F-14 Tomcat
The F-14 Tomcat was a US carrier-based supersonic fighter aircraft used by the US Navy during the Cold War and Operation Desert Storm. The Tomcat was developed by the American aircraft company Grumman for the United States Navy after the collapse of the F-111B project. It first flew as an experimental fighter on December 21, 1970. Designed as both an air superiority fighter and a long-range naval interceptor, the Grumman F-14 was a twin-engine, two-seat aircraft fitted out with variable sweep wings. Manufactured to replace the F-4 Phantom II fighter, it was delivered to the US Navy in September 1974 and was deployed aboard the USS Enterprise aircraft carrier. The Tomcat was the biggest and heaviest carrier-based fighter the US Navy ever operated.
The F-14 Tomcat had its baptism of fire on August 19, 1981, over the Gulf of Sidra in what is known as the Gulf of Sidra incident after two F-14s from VF-41 Black Aces were engaged by two Libyan Su-22 "Fitters". The F-14s evaded the short range heat seeking AA-2 "Atoll" missile and returned fire, downing both Libyan aircraft. US Navy F-14s once again were pitted against Libyan aircraft on January 4, 1989, when two F-14s from VF-32 shot down two Libyan MiG-23 "Floggers" over the Gulf of Sidra in a second Gulf of Sidra incident.
Serving with the US Navy, the F-14 was upgraded more than once. In the 1990s it added the Low Altitude Navigation and Targeting Infrared for Night (LANTIRN) pod system and began performing precision strike missions. The F-14 was retired from the active US Navy fleet on 22 September 2006, having been replaced by the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet. The US Government, under Jimmy Carter’s Administration, unfortunately sold 44 F-14A aircraft to the Islamic Republic of Iran, whose air force still use this US-built supersonic fighter.
Specifications
Engine: two General Electric F110-GE-400 afterburning turbofans.
Maximum speed: Mach 2.34 (1,544 mph, 2,485 km/h)
Combat radius: 575 miles (926 km)
Ferry range: 1,840 mi (2,960 km)
Service ceiling: 50,000 ft (15,200 m)
Length: 62 ft 9 in (19.1 m)
Wingspan: spread: 64 ft (19.55 m); swept: 38 ft (11.58 m)
Empty weight: 43,735 lb (19,838 kg)
Avionics: Hughes AN/APG-71 radar.
Crew: two (pilot and radar intercept officer)
Armament: one 20mm (0.787 in) M61 Vulcan Gatling Gun with 675 rounds; two AIM-54 Phoenix, three AIM-7 Sparrow, two AIM-9 Sidewinder air to air missiles.
Variants: F-14A, F-14B, F-14D
F-14D Tomcat (Video)
