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F-14A Tomcat

The F-14A Tomcat on the field at the Pacific Coast Air Museum. Viewed from front right.
The F-14A Tomcat on the field at the Pacific Coast Air Museum. The Tomcat was the mainstay air superiority fighter of the US Navy from 1974 until 2006. During its 32 years in service, it earned a reputation as one of the most awe-inspiring combat planes of all time.
F-14A Tomcat being towed across an airport ramp. It is viewed broadside from the left side. A rounded-roof hangar is in the background.
The Tomcat's variable geometry "swing-wing" design allowed the wings to swing forward to allow slower speeds for landing and takeoff, and to swing back into a delta shape for high-speed supersonic flight.
F-14 Tomcat on the ramp at the Pacific Coast Air Museum, viewed from directly ahead and slightly to the right.
The Tomcat was a dogfighter, and was armed with an internal 20mm revolving cannon and various missiles on external pylons. The gun muzzle was on the lower left side of the nose, behind the small fairing.
F-14A Tomcat on the ramp at the Wings Over Wine Country Air Show, viewed from low down and from front right.
Rumors abound that PCAM's Tomcat participated in filming the 1986 blockbuster movie "Top Gun" starring Tom Cruise. These rumors are incorrect. Our F-14 Tomcat (160889) assigned to VF-24 on board the USS Kitty Hawk for a Western Pacific Ocean and Indian Ocean cruise while the movie was being made. This aircraft served long an honorably and its record needs no Hollywood embellishments.
F-14A Tomcat at the 2014 Wings Over Wine Country Air Show, with canopy raised so visitors can look inside. Viewed from front left.
The Tomcat was powered by two General Electric F110-GE-400 afterburning turbofans and could reach speeds of Mach 2.34, or 1,544 mph.
  • Country of origin:

    USA

  • Manufacturer:

    Grumman

  • B/N or Serial #::

    160889

  • Type:

    Shipboard variable-geometry multi-role fighter

  • Ownership:

    This aircraft is on loan from the National Naval Aviation Museum at Pensacola, Florida.

F-14A Tomcat History

03/79 through 09/97
Dates: Assigned To: Location:
03/79 – 10/79 NPRO Bethpage Bethpage
10/79 – 11/80 VF-124 NAS Miramar
11/80 – 09/81 VF-24 NAS Miramar
10/81 – 05/82 VF-24 Aboard USS Constellation
05/82 – 12/82 VF-24 NAS Miramar
12/82 – 01/83 VF-24 NAS Norfolk
01/83 – 07/83 VF-24 NAS Miramar
07/83 – 02/84 VF-24 Aboard USS Ranger
02/84 – 07/85 VF-24 NAS Miramar
07/85 – 12/85 VF-24 Aboard USS Kittyhawk
12/85 – 01/87 VF-24 NAS Miramar
05/82 – 12/82 VF-24 NAS Miramar
01/87 – 06/87 VF-24 Aboard USS Kittyhawk
06/87 – 09/87 VF-24 NAS Miramar

F-14A Tomcat Specifications

Length

62 ft 9 in (19.1 m)

Wingspan

Spread: 64 ft (19.55 m)
Swept: 38 ft (11.58 m)

Height

16 ft (4.88 m)

Empty weight

43,735 lb (19,838 kg)

Loaded weight

61,000 lb (27,700 kg)

Max. takeoff weight

74,350 lb (33,720 kg)

Two: Pilot and systems officer officer seated in tandem on Martin-Baker GRU7A rocket-assisted ejector seats

Maximum speed

Mach 2.34 (1,544 mph, 2,485 km/h) at high altitude

Combat radius

500 nmi (575 mi, 926 km)

Ferry range

1,600 nmi (1,840 mi, 2,960 km)

Service ceiling

50,000+ ft (15,200 m)

Rate of climb

>45,000 ft/min (229 m/s)

2 × General Electric F110-GE-400 afterburning turbofans, Dry thrust 16,610 lbf (73.9 kN) each, Thrust with afterburner: 28,200 lbf (134 kN) each

Fixed: 1× 20 mm (0.787 in) M61A1 Vulcan 6-barreled Gatling cannon, with 675 rounds

Disposable: Various air-to-air guided missiles. Various guided and free-fall bombs, targeting pods, and drop tanks. Disposable ordnance is carried on four under fuselage points and on two hardpoints under the inner portions of the wings, up to a maximum weight of 6,577kg (14,500lb).

Communication and navigation equipment, plus Hughes AN/ AWG-9 weapon control system with radar able to detect targets at ranges in excess of 315km (195 miles), track 24 simultaneously and attack six at varying altitudes simultaneously; Northrop TCS (Television Camera Set) for long-range identification of targets; Kaiser AN/AVG-12 head-up display; Goodyear ANIALE-39 chaff dispenser; and various electronic countermeasures systems

Sarah Kerkhof

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