F-14 Tomcat | History Of Grumman Twin-Engine, Twin-Tail, Variable-Sweep Wing Fighter Aircraft

The Grumman F-14 Tomcat is an American carrier-capable supersonic, twin-engine, two-seat, twin-tail, variable-sweep wing fighter aircraft. The Tomcat was developed for the United States Navy's Naval Fighter Experimental (VFX) program after the General Dynamics-Grumman F-111B project collapsed. The F-14 was the first American Teen Series fighter, designed to incorporate air combat experience against MiG fighters during the Vietnam War.
The F-14 flew on December 21, 1970, and was first deployed in 1974 with the U.S. Navy aboard USS Enterprise (CVN-65), replacing the McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II. The F-14 served as the U.S. Navy's primary maritime air superiority fighter, fleet defense interceptor, and tactical aerial reconnaissance platform into the 2000s. The Low Altitude Navigation and Targeting Infrared for Night (LANTIRN) pod system was added in the 1990s, and the Tomcat began performing precision ground-attack missions.
In the 1980s, F-14s were used as land-based interceptors by the Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force during the Iran-Iraq War, where they saw combat against Iraqi warplanes. Iran claimed their F-14s shot down at least 160 Iraqi aircraft during the war (only 55 of these confirmed, according to historian Tom Cooper), while 16 Tomcats were lost, including seven losses to accidents.
The Tomcat was retired by the U.S. Navy on 22 September 2006, having been supplanted by the Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet. Several retired F-14s have been put on display across the US. The F-14 remains in service with Iran's air force, having been exported to Iran under the Pahlavi dynasty in 1976.
Beginning in the late 1950s, the U.S. Navy sought a long-range, high-endurance interceptor to defend its carrier battle groups against long-range anti-ship missiles launched from the jet bombers and submarines of the Soviet Union. They proposed a Fleet Air Defense (FAD) aircraft with a more powerful radar and longer-range missiles than the F-4 Phantom II to intercept enemy bombers and missiles at very long range. Studies into this concept led to the Douglas F6D Missileer project of 1959. Still, this large subsonic aircraft appeared unable to defend itself once it fired its missiles, and the project was canceled in December 1961.
General characteristics
Crew: 2 (Pilot and Radar Intercept Officer)
Length: 62 ft 9 in (19.13 m)
Wingspan: 64 ft 1.5 in (19.545 m)
Swept wingspan: 38 ft 2.5 in (11.646 m) swept
Height: 16 ft (4.9 m)
Wing area: 565 sq ft (52.5 m2) wings only
1,008 sq ft (94 m2) effective area including fuselage
Airfoil:
Grumman (1.74)(35)(9.6)-(1.1)(30)(1.1) root
Grumman (1.27)(30)(9.0)-(1.1)(40)(1.1) tip
Empty weight: 43,735 lb (19,838 kg)
Gross weight: 61,000 lb (27,669 kg)
Max takeoff weight: 74,350 lb (33,725 kg)
Fuel capacity: 16,200 lb (7,348 kg) internal fuel; 2 × optional 267 US gal (222 imp gal; 1,010 l) / 1,756 lb (797 kg) external tanks
Powerplant: 2 × General Electric F110-GE-400 afterburning turbofans, 16,610 lbf (73.9 kN) thrust each dry, 28,200 lbf (125 kN) with afterburner
Performance
Maximum speed: Mach 2.34 (1,544 mph, 2,485 km/h) at altitude
Range: 1,600 nmi (1,800 mi, 3,000 km)
Combat range: 500 nmi (580 mi, 930 km)
Service ceiling: 53,000 ft (16,000 m) plus
g limits: +7.5
Rate of climb: 45,000 ft/min (230 m/s) plus
Wing loading: 96 lb/sq ft (470 kg/m2)
48 lb/sq ft (230 kg/m2) effective
Thrust/weight: 0.92 at gross weight (1.07 with loaded weight & 50% internal fuel)
Armament
Guns: 1× 20 mm (0.787 in) M61A1 Vulcan 6-barreled rotary cannon, with 675 rounds
Hardpoints: 10 total: 6× under-fuselage, 2× under nacelles, and 2× on wing gloves with a capacity of 14,500 lb (6,600 kg) of ordnance and fuel tanks, with provisions to carry combinations of:
Rockets: 7x LAU-10 rocket pods (for a total of 28 rockets)
Missiles: AIM-54 Phoenix, AIM-7 Sparrow, AIM-9 Sidewinder air-to-air missiles:
Bombs:
JDAM precision-guided munition (PGMs)
Paveway series of laser-guided bombs
Mk 80 series of unguided iron bombs
Mk 20 Rockeye II cluster munition
Other:
Tactical Airborne Reconnaissance Pod System (TARPS)
LANTIRN Targeting System (LTS) pod (AN/AAQ-14)
2× 267 US gal (1,010 l; 222 imp gal) drop tanks for extended range/loitering time
Avionics
Hughes AN/APG-71 radar
AN/ALR-67 radar warning receiver
AN/AAS-42 infrared search and track, AAX-1 TCS
AN/ASN-130 Inertial navigation system
Remotely Operated Video Enhanced Receiver (ROVER) upgrade
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[@pauldutoit3928]

😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😅😊😊😊😅😊😊😅😊😅😊😊😅😊😊😊😅😅😊😅😅😊😅😅😅😊😅😅😅😅😊😅😅😊😅😊😊😮

[@joemoore4027]

I spent 16 years helping build the Tomcat for Grumman Aerospace at the Calverton, New York, Long Island final assembly plant #6. Working on all the models from all the A's to the final D version and all prototype test aircraft. Having to had the chance to actually build and help develop the test aircraft was a once in a life time opportunity for an aircraft tech as myself. There was immense pride in all the workers on the assembly line to put out the best quality aircraft we could build and it was a sad day for all of us to see the final aircraft lift off form the field ending an era of the greatest Navy fighter ever built, period. The pilot gave us one hell of a good bye airshow before leaving. There were many with tears in their eyes, I'm proud the have been a " Grumman Iron Worker ". Tomcats forever.

[@jordanmascarenhas7974]

Thank you for your high quality, hard work supplying those who serve as the pointy end of the spear that is our Navy. Truly the best Fighter of its time (I see you 15 Eagle fans). Do you know of any footage or photos from those days at Calverton? I’ve had my share of fun drag racing down the Calverton Naval Weapons Station 7,500ft and 10,000ft runways with friends before the town allowed official, sanctioned racing these past few summers. Cheers, Grummanite! Any time baby

[@ronalddyer6673]

My grandfather worked there for 47 years

[@nickw6617]

my true thanks to you and all involved, the Tomcat is still my favorite jet fighter of all time.

[@nexpro6118]

And I'm batman

[@gordonliddy9418]

The government should've extended their life just like the F-15 with the ex program. Would've been wild to see what was possible with this platform in 2024.

[@gavinturner9504]

The Tomcat F14 is just a stunning thing to look at. Even just sitting on its wheels on the deck of a carrier, it looks invincible.

[@ThomasBestonso-zr4ko]

Aside from the obvious retractable wings it looks like the SU-27/family , fuselage with the wide dual engine and flat body,so if you're gonna copy , she's the beast of the high seas... so elegant for a big girl !

[@mikewithers299]

Ive always had a fascination with the Tomcat and Eagle. Both eclipsing anything before it. 🇺🇸

[@bwest6275]

Anyone else fall in love with the F14 because of Macross/Robotech? That anime made fall in love with this aircraft, and motivated me to learn more about it 👍

[@mocafrost]

It was Top Gun for me.

[@phillipchallis966]

Not sure which influenced which firsr in my mind, but i love the F-14 and the Veritech both 😊

[@sleepyhollow783]

F-14 Tomcat = Robotec (Macross) Thanks, childhood, for forever linking the two.

[@4g6XX]

I got to witness these machines at work in Roosevelt roads naval station puerto rico during the 90s they would rip open the skies regularly.

[@joserdiazalmodovar1898]

@@4g6XX I remember back in the late 90,s I think that the I think was the George Washington you correct me that was stationed offshore from Ponce Puerto Rico like for about a month or so I saw the Tomcats fly overhead Ponce a couple of times also in one occasion I saw the A-6,s and the F-14,s in formation over the city Awesome.

