is the tomact any good?

[rogue_blade]

i know lots of people love the f14(D) tomcat. and its like that sort of iconic aircraft when thinking of a 'fighter jet' and overall people just regard it so highly. i have Nothing against it, but i know nothing about it.....

is it/was it a really incredible fighter? does it have amazing fight records or something? is it just its awesome appearance?

or did Top Gun just make it the "it" jet :pilotfly:

[Aeroscout]

I dont know much about it my self.

 

This is comming from memory, as i did reed a few chapters from some aviation books.

 

I do know that the B model was just the A but with better engins.

 

The D (I think) had even better engins, improver avionics. (maybe more powerful radar,) and an internal jammer. It's a shame it was discountinued...

 

EDIT: Ok, heres a copy of a word document I wrote when I was board. Maybe it will help.

F-14 Tomcat

 

The F-14 Tomcat was created in the 70s along with it’s American counter-part the F-15 Eagle. The two planes share a similar twin air intake/engine and tail configuration. However, what separates these two are it’s roles and it’s pay load and max speed. The F-14 can reach speeds superior to any other fighter in existence. The F-14 was designed to achieve air superiority during carrier based operations, fulfilling it’s interceptor, and CAP (Combat Air Patrol) roles very well. It’s big secret: the AIM-54 Phoenix Long Rang Missile. This, combine with it’s Hughes AN/AWG-9 weapons control system, could lock on, track, and engage six targets at once from over 120 Km away, all at once. What also made this aircraft so valuable, was it’s ability to dogfight. If any aircraft got past the Tomcat’s AIM-54s then, they could continue to fight off enemy air craft with it’s cannon, AIM-9 Sidewinder, (IR Guided missile) and the AIM-7 Sparrow radar guided missile. The plane is also remarkable for it’s speeds which, as stated earlier, exceeding other operational fighter in existence. Here, it’s secret is it’s variable geometry wings. These swing out at slow speeds, when maximum lift is required and swing back when traveling fast and a high sweep angle is necessary. This allows the plane to achieve speeds in excess of Mach 2.5. The plane has served in the Balkans, Operation Desert-Storm in 1991, in Afghanistan and in Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003. While, there was never was a true F-14B, the 32 ‘As were refitted with new General Electric F-110-GE-400 engines and called the F-14B. The F-14D Features improved avionics, more powerful radar and a tactical jamming system. Of the 478 F-14As that were supplied to the US NAVY, 32 were converted the B model, 18 more to the F-14D and 37 new F-14Ds were made. The AIM-54, which could only be deployed by the Tomcat, was retired in 2004 and the F-14 it’s self was retired in the summer of 2006, Replaced by the navys only other carrier based fighter, the F/A-18 Hornet and F/A-18E Super Hornet.

 

Bibliography

“The Encyclopedia of Aircraft” Robert Jackson “Thunder Bay Press” Copy Write: 2004

[ViperEagle]

In a short phrase...yes it was that good and was it any good? hell yes. I'll give a more detailed answer later.

[SUBS17]

The 1st incident of SU27s harrassing NATO aircraft was quickly resolved by a pair of Tomcats which were all over the 27s. :thumbup:

[fretwear]

Tomcat's are badass m'fing aircraft...just ask Muammar Gaddafi. :lol:

[nellen_mellen]

Honestly, part of the reason that the Tomcat is so universally loved (besides is looks, arguably the most beautiful airframe ever... and movie appearances), is the notion that it never got much action, or was neglected/underfunded.

 

It was the pinnacle of the "uni-role" aircraft era, where "super-planes" were being made at great expense to accomplish individual tasks. Its AWG-9 radar/AIM-54 Phoenix weapons system was unrivaled at the time. This is unfortunate, because with the preceeding years after the Tomcat entered service, the US military began to "streamline" its forces, making them far more efficient at doing the same jobs.

 

One initial strike against the tomcat was the powerplant choice, the TF30-P-414A, which was very underpowered and tempermental. It wasnt replaced until the F-14B and D models with the F110-GE-400, similar to those in the F-15 and F-16.

