, take notes on some specific things to check, turn those 5 jets, going from one to the next, getting any surprises fixed on the turns, and then going back to maintenance to debrief the chiefs and read more books to turn more jets. Repeating until all the jets on the sched were checked. I truly enjoy the episodes.

[@user-kn6sz8ji1j]

Sub Guy here...Around 1968 my older brother was an AT with a Super Constellation Recon squadron in Da Nang, Vietnam. Since he was 17 when he graduated from H.S., he enlisted on a kiddie-cruise for 3 years. He said that it got interesting when you were working on an aircraft during a rocket attack. After my sub service, I worked at shipyard in electronics and we had a big intern who was on his college football team. He was tasked with going to comms on a carrier and removing some transmitters from a rack which he did. The only thing was that he didn't disconnect the cannon plugs before hand. Hopefully his football career turned out better than the several cables that had to be rewired.

[@daledassel5658]

As a retired Air Force E7 jet engine troop, I really appreciated this episode. Aircraft always seemed to break the same things repeatedly. Old school technology. B52G/H and KC135A/Q in my case. Great show guys! Thanks.

[@dennisstephenson3674]

I was with AT1 Kovar at the time in VF-14 Tophatters in 1997 and he was always good for a good laugh. It was good to hear where he went and did after VF-14

[@TomcatMMCO]

Great Stuff! Good times serving with John in VF-102.

[@tzisme]

The Navy knows how turn a phrase, " They looked at him like he invented fire." Well done.

[@D5Pasadena]

This was such a funny episode! "...and the other ATs looked at him like he just discovered fire." 😂

[@SAINTCR33P]

Very enjoyable watch! It was funny to hear how "percussive maintenance" was something that actually worked on Tomcats sometimes 😂

[@Sugarmountaincondo]

I am a former surface Navy veteran who specialized in ASW and this was a great show for me to watch, well really just listening. I learned a lot about one of the other subsets of the U.S.N., the Airpower component. A lot of people don't realize that there are different navies all within the U.S.N. When I was in you had your CV/CVN guys and then BB guys, then Surface warfare CGN/CG/DD/DDG/DLG/FG/FFG guys, then the Gator Freighter guys LPD/LHA/LST/LHD/LSD and Bubbleheads which were broken down further into Attack or Boomer guys SSN/SSBN, then support people AS/AD/USNS and of course the Air Det people. As far as us surface warfare types, we didn't associate with any other subset in the navy as we thought we were the "shit" and we had our own little fights amongst ourselves as to who's ship was better. Even when we embarked an H-3 LAMPS Det, they stuck to themselves, and we left them alone too. I had a similar incident at MEPS where the school I wanted was only available for Nuke Subs and I didn't want to go underwater so the MEPS guy says let's call your recruiter, so we did, he wasn't in the office that Saturday, so I talked with one of the other recruiters and he said to just sign it and we'll get it changed later. I thought that sounded fishy and when I told the MEPS detailer, he was honest and told me that once I put my John Hancock on that contract, I would be going Subs like it or not. I could have turned my back on the Navy at that point and gone back home, but I ended up staying 1 more night and we went into the system again and I got the A-School I wanted but had to stay in Delayed Entry for another 9-months, which all counted as time in service for pay raises back then.

[@LRRPFco52]

1:101:57 Discussion about MMH/FH. When I looked at Navy fleet numbers from 1973-2003 for the F-14A/B/D, they varied from 40-60hrs, didn’t matter about the model. From what I’ve seen for Super Hornets, it ranged from 11-22hrs, which about mirrors the F-16, not counting pods or ancillary systems.

[@tims4539]

I suggested to Jello (FPP) a couple of times to have a show like this, sort of an insight into what goes on between sorties. Thanks Tom Cat crew for presenting it and thanks to FPP for picking it up and showing it!

