Difference between revisions of "F-14 Tomcat"
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[[Image:DesertStormF14ATomcatburningtarget.JPG|250px||thumb|A Tomcat fies over a burning Iraqi oil complex during [[Desert Storm]].]] | [[Image:DesertStormF14ATomcatburningtarget.JPG|250px||thumb|A Tomcat fies over a burning Iraqi oil complex during [[Desert Storm]].]] | ||
| − | The '''F-14 Tomcat''' is a supersonic, twin-engine, variable sweep wing, two-seat fighter designed to attack and destroy enemy aircraft at night or day, and in all weather conditions. Carrier based, the Tomcat has variable geometry wings | + | The '''F-14 Tomcat''' is a supersonic, twin-engine, variable sweep wing, two-seat fighter designed to attack and destroy enemy aircraft at night or day, and in all weather conditions. Carrier-based, the Tomcat has variable geometry wings for easy storage and increased speed or manoeuvrability. Until its retirement in 2006, it was the primary air-superiority fighter for the [[U.S. Navy]]. It was the only airplane that could operate the long-range Phoenix air-to-air missile. In addition, it could carry [[AIM-7 Sparrow]] and [[AIM-9 Sidewinder]] missiles, and carried an internal Vulcan 20mm cannon. |
==Design== | ==Design== | ||
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==Retirement== | ==Retirement== | ||
| − | The Tomcat has been replaced by newer planes in the [[United States]] | + | The Tomcat has been replaced by newer planes in the [[United States]] Air Force. In order to prevent spare parts reaching terrorists ([[Iran]] uses those planes based on purchases of 80 Tomcats and 633 [[AIM-54 Phoenix]] missiles they made under the [[Shah]]), the United States government is having the planes destroyed. |
Type: Two-seat carrier-borne fighter | Type: Two-seat carrier-borne fighter | ||
Revision as of 17:41, October 1, 2008
The F-14 Tomcat is a supersonic, twin-engine, variable sweep wing, two-seat fighter designed to attack and destroy enemy aircraft at night or day, and in all weather conditions. Carrier-based, the Tomcat has variable geometry wings for easy storage and increased speed or manoeuvrability. Until its retirement in 2006, it was the primary air-superiority fighter for the U.S. Navy. It was the only airplane that could operate the long-range Phoenix air-to-air missile. In addition, it could carry AIM-7 Sparrow and AIM-9 Sidewinder missiles, and carried an internal Vulcan 20mm cannon.
Design
In the 1950s, the Navy was in the market for a high-tech air superiority fighter which could kill Russian "Bear" and "Badger" bombers hundreds of miles away from the carrier, before the Soviet aircraft could fire cruise missiles at the ship. The General Dynamics F-111 program was cancelled by the Navy (it was continued by the Air Force). In 1969, the Navy selected Grumman's prototype. The aircraft was designed to make obsolete, in matters of electronics and armament, every other fighter in the world. The F-14 was equipped to carry up to six AIM-54 Phoenix missiles with over a hundred-mile range. The radar was sophisticated enough to pick six targets from over 30 planes.
Because of the Tomcat's size, and the view it presented when seen from above, pilots jokingly called the plane the "Flying tennis court".
Service
The F-14 began replacing the F-4 Phantom II in U.S. naval service in September of 1974.[1] 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.[2] 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.[3]
The Tomcat in popular culture
The Tomcat had a gift for show business. Its 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 movie Top Gun was supposed to star Tom Cruise and Kelly McGillis. The way it worked out, though, it was starring: F-14 Tomcat. Co-starring: Tom Cruise and Kelly McGillis.
The F-14 performed equally well on the small screen, frequently guest-starring on the TV series, JAG.
Retirement
The Tomcat has been replaced by newer planes in the United States Air Force. In order to prevent spare parts reaching terrorists (Iran uses those planes based on purchases of 80 Tomcats and 633 AIM-54 Phoenix missiles they made under the Shah), the United States government is having the planes destroyed.
Type: Two-seat carrier-borne fighter
Powerplant: Two 20,900 lb. thrust Pratt & Whitney afterburning turbojets
Performance: Mach 2.34 (1564 mph) at altitude
Weight: (empty) 39,310 lbs. (normal take-off) 58,539 lbs.
Dimensions: Wingspan(unswept) 64 ft. (Swept) 38 ft. Length- 61 ft. Height- 16 ft.
Armament: 1 General Electric M61A-1 20 millimeter multi barrel Vulcan cannon with 675 rounds, and either
6 Hughes AIM-54 Phoenix missiles
4 Hughes AIM-54 Phoenix missiles and 2 AIM-7 Sparrow missiles or 2 AIM-9 Sidewinder missiles
2 Hughes AIM-54 Phoenix missiles, 2 AIM-7 Sparrow missiles, and 2 AIM-9 Sidewinder missiles
Current operators: Iran
Previous operators: US Navy, US Marine Corps
External links
References
- ↑ Fighter, by Jim Winchester, 2006
- ↑ Historical Atlas of the U.S. Navy, by Craig L. Symonds, 1995
- ↑ Article in Time Magazine