The Need for Speed: The Grumman F-14 Tomcat

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[Evolution_Kills]

I don't care how outdated the Tomcat gets as time relentlessly marches forward, the F-14 is just one of the damn sexiest jet aircraft ever made. When someone says the word 'fighter jet', the F-14 Tomcat is the first one that pops into my head. Love those variable geometry wings; and ditto for the F-111.

[pamelamays]

"This is not a movie appreciation channel."
Simon foreshadowing his newest upcoming endeavor.

[tgmccoy]

My late wife and I knew this couple that looked like the stepped out of an Agatha Christie novel. They had a huge rose garden. They were retired Grumman engineers. I was helping them with moving a desk into their den looking at the wall they had all sorts of awards, pictures, etc.
They were in the weapons end of the program. So I asked: "So every time a
Tomcat splashed a MiG,
you two had something to do with it ?" They both answered:"yes".

[johnhugo]

When I worked on the F-111, we called it the one-eleven or pig. When they worked most of the bugs out of it, it was considered one of the most cost effective strike aircraft. It could go in alone in any weather and terrain and take out a strategic target deep behind enemy lines. Other aircraft of the time would need multiple supporting aircraft, such as top cover, awacs, ecm, and air refueling aircraft. The 111 could go in low and fast. It could stay in burner longer than most other aircraft because it carried so much fuel. I was working F-16’s as my first assignment and when I got assigned to the one-eleven I wasn’t too happy. In time I really grew to appreciate and respect this aircraft. When I look back now of all the aircraft I worked on my F-111 68-0122 was my favorite! You can see her “Fireball Annie” if you google her by tail number.

[deboraarena]

So my dad worked on the F-14 for years. I was an intern when they still had a manufacturing line. It’s crazy seeing the fuselage of the plane with no engines. It’s basically engines with wings. When they retired them from the fleet they invited all of the former Grumman staff to watch a flight exhibition. I have pictures of my kids standing under it. It was amazing. They got approval to do a low-altitude flyover with afterburners and a pull up into a vertical climb. Awesome!

[razorfett]

The Tomcat will always be the 60s musclecar of fighter jets. No matter how outdated it becomes, it will always be fast and sexy as hell

[PantheraOnca]

Far from being "hopelessly outclassed" by the MiG-17 and MiG-21, the F-4 Phantom was one of the most successful fighter planes ever built. While early models lacked a gun, the plane was extremely fast -- one of the co-founders of the U.S. Navy's Fighter Qeapons School, a.k.a. Top Gun, reported that when he tried to push an early model F-4 to maximum speed, he had to back off due to warning lights indicating that the jet's leading edges were overheating.

Later in the Vietnam War, when F-105s were being preyed upon by SAMs and the more maneuverable MiG-21s, a flight of Phantoms was sent into North Vietnamese airspace, their transponders identifying them as F-105s. The resulting air battle between F-4s and MiG-21s resulted in the North Vietnamese Air Force losing 1/3 of their entire force of the MiGs. In fear of losing the rest, the rest of the North's MiG-21s were grounded for the remainder of the war.

Having said that, the Tomcat was the sexiest fighter jet EVER.

[jackturner]

The F/A-18 was a joy to fly, but I will always have a soft spot for the Tomcat, as it was the plane that made me want to be a Naval Aviator.

[BruceMusto]

Some of the memories of my life include being aboard a frigate in the Western Pacific ocean while we pulled duty as plane guard for the carrier. Watching Tomcats take off and recover from the carrier, especially at night was always worth a few minutes of your free time. My opinion, absolutely the coolest jet ever built and I'm fortunate to have been able to witness it operate at sea.

[jimmynickelz]

Uncle was an engineer at Grumman in Bethpage when the Shah came over with his entourage to buy F14s. He is still blown away by the fact that they paid cash for them.

[ookamiprime]

The Tomcat is impressive on film, even more so when seen in person. I got to see one on the USS Constellation pre-9/11. One of the greatest moments in my life. I love this aircraft.

[WJV]

I worked on F4's in the late 1960's and the F4E did have the 6 barrell, 20mm cannon added. It created big problems with radar and other electronics since it sat in the nose under the radar dome.

[jstorlie]

Hi Simon! When referring to the F-111, people just generally say "F one eleven"

[pushingthrottles]

Ward Carroll has the best, most comprehensive channel dedicated to F-14's.

[derekmelyndadeckens]

We're taking very good care of that F 14 inventory in Tucson. These planes may be making in the desert sun but they'll never rust away. The Pima Air and Space Museum here has a Tomcat on display in case anyone wants to see it in all it's glory.

[LERobbo]

The F-14 is easily my favorite next to the F-16.

I even have photos of myself as a child just having completed my huge scale model kit of it 🙂

I take it you've seen Maverick by now where the F-14 makes a cameo appearance.

[TheExpatpom]

Hey, Simon. Don’t know if anyone has suggested it before but the story of The Ghan, the railway from Adelaide in South Australia to Darwin in the Northern Territory, might be a good Megaprojects video. 3, 000km of railway that took over a century to build… sort of? Seems like your sort of thing. Or do that and the Indian-Pacific Railway from Sydney to Perth and get a twofer.

[thegunslinger]

"I feel the need. The need for speed!" Looking forward to seeing Top Gun Maverick this year.

[hentaioverwhelming]

The F-14 is so iconic that it was pretty much the base design of the Valkyrie fighters in the original Macross (Robotech) anime.

[timgravierjr.]

I serviced these aircraft in the late 90's, and they were awesome machines. Very complex to operate, but when a well-trained crew was in the seats, they could do things no other aircraft could do, and without stealth.