The Original Adventures of Tomcat and Friends on Land, Sea and Air

Each U. S. military aircraft has an icon associated with its image. The F-14 has the Tomcat. The F/A-18 has the Hornet. The pilots and air crew wear a patch on their flight suit that represents the icon for their particular aircraft to which they are assigned. These icons are called "patch animals(c)." Their lives parallel that of the pilots of Naval Flight Officers (NFO). No one can see these patch animals, which stand about 3 - 4' tall, except maintenance crews for the aircraft. These patch animals are the life force of each plane and must be inside the aircraft for it to fly. This is the true story of the patch animals assigned to aircraft at Naval Air Station Miramar of TOP GUN fame. The year is 1992 and the aviation community is about to get turned on its ear. A horrible committee in Washington, DC called BRAC (Base Realignment and Closure) has been going door to door at each military base trying to destroy their world. Certain planes and squadrons are on the chopping block across all service lines. But it seems the Navy will be the hardest hit. Though every patch animal knows his aircraft only has a certain number of years or flight hours to rack up before a fancier, more technologically advanced aircraft comes along, BRAC is taking them out long before their time is up. Everyone is nervous. No one is safe.