 

Part of this "streamlining" meant the introduction of "multi-role" aircraft (the F/A-18 is the prime example of this). With time, it became clear that the Tomcat was really a cost overrun, because it was a VERY high performance aircraft, that required ALOT of man hours to maintain, all for only one role.

 

With the end of the cold war, the Tomcat's fate was basically sealed. Without the threat of long range strategic bombers, or cruise missiles, the tomcat was really out of a job. Of course, there were attempts to modernize it (the -D model), but only about 30-40 were made, because it had already been decided that smaller, less costly, more efficient, pure multi-role aircraft, like the f/a-18 and its kin would be the future of naval aviation.

[Kula66]

The 1st incident of SU27s harrassing NATO aircraft was quickly resolved by a pair of Tomcats which were all over the 27s. :thumbup:

 

Where did this happen?

 

I thought the F-14 (despite being my all-time favourite fighter) wasn't that good as at ACM? Or was it just down to crew training?

[pschelchshorn]

SU-27s? Are you nuts?! Those were SU-22 Fitters or something along the line of that!

 

Flip

[SUBS17]

SU-27s? Are you nuts?! Those were SU-22 Fitters or something along the line of that!

 

Flip

 

Nope SU27 Flankers

[SUBS17]

Where did this happen?

 

I thought the F-14 (despite being my all-time favourite fighter) wasn't that good as at ACM? Or was it just down to crew training?

 

 

The incident involved a NATO aircraft that was being harrassed by the SU27s across the Atlantic. Until the aircraft approached a Carrier Battle group where a pair of F-14s was launched to take care of the problem. After the merge both Cats were on the 27s in seconds. I remember reading about it years ago(late 80s I think) I think it was a P3 that was getting harrassed at the time. After the F-14s arrived the 27s broke off. F-14s are quite good for ACM back then as the airframes were much newer and could handle more g than they can today. I'd say it would also be the crews trainning that made them so effective.

[pschelchshorn]

okay! didnt know that! I know there were Tomcats involved in incidents in 86 and 88. I heard of norwegian and usn P-3s getting harrassed by SUs (at least one being rammed by one and hence downed) but never of an encounter between usn F-14s and (ex) soviet SU-27s.

Would be great if you could find the source, sounds very very interesting!!!!

 

 

Flip

[Aeroscout]

It does. do you know of any other incidents similar to this durring the cold war?

[3Sqn_Fudd]

To the OP.... It was unique it seems...

 

Variable geometry, carrier capable, a mini awacs antennae, range, speed...

 

Of course there's the AIM-54, regardless of scenario it kind of sucks to know that you're going to be fired on FIRST.

 

Just imagine that beast with an updated Radar, Engine, and AIM-54... absolutely sick... Stealth be damned lol

 

 

OT... stop by the 3Sqn TS sometime... I must meet someone who has joined 4 months ago and has had nearly 1000 posts

[Aeroscout]

I agree, that's what makes (or made...) the F-14 so good.

[LaRata]

1 . The big for the F-14 will be the movie " Top Gun " ... :)

 

2 . In the real only few victories :

2 x Su-22

2 x Mig-23

1 x Mi-8

 

3. No Air to Air kill using the AIM-54 in real combat.

 

" Any know any other Air to Air victory for the F-14 ... ? "

[GGTharos]

There are some unconfirmed A2A kills with the AIM-54A by Iranians.

[Frostie]

The incident involved a NATO aircraft that was being harrassed by the SU27s across the Atlantic. Until the aircraft approached a Carrier Battle group where a pair of F-14s was launched to take care of the problem. After the merge both Cats were on the 27s in seconds. I remember reading about it years ago(late 80s I think)

Are you sure they weren't Black Mig-28's:D

[pschelchshorn]

Are you sure they weren't Black Mig-28's:D

 

thats classified!

 

i could tell you..but then i'd have to kill you!

