The F-14 'Tomcat' is a supersonic twin-engine, twin-tail, variable sweep wing, two place fighter flown by the Navy as a carrier or land-based multirole fighter. It was the first of the fighters designed to incorporate air combat experience from Vietnam against Soviet Union MiG aircraft. It enter service in 1972 where it continued until replaced by the F/A-18 'Hornet' in 2006.
Grumman was selected to build the Navy's new carrier-based fighter in January 1969, with the first flight of the F-14 'Tomcat' prototype taking place on 21 December 1970. Initial deployment with the fleet began in October 1972. Continued developments and improvements of its capabilities made it an effective deterrent to any hostile threats to US Navy carrier groups for over 30 years.
As the world's premier air defense fighter, it could simultaneously track up to 24 targets with its advanced weapons control system, while attacking six at once with AIM-54A Phoenix missiles. The 'Tomcat' is well known for its prominent role in "Top Gun", the 1986 movie about naval aviators. The success of the film spurred a game show franchise and a surge in US Navy Flight Training recruiting.
This 'Tomcat' was initially assigned to VF-214, the F-14 Pacific Fleet crew training squadron. After two years as a trainer, it went to the fleet for the remainder of its 14 years of operational service. Assignments included the famous VF-2 'Bounty Hunters', while its final squadron was the 'Black Lions' of VF-213, part of Carrier Air Wing 8 (CVW-8), assigned to the USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71). Its final combat sortie was 7 February 2006. Following launch from the USS Roosevelt at 1600, 'Black Lion' AJ-210 flew to Northern Iraq for overhead protection of US and Iraqi forces. After its mission, it trapped aboard the carrier at 2233 hours, completing a 6.5 hour mission.
Returning to the US in March 2006, the F-14Ds were unloaded for the last time and retired. BuNo 163897 was flown to McClellan shortly thereafter and joined the collection.
Specifications:
Crew: 2
Power Plant: 2× 14,000 lbf GE F110-GE-400 turbofan engines 23,100 lbf w/afterburner
Dimensions:
- Span:
- - Unswept: 64' 2"
- - Swept: 38' 3"
- - Storage: 33' 8"
- Length: 62' 8"
- Height: 32' 9"
Weight:
- Empty: 43,735 lb
- Maximum: 74,350 lb
Performance:
- Speed:
- - Max: 1,584 mph
- - Cruise: 633 mph
- Range: 1,840 miles
- Ceiling: 50,000 ft
- Climb: 45,000 fpm
Armament:
- Guns: 1× 20mm M61 Vulcan 6-barreled gatling cannon, with 675 rounds
- Internal:
- External: Max of 14,500 lb of ordnance and fuel tanks
- - Loading configurations:
- - - 2× AIM-9 + 6× AIM-54 (Rarely used due to weight stress on airframe)
- - - 2× AIM-9 + 2× AIM-54 + 3× AIM-7 (Most common load during Cold War era)
- - - 2× AIM-9 + 4× AIM-54 + 2× AIM-7
- - - 2× AIM-9 + 6× AIM-7
- - - 4× AIM-9 + 4× AIM-54
- - - 4× AIM-9 + 4× AIM-7
- - Bombs: ** JDAM Precision-guided munition (PGMs)
- - - Paveway series of Laser guided bombs
- - - Mk 80 series of unguided iron bombs
- - - Mk 20 Rockeye II
- - Others:
- - - Tactical Airborne Reconnaissance Pod System (TARPS)
- - - LANTIRN targeting pod
- - - 2× 267 USgal drop tanks for extended range/loitering time
Source: aircraft placard
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