Grumman F-14 Tomcat

1. General Overview

Full name: Grumman F-14 Tomcat

Role: Supersonic, twin-engine, two-seat naval fighter and interceptor

Country: United States

First flight: 1970

Entered service: 1974

Retired from U.S. Navy: 2006

The F-14 was designed primarily to defend U.S. Navy aircraft carriers from enemy bombers and cruise missiles during the Cold War.

1. Crew

Pilot (front seat): Flies the aircraft

Radar Intercept Officer – RIO (rear seat): Operates radar, sensors, and weapons systems

This teamwork allowed the Tomcat to manage very complex long-range engagements.

1. Variable-Sweep Wings (One of Its Most Famous Features)

The F-14 had swing wings that automatically changed position in flight:

Wings forward:

Used during takeoff, landing, and slow-speed maneuvering

Provides better lift and control

Wings swept back:

Used at high speed and supersonic flight

Reduces drag and allows speeds over Mach 2

This gave the F-14 excellent performance across many flight conditions.

1. Engines & Performance

Engines: 2 × Pratt & Whitney TF30 (early models) or General Electric F110 (later models)

Top speed:

About Mach 2.3+ (over 2,400 km/h / 1,500+ mph)

Combat radius: ~500 nautical miles (varies by mission)

Service ceiling: ~50,000+ feet