[@AgricultureTechUS]

What a beautiful bird to fly.

[@greenbeenie2]

Fantastic video, great research went into this, thank you.

[@jrmotorsports5532]

The greatest aircraft, all time. She is a beauty!

[@jackmeoffer9334]

best dam fighter ever!❤❤❤ the f14 is the og

[@djsilverva]

My Grandfather was the contract negotiator that helped put the deal together between Grumman and the US Navy

[@ginodelgobbo9237]

Best fighter, period.

[@DaveTaste]

Which period?

[@alexdovbysh67]

Thanks so much 🙏😊

[@John-jl9de]

Thanks, much appreciated.

[@joshuajuarez3471]

Beside the swing wing cost of maintenance, the engine probably at first. The plane yawed tremendously on an engine failure. Such a beautiful plane. But I bet -like all- she had the pilots cursing and talking nice to her lol

[@foofghtr]

She wasn’t so bad to maintain, that’s all political bs and partly the Navy’s fault for pencil whipping paperwork to make the squadrons workers appear busier than they really were. SAF’s and MAF’s were how paperwork was done. Engines are changed every 500 hours of use in flight, always. It’s called High Time.

[@kellyschram5486]

It's one of the most stupid things the US Navy has ever done was to drop this aircraft. She is still better then the f35 any day of the year

[@joshfrommilan6130]

Sure Jan.

[@CHADTHUNDERCOCK80085]

You smoking crack?

[@DennisBante]

Ditto. Samething with F15.

[@willyvonbusche729]

Very interesting video. How about Tomcat vs. F 35?

[@cbspock1701]

The Tomcat reached its potential toward the end of its service when it was being used as the Bombcat and using the Lantirn pod to guide hornet “bomb trucks” to targets

[@PaulZink-k8d]

Still need the squadron of Tomcats.

[@markrix]

Right in to... The danger zone...

[@aim_for_the_puss]

23:04 “Twenty eights….No one’s been this close before!” 😂

[@lironk1]

Nice F15 Hud footage 😂

[@khublieoldschoolgamer5737]

The two navy pilots talking in the park, I'm sure the one on the right is a young senator Ted Cruz

[@frisk151]

And NOBODY on this planet (russia and va-china) either have a carrier or the understanding to opporate one, period... We could go back to the F-14's etc on 80's carriers and beat the life out of any foe... And, that is OLD tech.. The F-14 was the friggen boss at this for a very long time...

[@charlesrussell8557]

In the US made a big big mistake probably due to corruption they should have updated it and kept it in our inventory it was probably and still would probably be the best fighter we had and would have if updated kind of like the mistake there were about to make with the warthog and getting rid of the Marines tanks mistake just like getting rid of our battleships

[@khublieoldschoolgamer5737]

Did I just see senator Ted Cruz

[@clivedamagedgoods]

AI voice = no thanks

[@Dronescapes]

You know what is really scary? This is not AI at all. the narrator is Nick H. a BBC and British radio voice, who also worked on several documentaries for the last few decades. The fact the so many people cannot distinguish between a real person and AI in 2024 gives us a glimpse into the future, when a number of people like you will not be able to distinguish reality on a vast scale. I wonder if these people will also start questioning their own existence. It is really frightening as distinguishing between AI and real is still quite easy today. I also wonder how many other things you question on a daily basis that are actually real. All this makes me very concerned about the current ability of an increasing number of people to trust and judge what they hear, and see. Your mistake is a clear indication that we all need to be very scared, and a voiceover would even be harmless, but it should still be within our basic human abilities to distinguish.

[@willyvonbusche729]

It is easy to distinguish AI voice from a human voice. In this video you missed totally. You have to check your hearing mate. 🤔

[@JuliusSegiente-un6zi]

The rank as mig killer no Doubt.i like F14 and F4 phantom.

[@ronalddyer6673]

My grandfather built tomcats for Grumman

[@Dronescapes]

Bless him

[@ronalddyer6673]

@@Dronescapes thank you

[@JuliusSegiente-un6zi]

I like f14,what ever.

