Grumman F-14 Tomcat is an American carrier-capable supersonic, twin-engine, two-seat, twin-tail, variable-sweep wing fighter aircraft.
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16 Facts About F-14
2.
The F-14 was the first of the American Teen Series fighters, which were designed incorporating air combat experience against MiG fighters during the Vietnam War.
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3.
The F-14 served as the US Navy's primary maritime air superiority fighter, fleet defense interceptor, and tactical aerial reconnaissance platform into the 2000s.
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4.
F-14 later testified before Congress about his concerns against the official Navy position and, in May 1968, Congress stopped funding for the F-111B, allowing the Navy to pursue an answer tailored to its requirements.
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5.
The F-14 first flew on 21 December 1970, just 22 months after Grumman was awarded the contract, and reached initial operational capability in 1973.
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6.
The Digital Flight Control System notably improved the F-14's handling qualities when flying at a high angle of attack or in air combat maneuvering.
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7.
F-14 Tomcat was designed as both an air superiority fighter and a long-range naval interceptor, which enabled it to both serve as escort attack aircraft when armed with Sparrow missiles and fleet air defense loitering interceptor role when armed with Phoenix missiles.
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8.
The F-14 was designed with a two-seat cockpit with a bubble canopy which affords all-around visibility aiding aircrew in air-to-air combat.
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9.
The F-14 has flown safely with an asymmetrical wing-sweep during testing, and was deemed able to land aboard a carrier if needed in an emergency.
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10.
F-14 was designed to combat highly maneuverable aircraft as well as the Soviet anti-ship cruise missile and bomber threats.
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11.
The F-14 is an air superiority fighter, not just a long-range interceptor aircraft.
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12.
The F-14 had its first kills in US Navy service on 19 August 1981 over the Gulf of Sidra in what is known as the Gulf of Sidra incident.
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13.
The F-14 achieved its final kill in US service, a Mi-8 "Hip" helicopter, with an AIM-9 Sidewinder.
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14.
In 1980, an Iranian F-14 shot down an Iraqi Mil Mi-25 helicopter for its first air-to-air kill during the Iran–Iraq War.
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15.
On 14 May 2019 an Iranian F-14 crashed during landing at Isfahan-Shahid Beheshti Airport.
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16.
The ASF-14 would have been a new-build aircraft; however, its projected capabilities were not that much better than that of the ST-21 variants.
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