Grumman F-14 Tomcat

The mighty F-14 Tomcat is now officially retired from active service with the USN.

The Grumman F-14 Tomcat-series of variable-geometry wing carrier-capable interceptors is one of the true living success stories of Cold War aircraft design. The system was popularized by the Hollywood motion picture "Top Gun" and has been viewed with awe since. Having scored several successes in air-to-air combat, the F-14 later solidified its role as a contemporary classical warfighter.

The F-14 Tomcat was designed from the ill-fated attempt for an F-111 Aardvark with carrier capabilities. The idea behind the system was a joint collaboration effort between General Dynamics and Grumman to produce a fleet defense fighter, and that collaboration produced the G-303 model as a private venture. The F-14 Tomcat utilized a variable geometry swing-wing design that would allow for added drag during take-off and landing on the carrier, but provide for a slimmed down delta-wing approach when reaching supersonic speeds in excess of Mach 2. The system would also utilize a high-power long range targeting radar (the rear cockpit position was devised for just the radar operator) and be built around the AIM-54 Phoenix long-range air-to-air missile - also known as the "million dollar missile" due to its hefty price tag. By the time the system debuted, it was the first swing-wing fighter to conduct full operational service flights from a moving carrier platform.

The F-14 went on to maintain a stellar service record, recording kills in several early engagements, particularly against outdated and outclassed Libyan (Soviet) jets. These early successes proved the value of such a powerful system and the F-14 series would remain in service for decades. No fewer than 79 were exported to Iran before the fall of the Shah, though the operational condition of these fighters is unknown.

Not to be outdone by its contemporaries, the F-14 was later outfitted and trialed for air-to-ground strike operations with equal success. Utilizing an array of laser-guided munitions and conventional iron bombs, the system performed against targets in the 1995 conflict in the skies over Bosnia. These particular Tomcats were later assigned the comical nickname of "Bombcats" to identify their new role.

As time would have it, the successful performance of the newer F/A-18 Hornet and F-18 Super Hornet series would spell the end of the Tomcat series and, in 2006, were officially labeled as "retired" by the United States Navy. A classic warbird in its own time, the F-14 Tomcat will forever be revered as one of the best aircraft designs of the last century, adored by pilot, RIO and warbird fan alike.