Century Wings CW001637 | Grumman F-14B USN VF-103 Jolly Rogers, AA103, USS John F. Kennedy, Squadron 60th Anniversary 2003

General Background:

Grumman F-14B Tomcat, designed to carry the formidable long range AIM-54 Phoenix missile, the Grumman F-14 Tomcat was first flown on December 21st, 1970. Made famous by the Hollywood film Top Gun, the F-14 replaced the F-4 Phantom II as the US Navy's primary maritime air superiority fighter. Its design includes a variable geometry wing that can sweep back for high speed supersonic intercepts and forward for improved positioning in air to air dogfights. Nicknamed "Bombcat," the F-14 spent much of its late career in an air-to-ground role, carrying the Low Altitude Navigation and Targeting Infrared for Night (LANTIRN) system.

The Aircraft:

Century Wings Celebrate 15 Years of Excellence

In 2006, an all new diecast brand burst onto the scene with a remarkable 1:72 scale rendition of an F-14A Tomcat. This model significantly raised the bar for accuracy and detail in diecast military aircraft models. Subsequent releases were eagerly snapped up by enthusiasts who wanted nothing but the best for their collections. Time and again, new releases have proven so popular that they have sold-out in pre-order before reaching retailer shelves. Exceptional quality and limited availability have made Century Wings one of the most collectible brands available today, with sold-out models frequently fetching several times their original price on the secondary market.

The Aircraft:

Century Wings are celebrating their 15th Anniversary with this very special, limited-edition release. A VF-103 Jolly Rogers F-14B Tomcat in the squadron's colorful 60th Anniversary paint scheme. This release also includes an anniversary key chain, anniversary packaging and premium limited edition collector's card.

US Navy Fighter Squadron 103 (VF-103) was activated in 1952. Three US Navy squadrons have used the name and insignia of the Jolly Roger: VF-61 (originally VF-17), VF-84, and VFA-103. While these are distinctly different squadrons that have no lineal linkage, they all share the same Jolly Rogers name, the skull and crossbones insignia and traditions. VF-103 began life as an F4U Corsair squadron and after progressing through the F9F Cougar, F-8 Crusader and F-4 Phantom II, it was among the last fighter squadrons to transition to the F-14A Tomcat. In 1989, they upgraded to a more powerful breed of Tomcat, the F-14B. When VF-84 was disestablished in 1995, VF-103 abandoned its "Sluggers" nickname and adopted the famous "Jolly Rogers" name and insignia for itself. After several deployments to the Perisan Gulf, VF-103 deployed with the F-14B for the final time in 2004 aboard the USS John F. Kennedy before transitioning to the F/A-18F Super Hornets it operates today.