Hobby Master HA5202 1:72 D Tomcat VF-31 Final Cruise "Christine"

The Grumman F-14 Tomcat is a twin-engine, variable sweep wings capable of supersonic flight.
The aircraft is crewed by a Pilot and a Radar Intercept Officer who share the tasks of navigation,
target acquisition, ECM and weapons usage. The Tomcat was operated by the United States
Navy and the Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force only. The name “Tomcat” is said to come from the
call-sign used by Vice Admiral Thomas Connolly which conformed to the USN tradition of giving
Grumman aircraft feline names.

Grumman F-14A Tomcat BuNo 159600 was delivered on July 16, 1975 and assigned to
VF-124 Gunfighters and then VF-101 Grim Reapers to train Tomcat crews. In 1987 it transferred
to VF-142 Ghostriders, VF-14 Tophatters and back to VF-142. In 1994 159600 was
remanufactured to a D model and joined VF-2 Bounty Hunters. In 2003 VF-101 Grim Reapers
took possession until 2004 when it made its final home with VF-31 Tomcatters. In 2006 on the
Tomcat’s final cruise the aircraft was named Christine and became the longest serving USN F-14