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Tomcat Fighter Jet -- Final Take Off

Posted Sep 25th 2006 4:30PM by TMZ Staff

The famous Navy F-14 Tomcat fighter jet took its last flight over the weekend in Virginia Beach, VA. The plane, made famous by Tom Cruise who flew them in the movie "Top Gun," made a final taxi down the runway at Oceana Naval Air Station.

The ceremonial flight was attended by 3,000 guests and given a final farewell by aviators, mechanics, and guests. The jet joined the Navy fleet in 1972 and was used to defend U.S. aircraft carriers from Soviet bombers.

Interesingly, the F-14 is now a household name because of the hugely successful movie, but the flying antics by Maverick (Tom Cruise), and his rival Iceman (Val Kilmer) is what put the Tomcat into Hollywood history. Recently, the plane has used as a pet name for Tom and his fiancée Katie Holmes -- TomKat.

A Navy spokesperson tells TMZ that after the movie came out in 1986 there was a spike in Navy recruiting, and the Navy still gets calls about becoming a pilot after the movie airs on television.

Tags: F-14, Katie Holmes, KatieHolmes, Tom Cruise, TomCruise, Top Gun, TopGun

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1. "The plane, made famous by Tom Cruise who flew them in the movie "Top Gun,""

Really? Cruise can fly?

Posted at 7:15PM on Sep 25th 2006 by boo

2. Tom Cruise is a fricking actor, he could no more fly an F-14 than I could. Chaances are 100 years from now people will remember the airplane and not f*ckface, the actor.

Posted at 7:46PM on Sep 25th 2006 by Hey dumbass

3. Ugh!! Another reason I hate Tom Cruise more everyday. He's so saturated in everyday topics it's like he's raping our news.

Posted at 8:26PM on Sep 25th 2006 by bluzfan

4. Woo, you guys are so consumed by the hatred that you can't live one day without watching TomKat. Read the story more carefully, it's about history not gossips.

Posted at 4:51PM on Sep 26th 2006 by Meanless

5. And of course, the real story remains obscured. The fact that 3 Catholic Worker anti-war protesters made it through the main gate to the F-14, climbed atop and unfurled banners protesting Bush and the war in Iraq before its final flight is of no consequence.

Posted at 12:18AM on Sep 27th 2006 by Alma Kesling

6. Thank you Maverick; thanks Tom ;-)

Posted at 1:23PM on Oct 3rd 2006 by wow man

7. With all the hoopla with Tom jumping around on Oprah's couch, why was she left off the invitation list? What a slap in the face, both Tom and Katie should be so ashamed of themselves for such an oversight. Only the good Lord knows even if Tom flew to pick up Oprah himself, I don't know that that could even make it right.
I think it is a shame and definately continues to cast a negative shadow over Tom, poor Katie she must be in for some ride. So sorry Oprah.

Posted at 12:35PM on Nov 15th 2006 by margaret