Question on time frame of the F14B

[Pasquale1986]

In the end just as Chenney mentioned it, constantly, i fell the need to mention the need for PTID and Sparrowhawk

[Digitalvole]

On 8/3/2022 at 11:09 AM, DD_Fenrir said:

Where's your struggles Vole, BVR, WVR or both?

If it's getting Phoenixes to connect at range, then I suggest waiting till the range to target is 40nm or under; those 100nm shots are for lumbering, fat, dumb and happy targets that have no idea you're there and cooperating so hard they must have a death wish. For more dangerous foes make sure you're Mach 1+ at ~30K ft or higher to give your AIM-54s as much energy as you can. Don't forget to crank, and prepared to either turn back in with a follow up shot or go notch defensive if they're launching on you.

Getting toward the WVR envelope (under 20nm) adopt a STT mentality; at this stage I like to go PAL and maybe get a Phoenix in at any target >10nm. 

Sparrows work best at under 7-8nm if the target is hot. If flanking hold that to 3-4nm. If cold, 2nm. Don't forget to use the VDI; the closer you can get the inverted T symbol to the centre of the green circle the best chance you have the missile will hit. Missiles still need lead! The less energy they are obliged to expend to generate the necessary lead to make intercept after they leave your plane, the more they'll have available at the terminal phase to manoeuvre or chase down your target; if you can do that work for them your Pk will increase. 

Sidewinders are good ~5nm head in if you're using Mikes, but if your chasing the target tail on 1-2nm max. SEAM lock is a great tool in the Cat - use it! Again it will provide cueing in the VDI to allow you to do work so the missile doesn't have to.

Thank you @DD_Fenrir! I need all the help I can get and this was very much appreciated. Just for a start I was trying to use Aim 54s from too far way. Thanks

[Uxi]

Everything from that era is pretty maintenance heavy.  It really needed the ASF-14/Super Hornet treatment.

Reading that study, once it became political the heels got dug in.  It wasn't partisan on the usual party line the way it was for F-22, though.  It was mostly the New York Congressional delegation fighting for it because once the production number went so low,  it actually WAS a jobs program as the argument the NY delegation made was not on affordability but national security grounds to keep Grumman open. 

The end of the cold war abs the "peace dividend" killed many programs, the Strike Cruiser and never got to 600 ships,  either. The Forrestals were retired earlier then planned as well a the recently refurbished Iowas amongst others. 

[RustBelt]

5 hours ago, LanceCriminal86 said:

The "LANTIRN" episode of the Tomcast paints a pretty nasty picture of how hard the Hornet Mafia was working to kill the Tomcat, and kill the Intruder, and literally anything else that threatened their budget. If it weren't for quite literally the right people being in the right jobs at the right time, it would never have happened. "The Guy" knowing the back end of the AWG-9 and where and how you could piggyback to listen in on the WCS and INS, the guy knowing that there was a pile of A-12 control sticks, the other guy loaning a LANTIRN pod for testing, and guys like Dave Parsons who had worked on AIM-9X and other projects trying to get digital stuff working with analog jets. All while actively having admirals making threats and stealing every last dollar they could to ensure it couldn't be funded, tested, etc.

Even more sad when you consider the light attack community that became the strike fighter community was mostly the A-7E guys, the "we don't need a RIO/WSO" guys. And when the Intruder went away a lot of those BNs and pilots actually ended up on the Tomcat side, bringing their strike experience to enhance the training for the Tomcat RAG and LANTIRN stuff.

OH, and the PTID was a separate effort from LANTIRN, it just ended up that they went together perfect. PTID was part of separate upgrade programs to replace the old TIDs that you couldn't even read or see anymore. I believe that effort was called the MCAP Mod (Multi-Mission Capable), which was happening on one of the former VF-74 jets in 1995 at VX-9/Pt. Mugu at about the same time that LANTIRN was happening out at Oceana.

Remember, when people say “hornet mafia” they literally mean M/D-Boeing shills setting up their retirement employment plans. 
 

Boeing gets what Boeing wants.
 

Northrup Grumman was already being put to pasture by the time F-14D came along. They never recovered after the YF-23 lost. They’re a legacy support contractor and missile maker now. And will likely be absorbed by the MI complex big 3 very soon. 

Edited August 4, 2022 by RustBelt