Grumman F-14 Tomcat | A Brief History Of The Iconic Aircraft | Upscaled

A brief history of the Grumman F-14 Tomcat, including some rare and unseen upscaled footage.
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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#f14 #f14tomcat #aircraft

[@Dronescapes]

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[@douglasfortin9711]

As a third generation X Grumman employee (E2-C) I always considered the F-14 to be Grumman's last hurrah before the banker took over.

[@joshuajuarez3471]

Word

[@darthnihilus511]

Probably the most beautiful fighter ever created

[@darkknight1340]

Certainly, the most beautiful carrier borne fighter yet built.

[@FallenAngel-it7so]

That must have been an exhilarating experience to sit in the cockpit of that beautiful aircraft it has so much view !

[@dizzysquirrel7292]

The first movie that the Tomcat appeared in was the movie The Final Countdown

[@darkknight1340]

A beautiful aircraft that was retired far too soon.

[@hoghogwild]

34 years of service of service is damned impressive esp. considering the catapult launches and arrested landings.

[@skrolkable]

"...They were fine, they were on our bowling team that night." - Tom.

[@davidvonslingshot]

as someone who’s watched Top Gun 37014 times I can say for sure this documentary is accurate. “International Relations” could only be done in an F-14. Thanks Grumman!

[@vitorhugolinonovais2861]

The best, beautiful plane I've see. Good or not, glad that still exist in some countries.

[@manfromks]

Iran?!?

[@joemoore4027]

I worked for Grumman Aerospace on Long Island, N.Y. at the main final assembly plant #6 in Calverton.. It was an honor to help build all the Tomcat models and prototypes over 15 years. It was a very sad day watching the last F-14 leave the plant. A truly great naval fighter, period.

[@suzbs123]

Hi. I worked for Grumman Aircraft systems composite plant in Milledgeville GA from 1984 to 1990. I was very proud of the work we did. I even got to do a TDY in Bethpage which opened my eyes to what Grumman was all about. It as my first job from college in 1984 and I remember it like it was yesterday. Loved Grumman.

[@joemoore4027]

@@suzbs123 I had a passion for working for Grumman and to see the front gate close I could not look back. People would always say, " wow you work on F-14's ! '. I truly miss working there. Nice to hear from a fellow Grummanite after all these years. Be safe.

[@davidregier1463]

Thank you for making this awesome footage available for we aviation buffs to watch and rewatch. Keep up the good work!

[@Rockstago]

@DroneScapes - You just keep giving us unique & rare footage about these planes your audience love! THANK YOU! We love being able to view content that's not available anywhere else!

[@davidkelly7459]

The f14 tomcat is the awesome airplane and still can do the job today❤

[@jiceBERG]

Great video saw some footage i have never seen on YT before 👌. Love it

[@richardbartlett1294]

Great information, good picture coverage, need a good editing job. F104??

[@tippo5341]

Thank you @DroneScapes for bringing us all that beautiful piece on probably the most beautiful of fighter aircraft to grace the skies after having been flung off a carrier!!! I'd imagine many of you might already be subs of Ward Carroll's, if not though, head across to his channel, great content no matter the issue at hand. He also had a cameo in this video with the Punk's trilogy of books noted and mentioned the brotherhood the pilot and RIO formed!!!!

[@charlesmak534]

Once they got rid of that original TF-30 and replaced it with the F110 engine...

[@hoghogwild]

They never got rid of the TF30, most F-14 were retired with TF30s as there were so few F-14B and D variants built 478-A variants for US Navy + 81 F-14B variants 38 new build B and 43 B rebuilt from A known as F-14B(R) + 55 F-14D variants with 37 new build D and 18 D rebuilt from A known as F-14D(R)= 614 F-14 of all variants built for the US Navy, plus 79 F-14A and 274 Phoenix delivered to Iran.

[@SliceofLife7777]

Over 3 decades of unmatched air superiority. Nobody could match it. Today's leading militaries boast 100 mile air to air missles. This bird was test launching the Phoenix missle in April of 1972. (I stand corrected)

[@manfromks]

AIM-54 first flew on the F-111 before 1970. Tomcat didn't fly until 1973.

