January 2010

Wings Over Miami's F-14 - the real thing!

Isn't the header photograph on the Wings Over Miami website simply amazing?

If you have ever wondered why it is placed so prominently, wonder no more. Here is the story behind the photo ---

On July 28, 2006, US Navy Mass Communications Specialist 3rd class Nathan Laird took the photo of the F-14D TomCat, aircraft number 100. The plane was assigned to "TomCatters" fighter squadron Three One (VF-31).

The photo shows the plane completing a near super-sonic fly-by of the flight deck of the USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71). The nuclear powered aircraft carrier was underway conducting sustainment exercises as part of it's fleet response plan responsibilities. Joining the Roosevelt in the Joint Task Force exercise was the Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN69).

Not long after the exercise, the F-14 was officially retired in September 2006. The plane's new home was destined to be Wings Over Miami Air Museum in South Florida.

What a special moment that was for the museum! With much excitement and hoopla, the last active F-14 landed at Opa Locka Executive Airport in North Miami-Dade County and was decommissioned.

The fighter was dismantled and loaded on a truck that took it to the museum for reassembly. Sadly,
the Navy had to make sure the flight equipment and engines were removed to prevent the likelihood of future use of the plane.


Captain Dale Snodgrass, who piloted this jet during his Naval career, is a Director Emeritus on the museum board. When you visit the museum, look for his name painted on plane just as it was when he was flying. Captain Snodgrass spent 26 years flying the plane, so its final flight was bitter-sweet, but a wonderful salute to Miami and Captain Snodgrass.