Abandoned F-14's and F-4

[@michaelmckinnon1591]

The F-14 Tomcats should be on the airshow circuit and the F-4 Phantom IIs as well, they were such a pleasure to fly and it's a real shame that future generations won't be able to see those beautiful warbirds flying.

[@sirboomsalot4902]

@@alman5568 Better than the new overpriced pieces of junk we have today

[@thegreatbedoof3460]

@@alman5568 Hope u know the F14 was way ahead of it's time with AIM 54 that not even majority of aircrafts today can carry

[@v0id683]

@@alman5568 Oh man the tomcat boos are fumin :D great aircraft on paper but is a devil to the maintenance crew and pilots

[@vice88]

@@v0id683 Someone who finally knows what they’re talking about.

[@iTzAlbertXD]

Nah US could think about this before they scrap all the Navy's F14

[@take5th]

I was a structural design engineer on the f-14 program in mid-1980s. Can’t believe they just left titanium wing box ‘ pivots, one piece windshield canopy casting (a first at the time), the old refueling boom door cover (I redesigned it), and other once considered state of the art structural parts. Kinda wish I had a chunk of it myself.

[@GameBoyyearsago]

Then Make It Happen Sir : )

[@alimahvan]

Let's, you and I go get one of the cockpits. I'm looking for a dead cat to turn into a flight simulator - I'll gladly put you in as well. 1500 hrs flight time in the A & B variants.

[@cipherthedemonlord8057]

I'll bring my tools and brother's impact wrench.

[@Mike-gz4xn]

It’s the military. Waste fraud and abuse. High turnover for positions equals lack of accountability even with the best intentions.

[@raoulman1]

Hi, you made good job, this plane is absolutly beautiful, very elegant. Have you blueprints to share ?

[@RobertGarcia-wb4hy]

I once read that at the boneyard, where most of these planes go to finally rest, one of the last things they do is to run the engines to drain the lines of any remaining fuel. As any remaining fuel wears out, the engines chug, chug... as if she were gasping for air. Sad stuff for such a beautiful bird.

[@ramosel]

I flew the Tomcat (A&B models) with VF-102... Diamondbacks, Baby! This is one of those things that just makes you sick in the pit of your stomach. That the old girls were just stripped, dumped, left to rot. I will hate Cheney until the day I die. They were great planes and deserved better. I'm sure my buddy cLyDe would say the same thing about his beloved F4.

[@raykupal]

ramosel I hear yah! He's a dick! That Cheney guy!

[@ramosel]

In history, two great planes (SR-71 and F-14) were taken down by the most evil of devices... red pen of the SECDEF. McNamara and Cheney...

[@anthonysaponaro6318]

They were taken down by maintenance costs because pilots didn't know how to not beat the piss out of them and who can honestly blame them but what the F-14 unique was also one of it's major weaknesses . . . . . it cost more to repair them sometimes than to just build a brand new one

[@msrx08]

Hi Ramosel, for sure you know probably that Ferrari's logo was the logo of Francesco Baracca, Italian ace of the 1st World War. Once he was downed, Francesco Baracca's mother asked Enzo Ferrari to use the simbol of her son on hes cars. Ferrari accepted and the spirit of Baracca still run today.

[@ramosel]

Yep, I've read much about the Cavallino Rampante,

[@lebaillidessavoies3889]

This titanium wing attachement pivot on the F14 is massive.Beautiful piece of engineering.

[@qu4ttro0]

shame thats the same beautiful piece that killed the plane.

[@kittytrail]

chinese smelter feed those are now... 🙄

[@danielmarshall4799]

These were used as Static Dispays at one time. You can see towards the end of the video the pedestal the F-4 sat on. I know because as a Crane Operator, I have set a few aircraft on pedestals including of few dispays on Kelly in 1998 and the display inside of the Park in Texas City, Texas along skyline drive.

[@johnfry9010]

My guess they were taken down to put up a BLM , or maybe a Rainbow Flag in their place !