 

:D

 

Flip

[Prophet]

i know lots of people love the f14(D) tomcat. and its like that sort of iconic aircraft when thinking of a 'fighter jet' and overall people just regard it so highly. i have Nothing against it, but i know nothing about it.....

is it/was it a really incredible fighter? does it have amazing fight records or something? is it just its awesome appearance?

or did Top Gun just make it the "it" jet :pilotfly:

 

Its junk. :music_whistling:

[mikoyan]

those were su-28s :lol:

[Hellcat61]

There are loads of "confirmed" Tomcat kills with the IIAF, mind you; the Iranians do often over hype their capabilities, so I’m not saying that all accounts are true. Several of the Iranian "kills" were allegedly made with the Phoenix "A". Iranians have also lost a few Tomcats, I believe to Mirage F-1's, so it definitely isn't invincible, though those claims were made by the Iraqi's. Pretty much, all claims are rather sketchy, but they do have some substance to them I'm sure. Let’s not forget that the "six-on-six" test did work beautifully, so I don't doubt the capabilities of the old '54.

[S77th-konkussion]

One of the most beautiful aircraft ever made..

[ViperEagle]

The F-14A was NO slouch in A2A combat, yes it's engines didnt do everything the Tomcat could have, it was still very formidable. VF-14 F-14A's scored simulated "kills" against some of the Luftwaffe's best MiG-29 pilots in the 90's, including gun kills. I've got footage of F-14As scoring kills on F-16's, F-15's, Hornets, MiG-21's etc. Just in the Alpha, you had to fly the engines, not the aircraft.

 

One of the reasons the Tomcat was and is so loved is partly due to the fact that it was the first US aircraft to score an A2A kill since Vietnam. Now, F-16's and -15's did very well in Israeli hands, but not with US pilots, where the F-14's were US flown.

 

People like to bash the Tomcat, citing it's "6.5 G limit", thats bull pucky, frankly. The 6.5 G limit was placed on the airframe because it was not getting any younger, and the Navy needed to make them last as long as possible. When new and easily replacable, the F-14's airframe was 9G+. During the engagement with the SU-22's, a VF-14 Tomcat had to unload to avoid a possible missile attack, and put on 10 or 12 G's on the airframe with no negative results.

 

The simple fact is, with the end of the Cold War, the ending of the A-12 project and the A-6F program, choices had to be made. The funds were available for LANTIRN/PGM/etc intergration into the Tomcat community and roll the former A-6 crews into the Tomcat community, OR, for Aim-120 AMRAAM clearance.

 

THE CORRECT CHOICE WAS MADE. With the AMRAAM, the Tomcats would have maybe survived until 2000. With the LANTIRN and PGM's, the Navy gained a suitable step-in for the A-6, while retaining a capable Fleet Defense Interceptor/ Fighter and recon. As a strike fighter/bomber, the F-14A/B/D was more capable than the F-15E, with sharper displays and better range. When there were "tough to crack" targets, commanders on the ground requested Tomcats.

 

The B and D Tomcats were very capable ACM aircraft, infact, during RedFlag exercises, no aircraft had run down USAF F-111's on the deck..until the F-14B's showed up to play. The F-14B's and D's could kill F-16's in 1 and 2 turn fights, and could hang with F-15A's and C's in the vertical. The F-14B's and D's had tremendous power, and were superior to the TF-30's in every single way except for high altitude mach speeds. Pratt and Witneys traditionally like high speeds and high altitudes. Up high and fast, the TF-30's would likely have a bit of an edge on the GE F110's. F-14's trained in ACM and DACT right up until the end, and still regularly got the better of F-5's and Hornets.

[Frostie]

Let’s not forget that the "six-on-six" test did work beautifully, so I don't doubt the capabilities of the old '54.

Against drones its pretty much proves little unfortunately AFAIK its main purpose was to take out slow moving Bombers like the 'Bear', but im sure it would be an awesome defuser in an A2A encounter ~ who in their right mind in RL would run the gauntlet against it.

[GGTharos]

That isn't true you know; those 'drones' are meant to behave like enemy aircraft or missiles in one way or another. It proves a lot. Problems that arise AFTER this are another issue - maintenance, tin whiskers, whatever else.