[@shanefrederickson7468]

Alwayz was a hydraulic nightmare. If she wasn't pissin all over the cat we didn't launch er. Top er off n she'd come back bout a 1/25 low after sealin up.😎🇺🇲

[@jordanmascarenhas7974]

Imagine she was developed recently. She’d be far less hydraulics-laden and easier to maintain Thank you for your service!

[@joserdiazalmodovar1898]

Super Tomcat!

[@joshuajuarez3471]

I love the side by side seaters. I’m an aviation nerd. My favorite plane as a young boy and now is the A6 intruder. The side by side. Then the f-16. Then the F111. Wierd huh. The F111 in a fav too 3?!? Ya. Despite her issues love that plane

[@allansmith9004]

No B-1? I think B-1 is the most awesome looking plane EVER. Tomcat #2

[@joshuajuarez3471]

@@allansmith9004 ohhhhh damn!!!!!! How could I ?!?!? Didn’t cross my mind! That’s on me! Yes the B1. But the A6 intruder is the one I want to fly if I could go back in time

[@rschris]

Wish they would come out with a six gen Tomcat, for the fleet defense and F/A what would that look like!!

[@oliverlarsen6768]

With the size difference alone the Hornet is a better choice for getting as many planes aboard possible. Incredibly ugly but proven effective.

[@EricinSoKo]

I understand the sentiment, but advocating for swing wing designs in the age of stealth is like saying the P-51 was a great plane, send her against tomcats. A sixth gen fleet defense fighter will look like the F/A-X because that’s what a sixth gen fleet defense fighter looks like.

[@t8z5h3]

I feel like if the T-14 was developed for the navy then adopted for the Air Force Robert McNamara vision would have worked as the navy had the higher requirements then you can "relax" the requirements for the air force's version or keep them tithe same as the navy and have a longer lived platform

[@OppoShop-i8h]

All Tri- units are for Peace Making and Rescue Operation.❤

[@SteepSix]

What a beast of a machine. I think tho that the F-111b was a missed opportunity for the Navy... Remember the F-111 could carry twice the payload four times farther than the Tomcat, and it could go higher and faster. The F-14 could have complemented those strike capabilities. Stand off strike capabilities that the Navy hasn't now, or ever, had in a weapons platform!

[@lincolncwynar1547]

I remember the first and last time I saw/experienced this beautiful bird like it was yesterday. The first, was at the Kalamazoo air show (mid 1980’s). The second, was during my time serving aboard the USS Independence CV-62 (mid to late 1990”s). My favorite routine, during my off duty times, was to watch launch/arresting sorties from the “crows nest” when we were deployed in the Persian Gulf (Desert Thunder, UN inspection procedures in Iraq). Lastly, if I never saw Top Gun in the movie theater as a kid, I might have pursued a different path after high school.

[@kevinthompson2111]

Yes I remember that was the only thing that I love about the aircraft carrier was landing back on it

[@VulcanDriver1]

I loved the Tomcat.

[@williamcase426]

Love the version that can transform into a robot. The half-mode between full robot and plane with the arms and legs out is the coolest.

[@andyberry-zx2lt]

guardian mode, in original anime, was called gerwalk.

[@PaulZink-k8d]

What a beautiful bird to fly.

[@odinshunter9297]

RoboTech series are based on Tomcats!?

[@kellyschram5486]

It's been so long since the Navy seen reality is there have no clue. The older air air still the best answer because the new ones have not been tried or been proven in anyway.

[@CHADTHUNDERCOCK80085]

Proven or not l dont think an f14, as great of a fighter she is, would ever stand a chance with later 4th and any 5th gen.

[@dougwhite2897]

USS AMERICA CVA-66 🇺🇸

[@taekim1]

I see where Don and Jerry got the idea for a movie...

[@watup110875]

B-52 F-14 cats SR-71 love all three since 1983 popular mechanic

[@shakeandbake7324]

Tomcat is what you get when you build the jet around the missle 🫡

[@CHADTHUNDERCOCK80085]

More like built around a radar, the missiles were alright. US almost never employed the aim 54 and iran saw limited sucess, it was an anti ballistic/cruise missle and bomber missile. The later sparrows were great! However, that radar, to this day, is still on of the best radars ever designed.