[@FighterPilotPodcast]

You’re welcome 😇

[@tomwilson1006]

The F-14 Tomcast was such a great series, and I just wish it would come back bcuz the demand is there, and it’s a recipe for success!

[@FighterPilotPodcast]

Hold that thought a few months…

[@cantonmotors]

I too was a music major without enough discipline at 18. I ended up as a Marine Hornet version of a Navy AD aboard Harry Truman next to VF-32.

[@vspecnurr34]

Absolutely awesome episode, ground crews bring the best laughs 🤣👍

[@rwhsr8152]

AIMD Vast operator 83-86, AT3 NAS Miramar here

[@LRRPFco52]

This is what I’ve been looking forward to for many years. Thanks gents!

[@FighterPilotPodcast]

Gladly. 👍

[@paulgriffith3549]

You guys can cuss all you want. It doesn't bother me. I would rather hear you speak freely, and not have to worry about offending others! Great stuff guys!

[@weidles]

I love all of you guys and the stories.

[@patrickwelsing3308]

This was awesome! Thank you guys for doing what you do. I love aviation and I love hearing the stories.

[@oldgoat142]

Oh, I do so much appreciate all of your work but especially this episode. I was a proud maintainer, (AT), of this beautiful bird with VF-142 back in the mid 80s. I LOVED my job, both at the O-level and in AIMD, (VAST shop). I really felt like part of a team from the CO on down. Can't tell you the number of great stories that I was part of, or that were shared with me. Thank you so much for this.

[@thecatdaddy1974]

Still love re-watching this episode, these guys tell great stories.

[@dennisstephenson3674]

Crunch, I knew you looked familiar too me. I was in VF-31 on the last cruise with you and the Blacklions

[@Jollyrogerdoc]

Barry! Get a hold of me about VF-84 reunions! I was HM2 Desert Storm era Jolly Rogers.

[@dcorbett1961]

Awesome episode!!

[@mike28003]

Omg the drop resets we used to fix loadxs on the hornets the same way either a drop reset or a hammer reset lol.

[@indy500tabasco8]

👽👽👽👽best aviation channel👽👽👽👽

[@JarrodFLif3r]

Former AT3 here also....mostly worked on P3 COM stuff despite by NEC being for encryption stuff(that stuff didn't break :)

[@mikejohnson280]

Fantastic show!

[@FighterPilotPodcast]

Thanks, Mike. 👍

[@johnd.8224]

LPO, AQ shop, Friday night & zero birds to work. Lots of annoyed/po'd crews. I asked MO to secure,, but he would not approve of same. After some time the guys tied me up like a mummy with all kinds of rope, wire, and safety wire the put me on the service counter and left. MO kept calling down for me to come to his office. I kept telling him I was tied up. Finally after a couple of hours he came to the shop, opened the door, saw me, shut the door and went back to his office with nothing said. Soon the mid check LPO came in and after a lot of laughter he got me untied. Found out later the calls from the MO were to tell me to secure the shift.

[@FighterPilotPodcast]

😅

[@mike28003]

You guys need to do plane captains

[@darrenschultz3572]

Day-o ( for the Night Checker, hope you don’t mind this) Daycheck come and we wan’ to go home. Work all night on wi-ing sweep, Daycheck come and we wan’ to go home. Fix 5 gripes, 6 gripes, 7 gripes, Eight. Daycheck come and we wan’ to go home. Work all night on Pi-tot (airspeed) leak. Daycheck come and we wan’ to go home. Work …

[@johnd.8224]

My golf score on a hole... pair of pars!

[@nathanfisher1826]

Thanks Gentlemen 😊

[@dougstitt1652]

Top of the helmet and a middle finger . That is a killer

[@EricNault-qg7ni]

I wonder why so many ex -military maintenance folks don't go on and get A&P LIcense,unless they are not. really that. mechanìcally inclined, especially piston engines

[@tcb7864]

🤗

[@sleepydog223]

I teached English good. Quick wit.