The Grumman F-14 Tomcat is a supersonic, twin-engine, two-seat, variable-sweep wing fighter aircraft and is the world's premier air defense fighter. This photograph is personally signed by Captain Dale "Snort" Snodgrass, one of the most experienced Tomcat pilots in the world.
Snodgrass got into the airplane straight out of flight school in 1974, when the F-14 was new and no other low-time pilots had flown it. Snodgrass was the first flight school graduate to be selected for F-14 Tomcat training. He soon became the definitive F-14 pilot. In 1985, he became the Navy�s Fighter Pilot of the Year. The following year, the film Top Gun turned the viewing public into crazed F-14 fans (Snodgrass did a little flying for it), and Grumman named him Topcat: Best F-14 Pilot of the Year.
Snodgrass has racked up more than 4,800 hours, making him the highest-time Tomcat pilot in history. After 26 years of decorated service, Captain Snodgrass retired in June 1999.
Photograph is a limited edition of 1978 and is personally signed by Dale Snodgrass.
Certificate of Authenticity included.