[@falkwulf3842]

That is a possibility, but the other possibility is that the two Tom's were the missing airframes that two separate smuggling rings were selling to Iran in the early to mid 2000's Officials told of one instance in 2000, where a company called Multicore bought the fighters and parts from the Department of Defense surplus office. The parts were later confiscated because of export control violations and returned to the surplus office the airframes were never recovered. However, another company, allegedly Iranian, bought the same parts in 2005. Those parts actually made it to Iran. Defense officials at the time publicly said that Tehran is said to be in search of several key components for its aging fleet of F-14 “Tomcat” jets, which the United States sold to Iran prior to its 1979 Islamic Revolution. These parts include electronics and hydraulics used to control the wing, guidance and control system, J85 engines, Vulcan 20mm cannon and ammunition drums, and Sparrow medium-range missiles. Members of Congress put pressure on the U.S. military to suspend the selling of F-14 parts. Rep. Christopher Shays called the cases “a huge breakdown, an absolute, huge breakdown.” He said “the military should not sell or give away any F-14 parts. If we no longer need it, it needs to be destroyed-totally destroyed.”

[@fastmoverfixer2089]

As a former F4-E and F-111A/F maintainer it very sad to see these Aircraft broken and forgotten! So many of us used up our youth maintaining them!

[@tolugo87]

In my opinion, F4 Phantoms were one of the most beautiful aircrafts ever made!

[@phantomf4747]

I 100% concur sir. She's a beauty.

[@TralfazConstruction]

Concur. For me, growing up in the late-'50s and throughout the '60s, it's the F-4 Phantom and the F-105 Thunderchief at the pinnacle of my favorite aircraft.

[@xisotopex]

as a kid making models, I loved the F4 and knew everything about it

[@Squiddicus2]

Not a fan of the F4s airframe but it’s a damn awesome plane

[@yan24to]

Still are for sure.

[@darthbaker820]

I worked on these aircraft from 1988 to 1996 in the Navy as an electronics tech and worked on them later as a civilian contractor upgrading them. Loved that aircraft! Sure miss those beautiful birds on the flightline.

[@anchorjam5590]

If they were mine, I would turn them into home cockpit simulators so that the legacy of these beautiful machines could live on in spirit

[@Major_Tamre_Colby]

Or to preserve them. Tamre'

[@FastPaull]

That was literally my first thought

[@earlwyss520]

My thoughts exactly, but in their current condition, I'd rather see them recycled into something useful.

[@apollolander11]

Simply amazing....thanks so much for posting. People talk about how"ugly " the F-4s were,but to me they were beautiful aircraft

[@TheJer1963]

When you say people talking about ugly I believe you meant to say the A-10 as it was not called the Warthog for nothing.

[@whiskyweasal89]

I always thought the f-4’s looked pretty badass myself.

[@HomeDefender30]

@@whiskyweasal89 agreed… other than the F-14, the F4 is the next best looking aircraft.

[@whclcdr]

Incredible....and such a shame. I was a back seater in one of these mighty warbirds. It breaks my heart of see these birds like this.

[@ErikJohnston]

William Collins Thank you for your service!!!!

[@aeenramirez]

me too, im still crying... i dont know how say.... damn to Dick Cheney damn..........

[@chris1451]

What does Dick Cheney have to do with it?

[@WootTootZoot]

Dick Cheney pushed for big cuts to the Navy and USAF.

[@mikemac2888]

Unlike the F-4 shooting gallery in the desert as target drones?

[@Elev8minh]

THIS IS CRIMINAL TO SEE THESE BEAUTIFUL AIRFRAMES LIKE THIS. THE F14 IS MY FAVORITE AIRCRAFT OF ALL TIME AND THE F4 IS SO RESPECTED FOR ITS SERVICE IN THE VIETNAM WAR.

[@thecommentator3732]

Deal with it

[@Squiddicus2]

@@thecommentator3732I am going to steal your washing machine

[@alexx8968]

@@thecommentator3732 im gonna sell your kidney on the albanian black market

[@thecommentator3732]

@@alexx8968 Go cry about it,Kid.

