11. F-14D Combat Systems

* * * Remember, this is a rerun, the polo offer went away years ago. * * *

Former #topgun graduate and #f14tomcat RIO Mark "Fun" Mhley explains Link 11, JTIDS, the APG-71 radar, and other combat systems that made the F-14D the most lethal #tomcat among all #f14 models.

[darrenschultz]

Thanks! I hope this helps you out.
Darren Schultz, I was an AE in VF-213 (94-99), VF-101(99-03), and VF-32(03-trasition)

[jeffmccampbell]

Bio, (Crunch, I’m sorry I never had the opportunity to know you) Jeff ‘Kato’ McCampbell here. While I was a Rag instructor, I represented the West Coast for the Operational Advisory Group (OAG) and after my stint with VF-1, I was assigned to the F-14D Fleet intro team. I was one of 4 Rio’s that doubled as a D instructor at VF124. After that, I went to VF-31 for my DH tour when they moved to Miramar with VF-11. After the first D deployment, off to DC as the F-14 D Program manager. Fun did a great job going through the back seat of the D. One or two corrections- The A and the B both had a 1553 bus, if you think about it, that was the only way that lantrin communicated to the TID and waypoint 1 for the target data. Just not as elaborate as the D. Second, you could shoot the Aim 54 on an IRST track, range estimating came as you took an angular cut, and as soon as the range quality exceeded ‘7’, you could shoot.
I worked hard to get sensor fusion going in the D, but got drafted by the super hornet crowd to help them, because they got the money. But I managed several SW updates, stole all the Strike Eagle air to ground modes from the APG70, resurrected the ASPJ for the D, new HUD, (for all tomcat versions) and a few others.
I’m really enjoying your Tomcast.

[lemmingt]

I'm a dcs guy and I've got so much respect for you guys. The D is the ultimate Gen 4 aircraft IMO. Great episode

[darrenschultz]

Mr. Baranek and Mr. Snyder, one problem with these episodes is that they are too short. I just can’t enough of them, remembering all the time I spent working on the Tomcat. Here is one small thing related to the “D”. When performing a ground maintenance turn, I could run OBC from the front seat, without needing to run up the backseat, and if needed I could run just the Ramps (AICS) by them themselves.
On the web-site I did not see the spot to give a onetime donation, so I gave you a “super-thanks”. I hope that method will work. (I just realized I forgot to specify it is for the Tom-Cast, sorry)

[josephkugel]

One thing that must be made clear is that the F-14D was a peer to the F-18C/D and not the F-18E/F Super Hornet, The F-14D was miles ahead of the F-18C/D and had they gone forward with the F-14E (ST-21) It would have been far superior to the Super's.

[Gotav-uqjr]

Tomcat Tuesday!!! Jello thanks for bringing Crunch back to his Air Boss role for the intro. Wish the D would have made full production.

[JonHuhnMedical]

God bless these great yet humble men. Thank you for your service.

[PaulLoveless-Cincinnati]

CDMA = Code Division Multiple Access
GNSS uses the same mode.

Stellar episode. I absolutely love hearing about the weeds.

[xephironrapier]

Fun, I think we were in VF-2 together in the late 90's. Tool, Stewie, Burner... we won the Triple Crown (and Battle E) and even did flight deck quals for the new Harry S. Truman. FYI I seem to remember the APG-71 had 9 WRAs (Weapon Replaceable Assemblies) and the AUG-9 was more like 17. MC1 MC2 RDP RSP Transmitter Receiver Antenna ... and 2 pre-ampa feeding power to the Transmitter. It's been about 25 years but that is what I remember.JTIDS ALR-69 ... Also think of Medium PRF (pulse repetition frequency) as a medium pulse repetition ... Not medium range. Range is mostly influenced by power, the PRF is for separating targets which was WAY better in an APG-71 . The magic that makes it so much better than the AUG-9 is the Receiver you damn near couldn't jam that receiver in those days! -- AT2

[geos]

I'd like to point out that AQs became ATs; not AEs. Their hard work, blood, sweat, and tears kept all the avionics and weapon systems in the Tomcat viable until its sunset in 2006. It took a community of enlisted aviation mechanics, technicians, and ordnancemen to keep that mighty bird aloft.

[modscientist]

This was another one that should be a multi parter.."Fun" shared great stories!

[The_ZeroLine]

Wow, such amazing details. Thank you.

[danam]

Watching this makes me think how pilots and RIOs needed to, and need to nowadays, become so technically adept that tthey practically become computer geeks if they are to fully know their aircraft (or so it seems, tell me if I am wrong or at all right), which reminds me of a conversation I had in the late 90s with an EVP of a leader in the finance industry. He said that management had decided to hire computer science graduates to fill accounting and finance positions because the industry was constantly changing and needing to learn about new investment products, and didn't want to spend time teaching people about their systems which changed more often and were more complex. So I wonder if any of that approach is used in recruiting pilots and RIOs such as my son who is a computer science major and has joined the ANG to get some hands on experience in the computer field and hopes to go to pilot training school when he graduates from college.

[elnach]

I don’t believe it’s coincidence there were no drag queens involved in Navy recruiting when the Tomcat was in service.

[gregHames-un]

When I was 18 I became interested in the F-14 Tomcat. I subscribed to a book about all American aircraft. Then a magazine "Air combat". It quickly became my favorite fighter interceptor. I got engaged and realized it wasn't going to happen for me. Long before the movie. She had another year to graduate high school and it becomes very aware that If we were going be together, I had to stay put. It's one of those things that made me feel the best thing for me stay put. It was and still is a "what if" for me. Anytime there was an air show close to me I went. I'm just saying.

[michaelmulligan]

That’s really interesting comparison of Tomcat and Super Hornet in Iraq

[KaiserHabsburg]

Bio. Im sorry man. But i cant think of ANYTHING other than the zone 5 Campaign when i hear you start talking. absolutely perfect campaign to release for a flight sim. i learned so much whilst also testing my abilities

[Herezjush]

@41:00 its the way we measure distance to stars, its called parralax

[dannyd]

This guy needs to be a SME for Heatblur. So much knowledge. Someone call someone.

[CarlosMoreno-dqkg]

hello, I've been listening this channel for while now, I have a question for you, below 300 KTS CAS, the F-14 can maintain turning horizontally against an A-4 aggressor? I said below 300 knots becuase I think it is the minimum speed that ypu can use to go vertically, but posible that the F-14 can use vertical below this speed.