[@SliceofLife7777]

@@manfromks Yes, thanks.

[@roberttalarsky4238]

14 we're just coming into the fleet when I was going out

[@leeg4804]

Good evening sir what did you fly

[@theaquarian5849]

Anytime, Baby!

[@hamidbright541]

The most hunts and records of F-14 have been shown by iranian pilots (more than 150 hunts)! such as crash down three Mig-23s by a Pheonix missile , 12 hours non stop flight over the persian gulf , the longest range hunt by a Pheonix missile (100 miles) and hunting the fastest fighter in the world (Mig-25) !!!

[@Dronescapes]

Here is the account on those F-14s made by a person that lived that event: kzbin.info/www/bejne/oXvNp4Jqm7t5e9k

[@hamidbright541]

@@Dronescapesyeah, I saw it however you didn’t pay to the Iranian pilot’s records in it!!

[@ronaryel6445]

Some very nice interviews, but the film includes no interviews with Hughes engineers and no interviews with Garrett AirResearch engineers, who created the General Air Data Computer governing the swing wings.

[@fazbearentertainment4240]

Love the videos but the caption for something reason are off and show things before their said in parts of the video with no talking.

[@duanepierson4375]

To bad that Grumman had no connection to Halliburton. Other wise Dick Cheney would not have tried 3 times to kill before he finally did. He did profit off of Northrup Grumman however. Ward Carol explains the end of the Tomcat fairly well. I know that a F-14 has parity with the F-15, especially after the F110 engine swap.

[@delf197810]

Too bad that they dont have some of them in flying status today, even for air-show purposes. Seeing them as static exhibit is one thing...but seeing them flying is another.

[@TOMCATnbr]

Best plane ever ❤️ For ever Tomcat, baby!!

[@robertlewis1965]

Wildcat Hellcat Tigercat Bearcat Tomcat ALL THE GREATEST

[@ronaryel6445]

Very important factual errors: Contrary to this documentary, Iranian F-14s did fly, fought successfully during the Iran-Iraq War and scored many kills with the Phoenix missile, as well ax US Hawk SAMS repurposed as air to air missiles. The F-14 also served as an AWACS of sorts for the Iranians. Also, the software and hardware bugs suffered by the Tomcat were not fully worked out until the mid to late 1970s and the trouble with the TF-30 turbofan was never completely solved. The arrival of the GE F110 engine made the latter moot for 130 Tomcats. Another error: During Operation 6 on 6, four Phoenix missiles scored direct hits, including against a drone flying at Mach 1.2. The fifth Phoenix passed within lethal distance (for a proximity fuse) of its target. The last target failed and dropped out of the sky by itself, so the sixth missile had nothing to hit. The first movie to star the Tomcat was 1980's The Final Countdown, a movie in which the USS Nimitz travels back in time to the Pearl Harbor of World War II. Top Gun was the second movie starring the Tomcat.

[@vitorhugolinonovais2861]

F35, F22 as some technical problem and some crash

[@billynomates920]

young ward

[@petefroehling8704]

is she related to Bing ?

[@RectalRooter]

I keep finding myself with a headache as my eyes trying to match up the upscaled sides and nothing matching up.

[@johnathondavis5208]

Funny listening to a cougar talk about tomcats :0

[@kellyschram5486]

Letting this aircraft go was the stupidest thing the us navy ever did. If they made new ones now they will still be better than what they have. Yes it will be a gen 4.5 but it will still be better than the 18 and in many ways the 35. We needed the 14 back and there was already an upgraded design for it. It kick the 18's back side.

[@Chuong.1975]

Mig23 start since 1967 and F14....1970 ????

[@severs1966]

Amusing to hear the narrator asserting that the F-14 never flew "for the Ayatollah" (that is, for the IRIAF). Actually, one of the greatest F-14 aces flew in exactly this role. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jalil_Zandi en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Iranian_aerial_victories_during_the_Iran%E2%80%93Iraq_war