[@thecommentator3732]

@@Squiddicus2 Is that a threat? Because i use my hands to wash my clothes

[@fleuger99]

Funny to think these were at one time front-line fighters/fighter-bombers which were looked after by large crews and now they are simply piles of junk. Time can be a bastard :)

[@ibuprofenPill]

2:21, the pilot who flew that plane used HUSTLER for a call sign. Love it.

[@garywall7336]

152267 (MSN 994) upgraded to F-4N. SOC Apr 14, 1982. Currently preserved in Dallas, Texas. When it went to the Army Reserve, it was towed to a forest area near Temple, TX. NMNA at Pensacola took charge of all Navy preserved aircraft.

[@jordanmascarenhas7974]

So what happened to the F-14A in this video? How did it get there and why? Also, are these birds still there in the field now?

[@alexchubbymclynn6060]

Thanks for the bulk number of F-4, I am trying to keep track of these birds: where they are, how many are scavenged or cannibalised, which of them are stored and so on... F-4 is my life, most beautiful bird ever built. Thanks for the video. It so so sad to see aircraft in such a miserable state...

[@Onirot69]

Zooms in on wing pivot point: dang I wonder if they know that’s a crap ton of titanium

[@5695q]

The F14 wing skin is titanium along with the box beam, $$$$$.

[@stinkyfungus]

Spotted a couple other Ti parts as well. Decent scrap value on that...

[@fr-tigerfangs7039]

A truly hearbreaking sight... Two magnificent flying machines now left in the open to rot and decay (any similarity with our human condition would be... well, intentional). Back in their days, they used to roam the skies as the apex birds of prey. The F4 could very possibly have seen the MiGs in Vietnam, while the Tomcats could have faced some Su-22s off the Libyan coasts in the eighties. Who knows? Thanks for sharing with us aviation fans.

[@356rah]

152267 was an F4B that went through overhaul and repair at NAS North Island back in September 1966 and checking my log book I logged 1.6 hour in the back seat on a test flight.

[@f_nc]

amazing. you should feel bad.

[@TheJer1963]

It use to be on display in Dallas at onetime.

[@qu4ttro0]

Now that is cool trivia. thanks for sharing.

[@wipout1]

even when trashed, the F14's still look awesome

[@cardinalflyer152]

Oh, wow. Crazy to think that at one point these were beautiful aircraft, maintained in tip-top shape and gave many pilots the experience of a lifetime.

[@deanpatterson9036]

Sounds like my ex girlfriends!!! Lol

[@birdsoup777]

Thank you for showing this. Good example of nothing lasts forever no matter how sophisticated it is

[@rcbif101]

I was wondering where I misplaced those. I will send you a self addressed shipping label so you can send them my way. Thanks, rcbif

[@noonehere1793]

As an old RF 4 C driver, it causes me a lot of pain to see those, i would love to have one in my back yard,..i still have the seat out of one it had to “jettison” due to excessive holes and fire…..but it brought me back.

[@Megalodon64]

Maybe that's where Maverick's Tomcat went after the flatspin. LOL

[@josephpreissler6855]

Megalodon64 haha

[@mikemac2888]

That's hilarious, except, ocean. Boo.

[@milkybar06]

Was Tom cruise with it?

[@sparrowlt]

yeah.. also you would nik-pick the whole movie -the planes you will be flying against are smaller faster and more maneovrable : Enters A-4 skyhawks.... -360º radars -Maverick is 100m and cant fire on enemy migs until 100m behind them -A ready5 and CAP planes with 2 sidewinders and 2 Sparrows only -North Korean MIGs over the indian sea -showers -Top Gun Throphy -Top Gun points - -4G maneovers

[@sparrowlt]

