F-14 “Tomcat”

An F-14D Tomcat assigned to the "Black Lions" of Fighter Squadron Two One Three (VF-213), conducts a high-speed pass at the conclusion of the tactical air power demonstration at the 2004 "In Pursuit of Liberty," Naval Air Station Oceana Air Show. (US Navy photo) — An F-14D Tomcat assigned to the “Black Lions” of Fighter Squadron Two One Three (VF-213), conducts a high-speed pass at the conclusion of the tactical air power demonstration at the 2004 “In Pursuit of Liberty,” Naval Air Station Oceana Air Show. (US Navy photo)

The plane, the myth, the legend.

We are working on a proper “article” about this legendary airplane, but in the mean time enjoy this info and these great photos.

Specifications

General

Crew: 2 (Pilot and Radar Intercept Officer)
Length: 62 ft 9 in
Wingspan:64 ft. spread, 38 ft. swept
Height: 16 ft
Empty weight: 43,735 lb
Max. takeoff weight: 74,350 lb
Engine: Two General Electric F110-GE-400 afterburning turbofans

Performance

Maximum speed: Mach 2.34 (1,544 mph) at altitude
Combat radius: 500 nmi
Range: 1,600 nmi (1,840 mi)
Ceiling: 50,000 ft
Thrust/weight: 0.92

Armament

Guns: One 20 mm M61 Vulcan 6-barreled gatling cannon, with 675 rounds
Hardpoints: 10 total: Six under-fuselage, Two under nacelles and Two on wing gloves
Capacity: 14,500 lb of ordnance and fuel tanks
Loadout:

Missiles:
- AIM-54 Phoenix
- AIM-7 Sparrow
- AIM-9 Sidewinder
JDAM Precision-guided munitions
Paveway series of Laser guided bombs
Mk 80 series of unguided iron bombs
Mk 20 Rockeye II
Tactical Airborne Reconnaissance Pod System (TARPS)
LANTIRN targeting pod
Two 267 gal drop tanks for extended range/loitering time

Essential Reading

Amazon.com Widgets

“Bye Bye Baby” is the definitive book about the F-14 Tomcat. It is chock full of data, insights, stories, graphics, and amazing photos. Do yourself a favor and buy the hardcover. It’s worth having in your library.

“Tomcat!: The Grumman F-14 Story” is wonderfully written by retired navy Rear Admiral Paul T. Gillcrist.

Visually, make sure you’ve seen “Top Gun” a few dozen times. History Channel’s “Modern Marvels” also has a good depiction of the sunset of the F-14 program.

Online Resources:

Wikipedia — Great article, really chronicles the evolution of the F-14 well and depicts Iran’s use
The Flying Kiwi — Great photos from the 2005 NAS Oceana Airshow. Really liked this site
Dryden Flight Research Center — NASA’s research into the F-14 and spin recovery
F-14 Tomcat Association
Dave’s Tomcat Alley — Great Web 1.0 site with lots of photos and specific info
M.A.T.S. — One of the best F-14 sites

Photo Gallery

An F-14A Tomcat, attached to Fighter Squadron 211 (VF-211) aboard USS NIMITZ (CVN 68) flies over Iraq during routine flight operations. Nimitz was operating in the Persian Gulf in support of Operation Southern Watch. (US Navy photo)

An F-14B Tomcat assigned to the “Jolly Rogers” of Fighter Squadron One Zero Three (VF-103) launches off the flight deck aboard the aircraft carrier USS John F. Kennedy (CV 67). Kennedy and Carrier Air Wing Seventeen (CVW-17) are operating in the 5TH Fleet area of responsibility, conducting missions in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) (US Navy photo)

An F-14 Tomcat flies through the sky during a combat mission August 14 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Lee O. Tucker)

Fighter Squadron 14 (VF-14) F-14A Tomcat aircraft fly over the French aircraft carrier Foch (R 99) during a joint exercise between the FOCH and the aircraft carrier USS John F. Kennedy.

A U.S. Navy Grumman F-14A Tomcat of Fighter Squadron VF-114 Aardvarks flying alongside a Soviet Tupolev Tu-95RT Bear D maritime patrol aircraft. (US Navy photo)

An F-14D launches an AIM-7 Sparrow. A GBU-24 Paveway III can also be seen being carried. (US Navy photo)

An F-14 shows off a load of six AIM-54 Phoenix missiles

A Fighter Squadron 33 (VF-33) F-14A Tomcat aircraft banks into a turn as it heads for a landing aboard the aircraft carrier USS AMERICA (CV 66) during Operation Desert Shield. (US Navy Photo)

Cockpit of an F-14 used by NASA for flight tests (NASA photo)

NASA 834, an F-14 Navy Tomcat, seen here in flight, was used at Dryden in 1986 and 1987 in a program known as the Variable-Sweep Transition Flight Experiment (VSTFE). This program explored laminar flow on variable sweep aircraft at high subsonic speeds. (NASA photo)

NASA's experiments with the F-14 looked at ways of improving the F-14's handling at high angles of attack, increasing spin resistance, reducing "wing rocking" (i.e. tilting from side to side), and improving aircraft recovery when it departed from controlled flight (e.g., entered a spin). A number of F-14s had been lost in spin accidents, resulting in the program. — NASA’s experiments with the F-14 looked at ways of improving the F-14’s handling at high angles of attack, increasing spin resistance, reducing “wing rocking” (i.e. tilting from side to side), and improving aircraft recovery when it departed from controlled flight (e.g., entered a spin). A number of F-14s had been lost in spin accidents, resulting in the program.

NASA's F-14 in 1980, soon after its arrival at the Dryden Flight Research Center. (NASA photo) — NASA’s F-14 in 1980, soon after its arrival at the Dryden Flight Research Center. (NASA photo)

Comments

bri says

October 11, 2012 at 6:19 am

tomcat was the last ultimate dynamic military aviation platform geometric swing power delivery

appealing visual impact crowd pleasure some thing to feel proud in excitment to burn was

offered ride to air show to view what? budget heavy ‘lighning’ or are the air craft mating to the

automobile in copied exterior and gadgetry grab bag interior

purrr
Michael Jordan says

June 14, 2013 at 4:45 am

Thanks for sharing valuable information and specifications about F-14 tomcat. Do you know this aircraft was armed with a general electric vulcan
gun?