F-14 Tomcat

Sounds like "The Great Book Of Modern Warplanes": http://www.amazon.com/Great-Book-Modern-Warplanes/dp/B000RERZXY

Martin

F-14 walk around photos for those interested in this aircraft. This was on board the Museum Ship Yorktown (CV-10) in Charleston, South Carolina.

Curious Droid has recently uploaded a video about the F-14:

The F-14 was the last analogue fighter designed just before the advent of modern digital electronics and yet it went on to be one of the US Navy's most respected and feared fighters when paired with the AIM-54 Pheonix missile it was a deadly combination. This is the story of how it dominated the air and why all the spare aircraft ended up being shredded into pieces.

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Thanks for posting the video NMaude. The F-14 was one of the best fighters that Grumman ever produced, and the last before it was absorbed by Northrop.

Here's an interesting video about the alternatives the USN considered in the contest that resulted in the F-14:

The US Navy had already begun to explore a companion aircraft to the F-111B before that programme was cancelled. Faced with a shortfall in fleet defence capabilities as the Phantom aged, they instigated a crash programme to procure a new fighter. And although Grumman were clearly the front runners, they were not the only game in town.

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This video explores the VFAX and VFX programmes and summarises the Navy's alternatives to the Grumman 303.

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Main Sources:

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Although I referenced several F-14 books in the making of the video, Crowood Press' "Grumman F-14 Tomcat" by David Baker is in my view the best single volume on the type. Although it is now an expensive book to buy, it is worth it if you're really interested in the F-14

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Tony Buttler's "American Secret Projects: Fighters And Interceptors 1945-1978" is in an updated edition and an exceptional purchase. It is understandably a little light on some details of the VFAX/ VFX competitors, but still useful

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As ever, there are a wealth of brilliant Secret Projects Forum threads on this topic. Here are a selection:

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NASA LFAX-4: https://www.secretprojects.co.uk/thre...https://www.youtube.com/redirect?ev...l-designs-the-real-story.19358/&v=Z0e4m5fQGNk

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Overall thread on the competition: https://www.secretprojects.co.uk/thre...https://www.youtube.com/redirect?ev...n-alternatives-to-the-f-14.229/&v=Z0e4m5fQGNk

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Vought V-484 - https://www.secretprojects.co.uk/thre...https://www.youtube.com/redirect?ev...vought-v-484-vfax-design.12238/&v=Z0e4m5fQGNk

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Vought V-505 and V-507 - https://www.secretprojects.co.uk/thre...https://www.youtube.com/redirect?ev...hters-to-vfx-requirement.15939/&v=Z0e4m5fQGNk

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Convair 44 - https://www.secretprojects.co.uk/thre...

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Interestingly to is the author of this video made direct reference to related threads in the Secret Projects board.

Not A Pound For Air To ground has just put a LONG video about the F-14 Tomcat:

After a convoluted 15 year journey, the F-14A Tomcat went to sea for the first time in September 1974. This video goes deep into the Cold War Tomcat, one of my favourite fighters. It is both a fascinating and complex weapon system.

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Primary sources:

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In my view, the best book on the Tomcat is David Baker's "Grumman F-14 Tomcat", published by Crowood Press. Sadly it is out of print and a little on the pricey side.

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Probably the best single presentation on the Tomcat is this incredible hour-long video. A must-watch: • F-14 Design Evolution https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SsUCixAeZ0A&t=0s

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"Grumman F-14 Tomcat: Leading US Navy Fleet Fighter" by Dennis R Jenkins is an excellent but rather slimmer volume that contains some nice schematics

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"Iranian F-14 Tomcats In Combat" by Tom Cooper and Farzad Bishop is a great piece of research and a fascinating insight into the most active combat user of the Tomcat"

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F-14A & B Tomcat In Detail And Scale" is typically light on narrative but excellent for detailed shots of various components

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I used the preliminary NATOPS manual for the F-14A for some of the schematics

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Hmmm ... an F-14 Tomcat designations thread without any designation

Here's a rough start (including a bunch of unofficial 'designations'). Who has more?

F-14A - Grumman entry for Naval Fighter Experimental (VFX); x 557
- XF-14A: Unofficial designation for the first of the service test F-14A
- YF-14A: Unofficial designation for the service test F-14As; x 12
- F-14A : Effectively a replacement for the failed GD F-111B program
- F-14A : 2 x TF30-P-412A (Pratt & Whitney JTF10A) or TF30-P-414A
- F-14A (Upgrade): Introducing F-14D standard avionics into F-14As
-- F-14A (not 'F-14A-GR');* 1974 Iranian Project Persian King; x 80
-- * GR (standing for Grumman) was just part of the block numbers**
-- ** For Iranian contract, made up of F-14A-90-GR & F-14A-95-GR
- F-14AM: Iranian designation (c.2000) for IRIAF's upgraded F-14As
- F-14A (1X): NASA 991; high AOA/spin testbed; Dryden 1979-1985
- F-14A (1X): NASA 991 then joined VSTFE program with NASA 834
- JF-14A: NASA test F-14As; 1986-1987 NASA VSTFE program***
-- *** VSTFE = Variable Sweep Transition Flight Experiment
- JF-14A: 2 x F-14As fitted with natural laminar-flow wing 'gloves'
-- F-14++: Not a designation; rather F-14A modernization program
-- F-14++: To 1988 Multi-Mission Capability Avionics Program