The A-4 ..specially the version used by Top Gun (it was a lighter version with all air to ground equipment removed and better sidewinder support) while lighter and nimbler than the Tomcat.. was way underpowered.. it was used to simulate the MIG-17 mainly.. the A-4 couldnt handle a sustained turn or climb faster than the F-14 ..but it was excelent to teach students how to use the Tomcat's (or the F-4 before) superior power to weight ratio against nimbler but underpowered enemy fighters.. the F-5E was used to simulate the MIG-19 and MIG-21 and during the 80s some KFIRs were lent by the Israel Air Force wich were excelent to simulate MIG-23s..all these planes had their strenghts and weakness and Top Gun was to teach F-14 pilots how exploit the F-14 capabilities against each type.. However the introduction in the early 80s of the 4th gen fighter was a game changer.. They could do everything right.. it had more maneovrability and better power to weight ratio to sustain turns and climbs.. the navy got some F-16As to simulate the new MIG-29.. some old F-14As were used to simulate SU-27s as well.. However the more F-18s the navy had made the use of several aircraft redundant..as contrary to popular beliebth the F-18 even the early A models had better power to weight ratio (specially when not carrying bombs) than the F-14A..and were as good as the F-16N .. so Top Gun migrated towards a nearly all F-18 fleet .. If you can beat a F-18 or a F-16 you can beat a MIG-29 or a SU-27.. and they dont have weak areas like the A-4/F-5 Now the arrival of the F-35 will be interesting to see how it changes stuff in Top Gun..will they try to train against other F-35s?

[@marilyn3583]

The throttle levers from either plane could be used by any flightsim enthusiast. The F-14 had full span flaps so I didn't see them. The "sweep wings" are actually F-4 I think. You can see a red, wing mounted speedbrake (the F-14 had a clamshell style speedbrake between the vertical fins). 3:55.

[@armydog1002]

I’d love to see a restoration from start to finish on both of these. I wonder what a project like that would cost?

[@xekoan507]

pointless

[@MrMorden00]

I'd get out there with a flatbed and a sawz-all and salvage those cockpits. Would make nice simulator cockpits or display pieces when cleaned up.

[@Fedaykin24]

How? The AMARG F-14 examples were carefully disposed of to ensure no spares made their way to Iran!

[@ColHogan-le5yk]

Hello black market parts

[@toadman506]

These were stripped And the spars as well as the hinge boxes cut before they were sold as scrap

[@mikestanley9176]

You don't realize how big a Tomcat is until you stand next to one.

[@MrMorden00]

That is for sure. I got to sit in one that was being restored, it's a beastly airplane. And I was surprised how high you sit, the sills are down below your bicep and you have great visibility.

[@KWatson1984]

I stood next to the one at Grissom and couldn't believe it was a fighter. It'as big as a schoolbus.

[@Bazuzeus]

My 2 favorite planes of all times, side by side.... in a miserable condition.... This is heartbreaking for me :/

[@randyhavard6084]

It's sad to see such a great aircraft end up in such a condition

[@chrispekel5709]

They can't keep them all

[@davidca96]

I would have absolutely LOVED this as a kid, we would have had a ton of fun on those things. We had 2 1957 chevys in our woods that were abandoned we used to mess with, never found out what happened to them we moved away and that area is all condos now.

[@benhobe]

Given the partial STENNIS on the glove area, and the presence of the glove vane surface, my best guess is that this was a VF-211 F-14A, unless this was a former gate guard in which case who knows.

[@bobpritchard979]

It kills me to see two of the most magnificent aircraft of all time just sitting like that. I've worked on both and God I want to cry..

[@carlwheeler3403]

I saw something similar back in the early 60's with three planes at NAS Whidbey Island. There were two A-3 Skywarriors and one A-4 Skyhawk piled up in the woods on property that was previously owned by the government. All three planes were scrapped because of structural integrity issues caused by aircraft mishaps. I would play on them when I was a kid. They were removed back in the 70's.

[@Yehudah5768]

crazy that they were abandoned in a field. I worked on F-14's for 12 years... I'd love to see this.

[@rossschlitt4635]

Too bad someone couldn't 3-D scan all the parts after breaking everything down and labeling them, eh?

[@Hercules718]

The F4 was always my favorite. How can you not like a plane called Phantom ?! It would be really spooky to walk around here at night.

