Years In Service: 1971- 2006
Initial Flight: June 1972
The Grumman F-14 Tomcat is an American supersonic, twin-engine, two-seat, variable-sweep wing fighter aircraft. For three decades, it served as the U.S. Navy’s primary air superiority fighter, fleet defense interceptor, and tactical reconnaissance platform. With its Fast Tactical Imagery (FTI) system, the F-14 can transmit and receive targeting/reconnaissance imagery in flight. It made a brief appearance in Vietnam but made its way to the Middle East, where it had combat encounters with Libyan Fighters during the 1980s.
Aircraft Specifications
Height: 16′ Wingspan: Spread 64′ 1″, Swept 38′ Length: 62′ 7″ Crew: 2 Armament: One M61 20 mm Vulcan 6 barreled cannon, 6 AIM-54 Phoenix Missiles, AIM-7 Sparrow Missiles, AIM-9 Sidewinder Missile Payload: Up to 14,500 lbs. of mixed ordinance Thrust: 27,800 lbs. No. of Engines: 2 Range: 1,864 ft Max Speed: 1,564 mph Ceiling: 49, 869 ft.