Catching the number 4 wire at the TR. Aircraft usually go for the number 3 wire. Pilots are aiming for that wire, as it is the safest/most effective one. They never aim for the 1st because that one is dangerously close to the edge of deck. If they come in too low on the 1st wire, they could easily crash into the stern of the ship. It is acceptable to snag the 2nd or 4th wire, but for a pilot to move up through the ranks, he/she has to be able to catch the 3rd wire consistently. In the squadron room the achievement of each pilot is logged, catching too many times the wrong ones cost you beers

Three Tomcats parked on the rear side of the massive flight deck of the USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71).

CAG bird on the cat of the USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71) during the sundown cruise of the Tomcat.

Tomcat of Fighting Squadron (VF) 31 "Tomcatters" launched from the USS Theordore Roosevelt (CVN-71) while deployed in the Persian Gulf.

Launch!

F-14D resting on the deck of the USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71) during its sundown cruise.

On August, 9th, 2001 this VF-2 Bounty Hunter Tomcat went missing in the Bay of Bengal (Indian Ocean) while flying from USS Constellation on a night-time training mission. Crew presumed killed.

Late afternoon departure off runway 18 by "FELIX 101"

"Vandy 1" the famous all black Tomcat of VX-9, taking off from Pt Mugu

Base to final turn on 24R for this VF-31 CAG Tomcat

"Red Rippers" F-14D blasting off from Miramar winter of 1994

With the introduction of the F-14D VF-124 'Gunfighters' was assigned the role of training air and ground personnel for this type. The first F-14D was accepted by the squadron on the 16th of November 1990, with four of the type undertaking the first fleet F-14D carquals onboard the USS Nimtz (CVN-68) on the 2nd of October 1991.