[@derekedge2089]

When I was a kid, there was a stripped, but intact A-4 Skyhawk in the city park where I live. It was right around the time Top Gun came to the theater. It was great fun to pretend to fly it. It had no canopy, ejection seat, gauges, stick,, throttle quad. and so on, But we're kids and had no use for them anyway. I loved climbing in through the nozzle and peeking my head out of the intakes. Truth be told, I smoked my first cigarette ever, inside the nacelle. What a time to be young.

[@EddieLeal]

Those planes cost Uncle Sam approximately $38 million (1998) ($19.2 million in 1977). It first flew on 21 December 1970 and made its first deployment in 1974 with the U.S. Navy aboard USS Enterprise (CVN-65), replacing the McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II. The Tomcat was retired by U.S. Navy on 22 September 2006, having been supplanted by the Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet.

[@danfisher6285]

Military industrial complex.

[@ramhammer10-4]

The F14 was super loud and super cool to watch fly overs.

[@cbrown9287]

what a kool find.. such powerful and fast jets.. never 'fully' understood why a new generation F-14 wasn't possible.. like the super hornet or silent eagle.. with tarps n lantirn etc she was a beast. Two of my fav frames but there are many sweet designs, harriers and warthogs are awesome with unique abilities also, just alot slower hah

[@garypinsker]

It was not about what was possible. It was. In fact we had concept designs for Tomcat 21, a 21st century composite airframe. When Mr Chaney decided on the F-18 Super Hornet and dumped billions into that design, Grumman killed the next generation design. That's when Grumman merged with Northrop and the rest is history. No matter what comes next the F-14 will always be ahead of its time.

[@michaelmckinnon1591]

Grumman decided to focus on building trucks

[@michaelmckinnon1591]

Grumman decided to focus on building trucks

[@silaskuemmerle2505]

Variable geometry aircraft are a maintenance nightmare and the navy was trying to cut costs.

[@chrispekel5709]

Money and politics. But mostly money

[@WakeMarine]

The first Jet I got to touch in 89 was a F-4. Changed my life. RIP. AV-8B Puke.

[@turbofox5424]

The Stennis deployed 4 times with Tomcats on board, the last time being 2004. These look to be F-14a's which would mean they were from VF-211 which last deployed on the Stennis in 02. The other squadrons had B's and D's while abourd the Stennis. These were prolly retired due to high time on the airframe or they had failed NDI tests on the airframe. I wish there was some better footage to be able to tell exactly which Tomcats they were.

[@corbinclements2222]

This hearts. These beautiful birds should be in airshows or in a museum setting

[@benking4367]

I’ve never flown in either , however own the radio controlled versions they’re beautiful in life sized and R/C. It’s a shame these two beautiful ladies are left to rot away ..

[@TheMrmmkkpro]

Cool but kinda sad, I talk to my old cars and feel like they understand (call me weird) but I bet the pilots spoke to these beauties more than once. A man can grow strongly attached to a machine, just the way it is. They deserve better.

[@StormChasingVideo]

Surprised someone has not picked them up for scrape metal

[@Tugboatpb]

Those titanium wing boxes alone were worth millions of dollars per plane. Wow

[@rcbif101]

What part/area is considered the wing box?

[@RocketToTheMoose]

It's a large rectangular piece that extends across the width of the fuselage. It's got a wing pivot mount on each side (check out 0:34). It carries the load of the wing. They were electron beam welded. Pretty exotic construction in the day.

[@rcbif101]

I see. But if it is worth million like the OP claims, I have a hard time believing these planes were sold decommissioned for less than 10K back in the day. Of course, those too the government decided they wanted back...

[@dadautube]

you do sound right ... but consider this: how does a $2K computer ends up for 50¢ in a government sales store after its era ends? it's people's tax money spent on these toys and when they are garbage, then they are nothing but garbage to the government because as long as people work and pay their mandatory taxes, government has more than enough funds to buy new material again and again and ... i think the question is why weren't these items in this video sold to scrape metal buyers willing to pay a buck or two for them?

[@johnosbourn4312]

Rcbif The Navy wanted to cut up all remaining F-14 airframes in order to keep all the parts from showing up on the black market, and also to keep the Iranians from getting their hands on the parts, as well.

