JA Boomer

Thanks for the detailed explanation wabpilot!!! Fascinating stuff!

I have always loved the Tomcat, my favorite aircraft hands down; sadly I only got to see it fly twice before it was retired.

Your reply was fairly consistent with my understanding of the situation. The F-14 is the least maneuverable of the ‘teen’ series aircraft, putting it at a disadvantage during a dogfight with these fighters. The same is true with the Fulcrum and Flanker. And since the primary mission of the F-14 was fleet air defense, it might not have been as capable as these other planes in other air-to-air situations. But as your post defends, it was not at all incapable of defeating these other fighter types, and was still one of the baddest cats on the block right up until retirement.

I find it amazing how Grumman managed to create such a capable aircraft. They were asked to deliver a fleet air defense interceptor and they delivered that, plus an aircraft that was very capable in other air-to-air arenas, and also a great air-to-ground platform. I have read that F-14 had wiring from delivery that would allow them to carry air-to-ground weapons, a gift from Grumman that the US Navy did not utilize until the 1990’s.

wabpilot…I could hound you for days on end trying to gain more info on the Tomcat, I will try not to do so, but I was wondering if you wouldn’t mind answering just a few more questions?

The F-14 and F-15 were pitted against each other during the Iran fighter competition in the 70’s. The F-14 won, do you have any information as to why this was…I have read that the F-14 was stripped down to give it more power during the demonstration. Given the information you have shared, it would seem that the F-15 would have the greater thrust-to-weight ratio and is the better overall air-to-air fighter. Was it that the Shah (who was at the fly-off?) was simply impressed with the F-14 or maybe it’s more powerful radar? I’m just wondering why they choose the Tomcat over the Eagle.

As a side note, I just recently read a document that talked about how Canada tried to get the F-14 transferred from Iran to Canada after the change in government in Iran and the US suspending support for the aircraft. Wow, how I wish that deal had gone through! Haha

Also, I’ve read a quote from an F-15 pilot saying “we down get low with the F-14”. Is there any truth to this, in a dogfight is the F-14 more lethal at low altitudes?

Last one, I promise! I know that the F-15E Strike Eagle gives its pilots a fairly bumpy ride down low to the ground due to its low wing loading. Given that the F-14 shares some design similarities with the Tornado and the F-111 (two of the best low-level attackers around) does the F-14 have good high speed low-level handling characteristics? I’m not sure I you and your squadron mates ever practiced low-level bombing techniques.