F-14A+ - 1984 designation for F110-GE-400s in F-14A airframe; x 81
- F-14A+: 43 x F-14A conversions & another 38 x F-14A+ new-builds
- F-14A+: New equipment; AN/AWG-15F radar; no wing glove vanes
- F-14A+: aka F-14A (Plus); later redesignated by BuAer as F-14B (qv)s
- F-14 ADC: (Project) USAF Aerospace Defense Command interceptor
- F-14 Optimod: (Project) USAF Interim Manned Interceptor (IMI)
- F-14 Optimod: AN/AWG-9 + IRST; belly conformal fuel tanks
- F-14 ADC IMI: (Project) Alternative reference to the F-14 Optimod

F-14B (I) - 1973 prototype re-engining conversion to F401-P-100
- F-14B (I) : Poor performance; BuNo 157986 placed into storage
- YF-14B : Unofficial designation for this engine trials F-14B*
-- * Same unofficial designation used regardless of engine type

F-14B (II) - 1981 BuNo 157986 re-engining conversion to F401-P-100
- F-14B (II): Poor performance; BuNo 157986 placed into storage
- F-14B (II): 2nd prototype BuNo 158630 canc.; completed as F-14A

F-14B (III) - 1981 BuNo 157986 re-engining with GE F101DFEs*
- F-14B (III): This F-14 variant successful but no F101DFE prod'n
-- * GE's F110 was effectively prod'n development of F101DFE

F-14B (IV) - 1984 BuNo 157986 re-engining with F110-GE-400s*
- F-14B (IV): This F-14 variant results in F-14A+ (later F-14B)
-- * GE's F110 was effectively prod'n development of F101DFE

F-14B - May 1991 F-14A+ redesignation (both conv. & new-builds)
- F-14B (Upgrade): Introduced F-14D standard avionics to F-14Bs
- NF-14B : Redesignated F-14B; reflecting permanent test status
- NF-14B : BuNo 163223 (msn 584); NAWCWD, NAS Point Mugo
- NF-14B : F-14B Avionics Upgrade Prototype; scrapped in 2007
-- F-14++: Not a designation; rather F-14B modernization program
-- F-14++: To 1988 Multi-Mission Capability Avionics Program

F-14C - (Project) New-build upgrade program parallel to F-14B (III)
- F-14C : GE F101DFEs; upgraded avionics; improved radar & FCS*
-- * Avionics upgrades realized in late F-14As, F-14A+, and F-14D

F-14D - Super Tomcat; upgraded development of F-14B; x 37
- YF-14D: Prototype BuNo 157986 (preserved at Intrepid Museum)
- F-14D : F110-GE-400s (no A/B for T/O); AN/APG-71 radar & IRST
- F-14D(R): Upgraded F-14As; note 'R' for Rebuild not recon; x 18
- NF-14D: Redesignated F-14Ds; reflecting permanent test status
-- F-14D Projects: Grumman proposed numerous F-14D derivatives ...
-- Quickstrike: Early '90s multi-role deriv.; A-6 Intruder replacment
-- Quickstrike: aka F-14D Quickstrike; aka 'Block IV upgrade'
-- 'F/A-14D': Unofficial use for Quickstrike A-6 Intruder repl.
-- ST-21 : Super Tomcat 21; Navy Advanced Tactical Fighter (NAFT)
-- ST-21 : Lower-cost NAFT; vectoring-thrust F110-GE-429 engines
-- (A)ST-21: Attack Super Tomcat 21; potentially F-14 rebuilds
-- (A)ST-21: Emphasizing attack, obviously; AESA radar from A-12
-- ASF-14 : Advanced Strike Fighter 14; replacing for ST-21 concept
-- ASF-14 : Redesign; winning ATF engines; some stealth elements

F-14T - (Project) 1970s reduced-cost 'economy' Tomcat variant
- F-14T: Reduced avionics capability; AIM-7 and AIM-9 missiles

F-14X - (Project) 1970s reduced-cost 'economy' Tomcat variant
- F-14X: Downgraded radar capabilities; AIM-54 missiles only

RF-14 - (Project) Dedicated reconnaissance type; RA-5C replacement
- RF-14: Non-official designation; dropped for simpler TARPS pod*
-- * Late 1970s Tactical Airborne Reconnaissance Pod System**
-- Later TARPS-DI (for DIgital) & TARPS-CD (Completely Digital)