[@tisoy909]

I believe this F-4 was paint schemed out as a display. Sporting the VMFA-112 Cowboys squadron insignia. But the tail registration 152267 brings it back to actual service with the Navy. Flying with VF-51 "Screamin Eagles" aboard USS Coral Sea.

[@nervo6321]

Heartbreaking to see these wonderful machines end up degraded in this way.....

[@jakeglassmoyer9984]

At Temple Iron and metal. Can still see it in Google maps. On the other side of the tracks.

[@GeneralGavin2000]

This makes me cry to see these planes in that condition

[@christopherrasmussen8718]

Used to be a yard like this at Lakehurst NAS. They had a track to test on for a long time. Some went almost hysterically wrong

[@campbewg56]

Hi, I use to crew the RF-4C Phantom in the USAF at Shaw AFB, SC between 1975 -1979. I had a 1972 model and was the newest in my flight. It left the base and I didn't see it again for about a year. It came in Cross Country flight as NASA. Thanks for the video, it brought back many memories. Gerald Campbell SGT E-4

[@campbewg56]

@@peterangles793 Yeah, back then E-4 was NCO, but a few years after my separation USAF reduced the rank to Senior Airman. Go figure. I visited Shaw AFB a couple years ago, and now it’s more tan Army base.

[@campbewg56]

@@peterangles793 oh by the way, we’re you stationed at Shaw?

[@armandomederosjr.1247]

how could you abandon the f14? the tomcat man. so sad

[@jonnie2bad]

cause it's super safe to fly an airframe that endures this kind of abuse forever

[@YournewFrizzishere]

So as the F8 II

[@kevinriordan7842]

I am surprised the Tomcat fuselages are there. If I recall correctly the wing box for F-14 is made of majority titanium and a significant structure.

[@Wildfire86872]

Those wing boxes are why we'll never see one fly again.

[@haroldmclean3755]

Well that's some Super Cool outdoor Furniture Right there 👍

[@doodskie999]

Man so sad to see this beast abandoned. Also there's probably still a lot of valuable metal you can sell off from that aircraft

[@fortyfour6626]

This should be made into a museum. I’d go. I’d pay 5 bucks to walk around it. The titanium on that frame…omg, that’s good man!

[@aceiconia7215]

F-14 was a maintenance nightmare. It was a great aircraft that was outdated in the modern air to air arena. Just like other greats like the F4. Time marches on and old drivers will always swear by there old horses I can't blame them one bit.

[@ringofthebrave]

This is what happens to so many military AC. At least there are some left in museums. The F14 is quite an interesting plane.

[@thegameroom6918]

In my opinion F-14 is still the best fighter in the world, it's definitely my favourite one. Too bad that the costs were too high, otherwise they could still serve the nation! In its era, the Tomcat was without any doubt the best fighter. That's why the UK, Israel, France,The Netherlands, Turkey and some other European countries wanted to buy this bird but the congress didn't allow it. It was only sold to Iran (a US ally) to prevent any Soviet invasion. They should make a new generation of F-14. That would be amazing.

[@rossschlitt4635]

I wish someone had come along before the Navy was notified about them, bracken everything apart, labeled the parts and created 3-D models of all the parts. If someone came out with a civilian version of the F-14 made from the knowledge, I'd get rich, get my pilot's license and buy one.

[@DarkSideMaceWindu]

Nope the F14 would get absolutely slaughtered today. The F15 was introduced less than 16 months after the F14. The F16 introduced 4 years after the F14. There's a reason why the 15 and 16 are still in production while the 14 has been retired over a decade.

[@DarkSideMaceWindu]

Travis Thacker the F14 was slower with less than half the combat radius and ferry than the F15.

[@Pgh412aviation]

The Northrop YF-23 could have replaced the F-14. Maybe a larger version of the Super Hornet

[@darylrocks2753]

@Da Koynul your the guy with a Camaro who just got pasted by a Ferrari. Stop hating f14 mopped the floor on f4s

[@ericlakota1847]

So sweet a jet just sits in over grown field I always forget how big those jets are over 50'

[@jdarksword]

Sad sight to see once beautiful aircraft rotting away

[@Holret]

Dont worry, im sure it was cannibalized before the airframe was placed there.

