VF-301 F-14A

Flying in F-14A Tomcats with VF-301 at NAS Miramar, 1984-1987

Initial at Fallon

Approaching NAS Fallon, Nev., for the break, summer 1987.

FallonTomcats

Holding overhead NAS Fallon prior to entering the break for landing, summer 1987.

FallonHoldShortAug85

Holding short for takeoff at NAS Fallon. A VAQ-309 EA-6A takes off in the backgrund, summer 1987.

FallonBreak

Coming into the break at NAS Fallon at sunset, summer 1987.

FallonArrival_87

Approaching the initial for the break at NAS Fallon, summer 1987.

Fallon87

Climbing out from NAS Fallon en route to NAS Miramar, summer 1987.

F14NKXovhd

Overhead NAS Miramar, circa 1986.

f14llroad

On a low-level navigation route in Eastern California, circa 1986.

F14inbd

Returning to NAS Miramar.

f14henshaw

Returning to NAS Miramar from a training flight over the Eastern California desert. Lake Henshaw in the background.

f14break2

In the break overhead NAS Miramar.

F14banking

Making the right-hand turn over the initial approach point called “Atlas” inbound to NAS Miramar. The city of Poway in the background.

F14AVF301CV61Jan86

On board USS Ranger for a two-week active duty for training cruise, January 1986.

F14A4return

A flight of VF-301 Tomcats and a VC-13 TA-4J Skyhawk return to NAS Miramar after an Air Combat Maneuvering flight over the Paciflc.

F-14_VF-301-lr

Mike Svoboda and I taxi to the catapult on board USS Ranger, January 1986. The names on the canopy rail matched the crew (for once).

EA6A_F14AAug85

A VF-301 Tomcat in company with a VAQ-309 EA-6A over the Pacific near San Diego.

DesertFltJul87

A flight of VF-301 F-14As over the desert near the Salton Sea, 1987.

DesertBank

On a low-level training flight over the Eastern California desert.

ClementeSunline

A section of VF-301 F-14As overhead San Clemente Island, December 1984.

AtlasForTheBreak

Approaching the break at NAS Miramar.

a7f18f14cvwr30sm

A VA-304 Firebirds A-7B Corsair II tanks a VF-301 Tomcat overhead USS Ranger (CV-61) while a section of VFA-303 Golden Hawks F/A-18A Hornets await their turn. January 1986.

301CO_LL

VF-301 “Skipper’s Bird” over the sand dunes east of El Centro, Calif.

301blueBoat

Chuck “Slick” Henry overhead USS Ranger, January 1986

3f14gro

VF-301 F-14A Tomcats near San Diego

2PlaneCoastJul87

A flight of VF-301 Tomcats execute a rare eastbound departure out of NAS Miramar due to Santa Ana wind conditions (easterly winds instead of the usual westerly winds).

On board USS Ranger (CV-61), 2-week Active Duty for Training with VF-301 and CVWR-30 in January 1986. Mike Svoboda and I went flying that day in the aircraft with our names on it, a fairly rare occurrence, especially in the Reserves.

On board USS Ranger (CV-61), 2-week Active Duty for Training with VF-301 and CVWR-30 in January 1986. Mike Svoboda and I went flying that day in the aircraft with our names on it, a fairly rare occurrence, especially in the Reserves.