Some interesting history.
3 October 2002, F-14A Tomcat 162594 of VF-101 “Grim Reapers” from NAS Oceana, VA, the east coast Tomcat training RAG, suffers a dual compressor stall during a training flight east of NAS Key West, FL. Unable to restart the engines, both crew successfully eject and the jet goes down into the ocean.
On 5 May 2006, retired Aer Lingus airline Captain Charlie Coughlan comes across the right vertical stab of 162594 washed up on a remote beach near Cork, Ireland. The fin had floated over 4,900 miles to this location.
amp.theguardian.com
3 October 2002, F-14A Tomcat 162594 of VF-101 “Grim Reapers” from NAS Oceana, VA, the east coast Tomcat training RAG, suffers a dual compressor stall during a training flight east of NAS Key West, FL. Unable to restart the engines, both crew successfully eject and the jet goes down into the ocean.
On 5 May 2006, retired Aer Lingus airline Captain Charlie Coughlan comes across the right vertical stab of 162594 washed up on a remote beach near Cork, Ireland. The fin had floated over 4,900 miles to this location.
F-14 tailfin at sea for four years | World news | The Guardian
Maverick and Iceman would be hanging their Raybanned heads in shame. One of the US navy's F-14 Tomcats - as immortalised in Top Gun - has just taken four years to cross the Atlantic. Still, perhaps that's not such a bad time considering the plane was minus its engine, wings, fuselage and pilot.
amp.theguardian.com