[@MrBioniclefan1]

135th Darksword I know right

[@gunplafan9891]

Imagine taking that and restoring it that would be awesome

[@FidgetNStyleSpinnerReviews]

I'd love a piece of the wedge from the F-14. There's a chance my father manufactured it.

[@uberbeeg]

It's kind of surreal to think of F-14s abandoned, my mind finds it hard to think of them as being out of date.

[@froggy3121]

@ErikJohnston : I fully expected this to be 'clickbait', since everyone knows that all the U.S. F-14s that exist are either shredded, or just static displays. What an incredible find ! I am an artist building a full scale F-14 vertical stabilizer out of cardboard. It takes up my entire living room wall ! I couldn't help but notice the tail you came across. If it is allowed, it would make a great display for some lucky aviation guy. Thanks for posting !

[@ErikJohnston]

Froggy Haha, no I'm not really into that click bait stuff. Just watch my other videos.

[@MrHeath13]

Hello Friend I know were there are 3 in Ga and they are all in a wooded area very cool to go look at also 2 at WRAFB in Ga in the Muslim . buy yes 3 in the edge of the woods in Bibb Co not know to most people and also 1 f15. I have no idea why thy are inn the woods at the farm??

[@Itiswhatitislifestyle]

Bones Pappy grid to location

[@TheJer1963]

The ones in this video are in Temple Texas. A short walk from a bunch of homes.

[@charlesstiles342]

This looks like the aircraft I have also seen abandoned in a vacant lot in Temple Texas. Find 16th street and drive north until it dead ends, walk about 120 yards northward on the trail worn in the grass and weeds.

[@brendanpotash]

I can imagine about a couple million community college engineering students that could learn a ton of useful knowledge just by getting their hands on those elegant frames. Ripped up or not, they're a learning milepost for young Americans. I blame uninspired and complacent bureaucrats for their lack of vision. Where are those located?

[@jeepinbanditrider]

Apparently Temple, Tx. I'm not too far from Temple I should swing by and check them out lol.

[@Zoydian]

Such sophisticated machines... in ruins.

[@ScaleHangar182]

Where is that? i would take a piece of F-14, frame it and hang in living room

[@Oat_meal_YT]

Or you know..... Restore it

[@crunchied8]

@@Oat_meal_YT thats the first thing i thought of when i saw it mate you just beat the F-14 tomcat its too good

[@GyntonikSoul]

@@Oat_meal_YT too bad condition, it's impossible to restore

[@Oat_meal_YT]

@@GyntonikSoul pfft, who said it is impossible just let me see if it is. (Checks account) ........... Fuck.....

[@nekotofu_official7665]

F-14A Tomcat Tobar as you know, only Iran still operates F-14 and even they lack spare parts thanks to US destroy most of their F-14. It is almost impossible to bring her even in display condition.

[@alexandarvoncarsteinzarovi3723]

HANZ!!!! Get my tool box we must save these beautiful machines! :D

[@thecommentator3732]

Except you cant lol Because the government doesnt want it

[@shamarone]

holy crap, the trees growing up through the fuselage make them look like extinct TRANSFORMERS. and yes, why the hell are they there, cause they've been there for a while...?

[@jameseast7966]

I think the species of tree is what is called a tallow tree. They grow to 2 inch dia in first year, 4 inch a year later. In 3 years, 8 inches. That is why they look large. The plague of east Tx and sw Louisiana.

[@mattmilsop4003]

They've been there for so long, they have trees growing through them. Wow.

[@billg7813]

This makes me wonder why I try and do my part and recycle aluminum cans

[@starckmad1779]

Erik, I love that this video came up as "recommended for you"! Now subscribed!.

[@shootmcrunfast]

Sad to see these like this but I'd love to know the story behind them being there.

[@Synergy0_0]

Obviously it can't be airworthy anymore, but I would still buy it!

