Changes

Because of the Tomcat's size, and the view it presented when seen from above, pilots jokingly called the plane the "Flying tennis court".   

Because of the Tomcat's size, and the view it presented when seen from above, pilots jokingly called the plane the "Flying tennis court".   

The Tomcat had a gift for show business.  It's first movie appearance was in [[''The Final Countdown'']] in 1980, where the USS ''Nimitz'' goes back in time to December 7, 1941. However, ''Top Gun'' made the Tomcat a star.   

The Tomcat had a gift for show business.  It's first movie appearance was in ''[[The Final Countdown]]'' in 1980, where the USS ''Nimitz'' goes back in time to December 7, 1941. However, ''[[Top Gun]]'' made the Tomcat a star.   

 

The F-14 began replacing the [[F-4]] Phantom II in U.S. naval service in September of 1974.<ref>Fighter, by Jim Winchester, 2006</ref>  It first saw combat over the Gulf of Sidra, off the coast of [[Libya]], in August of 1981.  2 Tomcats shot down 2 Libyan Su-22 Fitters after one of the Fitters had fired a missile at them.<ref>Historical Atlas of the U.S. Navy, by Craig L. Symonds, 1995</ref>  In January of 1989, F-14s again saw action against Libyan planes, this time 2 F-14s shot down 2 Mig-23 Floggers over the Gulf of Sidra.

The F-14 began replacing the [[F-4]] Phantom II in U.S. naval service in September of 1974.<ref>Fighter, by Jim Winchester, 2006</ref>  It first saw combat over the Gulf of Sidra, off the coast of [[Libya]], in August of 1981.  2 Tomcats shot down 2 Libyan Su-22 Fitters after one of the Fitters had fired a missile at them.<ref>Historical Atlas of the U.S. Navy, by Craig L. Symonds, 1995</ref>  In January of 1989, F-14s again saw action against Libyan planes, this time 2 F-14s shot down 2 Mig-23 Floggers over the Gulf of Sidra.