CheckGear

So basically all of California and northwest Nevada, got it. :thumbup:

So that's what was underneath of the Tomcat's nose prior to TCS? Once the TCS was installed, where'd the IRST sensor go?

The TCS wasn't fully implemented until the early-1980s. Until then, I believe the F-14 had the AN/ALQ-100 ECM system in that spot under the nose. Somebody please correct me if I'm wrong.

It's a shame the F-14 couldn't splash a few North Vietnamese MiGs as a final "f**k you" to the Communists!

Mine: 1. Levant (Area encompassing Cyprus, Egypt, Gaza, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Turkey, western Iraq) 2. Persian Gulf (not just the Strait of Hormuz) 3. Korean Peninsula 4. North Pacific 5. Afghanistan 6. Horn of Africa (including Yemen) 7. GIUK Gap

I dedicate this thread to all Aviation Boatswain's Mates past, present, and future.

Except for policy-related reasons, which ultimately dictate whether a country becomes embroiled in a war or not. :dunno:

Does anybody know if the module will simulate the ability to record footage using the TCS?

Box set with a collection of F-14 squadron patches would be real nice...

1985 - 1995 seems to be the time period they're aiming for. Especially since they've got the AI A-6 coming out as well. By the time Sparrowhawk was introduced, the A-6 was long gone. I do agree that the Sparrowhawk is unnecessary.

Or at least transparent.

I'm obviously not speaking for Heatblur, but I'd think so. Both were in service by the time the F-14A+ (which later became the B) entered the fleet, so...

Will we be able to select the size of the T-shirt? Anything other than Medium won't fit me.

Along with a Diet Pepsi, right? It's the Choice of a New Generation, after all.

Well, you got the perfect carrier for it - Forrestal, which VF-31 and sister squadron VF-11 spent a good chunk of their F-14A days flying off of.

Thanks brah. It's funny how its role as aggressor adversary and being featured as the MiG-28 has made the F-5 the Tomcat's chief air-to-air nemesis. How Iran operates its Tomcats depends on time period. The 1980 - '88 period was one (very fascinating) story. Afterwards, their Tomcats became less and less relevant and are now probably more of a status symbol. Iranians being Iranians, I'm sure they could easily use them in an unconventional fashion, but they're certainly not much of an air-to-air threat in an operational or strategic perspective.

That stuff's going to take a titanic effort as well, not unlike the effort that got the F-14B out the door. I'd say we're going to be electing America's next president by the time we get to play DCS: F-14 the way its meant to be played.

I'm buying mine later in the day. I can't wait for the A-model to be released!

The liveliness of the RIO adds a human touch. I was thinking while watching the video, "Man, I really do have to look after him!" Thanks, I was out of the country a lot so I missed a lot of the news. Typical DCS fan response. Never satisfied.

Just finished watching the livestream. That was unbelievable!!! Except one question - where's the F-14A?

:megalol::megalol::megalol::megalol::megalol::megalol::megalol::megalol: Don't get me wrong; I considered that scenario. But the total lack of AEW participation bugged the heck out of me. The last thing the carrier group would want to do is give away their own position by utilizing their own radars!

You are wrong. Starting around 1998, the A-variant utilized LANTIRN. Keep in mind, a large percentage of Tomcats in service even in the early-to-mid-2000s were still the A-variant. Most of the Pacific Fleet squadrons flew the F-14A, but they all dropped tons of precision-guided ordnance in Afghanistan and Iraq.

You answered your own question.

Oh boy, where do I begin??? FEEL DUH POWAH!!!

I wanted to start a thread dedicated to missions and campaigns people would like to see with DCS: F-14. I want to see a good mix of historical and hypothetical products (based on fact, of course). We're a bit limited given there's only three (really good) maps, but it's still offers plenty of room for great Tomcat action. Here's what I would like to see: - ACEVAL/AIMVAL, 1976: ACEVAL/AIMVAL stands for Air Combat Evaluation/Air Intercept Evaluation and took place between 1974 - '78. It was a series of joint-Air Force-Navy tests that resulted in, among other things, the AIM-120 AMRAAM. It involved the Tomcat, Air Force F-15s, and adversary F-5s and took place at Nellis Air Force Base. This mission would allow a player to experience that post-Vietnam War transition period where new tactics and technologies were being developed as they attempted to recover from the humbling experiences from the decade prior. - Eagle Claw, 1980: This mission assumes the rescue force actually made it to Tehran and secured the hostages. But they're now trapped at the airport and cannot escape. F-14As of VF-41 and VF-84 must fly top cover for A-7s and A-6s providing close air support so an escape can be facilitated. In a proceeding mission, you'd fly F-14s escorting the C-141 ferrying the hostages and rescue team out of Iran. In these missions, you'd be the same pilots and RIOs as the ones that appeared in The Final Countdown. - Distant Comrade, 1980: This mission is inspired by a scenario from Command: Modern Air/Naval Operations. Three U.S. warships are attempting to transit the Strait of Hormuz during a period of severe unrest in Saudi Arabia and hostilities with Iran. One of the warships strikes a mine and is now exposed to air and naval attack. You'll fly F-14As from either VF-24 or VF-211 off Constellation providing cover for the rescue operation. - Ukraine, 1994: This campaign is a re-creation of the campaign that came with Electronic Arts' U.S. Navy Fighters back in '94. You'd fly F-14Bs of VF-32 of CVW-3 off Dwight D. Eisenhower. - Collision Course, 1995: With border clashes occurring almost daily along the DMZ in Korea, the U.S. commits a significant percentage of its military to the region. Meanwhile, tensions between Iran and Saudi Arabia have reached dangerous levels, with several clashes already reported. The USS Theodore Roosevelt and CVW-8 has their deployment extended and are sent to the Strait of Hormuz to ensure Freedom of Navigation and deter any further hostilities. You'll fly F-14As of VF-41. - Vengeance, 1996: On June 25, 1996, the Khobar Towers in Saudi Arabia, killing American servicemembers. Later that year, Riyadh divulges information that reveals Iranian complicity. The Clinton administration launches a global campaign of maximum pressure against Tehran, while bolstering the U.S. presence in the Gulf region with the carriers Carl Vinson and Enterprise. Retaliatory strikes are prepared; the player will fly F-14Bs of VF-103 off Enterprise (Vinson operated F-14Ds at this time). These are the dream scenarios I'd love to see. I know the Tomcat is associated with the '80s, but I actually think it's very much a '90s plane as well and these scenarios reflect that.