[@Jahanbakht1977]

This video really saddened me! Two legendary birds abandoned in such horrible conditions...What a shame!

[@domanickmartin4830]

If I had the money, I would slowly buy a bunch of F-14 parts from different places to eventually have a fully operational F-14.

[@Redslayer86]

I'd turn them into flight sim cabins lol

[@CaptainFantastik1]

Hell yeah! Get my DCS running in there.

[@zabercrombie24]

I was just gonna type that, im big in the DCS world and always wanted to build one .

[@quadbrothers5801]

I just got DCS. Haven’t bought anything yet but I have flown the p-51. I always blow the motor.

[@BerryTheBnnuy]

Craigslist be like: Ran when parked. No tire kickers. No low ball offers. I know what I have

[@ErikJohnston]

Lmao

[@EvMstein]

This is one of the finest flying machine of all time, it was a symbol of the aerodynamics know-how by all smart people in 60s I'm sad to see it get abandoned like this.. 😢 T O M C A T

[@lockheedx33]

This is just a pain to watch. Seeing these beautiful aircraft in such disrepair is heartbreaking…

[@tacoenvy]

Just hurt's seeing this. As much as I love the F-4, seeing that Tomcat is just a knife in the guts. such a beautiful aircraft and already a tragedy what happen to them.

[@alvarogvdltgarcia52]

shut up otaku

[@CrossFit-qz3ok]

In the early days of scraping the F14, there were no chopping it up, parts were being sold without government approval. These could have been from private company hired to scrap some. The 14 replaced the F 4, so maybe the 4 was first to be contract out and same group took the 14 to same location later...looks like the plane was taken apart and hauled to this location and then just laid out .

[@jimstern4244]

I’ve looked at some of the comments and I feel like some of you are very knowledgeable in these aircraft and my question is what would it take to restore these to display status???? I’m sure air worthy is completely out of the question but it sure would be nice to see them on display some place

[@R.Sole88109]

Money, shit loads of money.... Not to mention parts, skills and getting through the inevitable red cock blocking tape.

[@AwesomeNinja1027]

Seeing these images just breaks my heart. They should have been preserved for airshow purposes.

[@curtekstrom9531]

Where would to money come from tp Operate them for Air Shows.

[@falconeaterf15]

Government hires contractor to haul planes to a suitable scrap yard. Contractor offers low bid and simply dumps cargo into a river or open field. It's a win-win. Contractor makes a profit, taxpayers get their expensive junk disposed of as cheaply as possible. Woodland critters get to frolic in an F14.

[@Colt45hatchback]

Surely a huge piece of 7075 alloy would be worth more to scrap than dump...

[@jeffreyramey1585]

I was a maintainer for both F-4S and F-14A in VF-202, and VF-201. This is very disheartening.

[@-SANDMAN-]

You get me ONE square foot of that metal and I can turn that easily into $20,000 in my profession.

[@squidwardtentacles244]

I'd honestly buy some F-14 scrap as souvenirs or something

[@fortyfour6626]

First emotion is anger then sadness. How do we allow our aviation to end up like this? All that aside…I will pay big money for that refueling probe. What an awesome piece for my bar. I’d take and pay for literally any part off that tomcat

[@V1P3RSlab]

maybe they parked and forgot the spot after the shopping at the mall :D

[@brandonbryant8027]

I would've love to take one of these abandoned Tomcat airframes clean it up and see if can build my own Tomcat!

[@Jayhadd21]

Where was this filmed?!?! I heard talk of VF-201 that was my dad’s old Squadron.

[@oliveirayrd]

It’s really sad, see these birds dieing this way. They deserve more.

[@pairadice3186]

Theres also an a6 intruder there too!!

[@TheJer1963]

All that stuff is gone now. The Navy came down and had everything removed. Use to be a lot of comments about where these were but it looks like they have been removed now. You wouldn't believe how close they were to a bunch of houses.

[@SCARFACE-gp4fy]

You could take one home put the panels back together scrounge some spares nice paint job and hay Presto a nice garden ornament for the garden the wife would love it lol