F-14 Tomcat | Tooth and Claw
You can scarcely have a conversation about Cold War air combat without including the legendary F-14, the last big cat of the US Navy. A design unrivaled in its air superiority capability for years after its design, the F-14 became the father of all generation four fighter jets, and still has a much loved reputation today. But just why did the Tomcat deserve such love, and what was its doom?
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This video uses footage from the combat flight action game Project Wingman. Check it out on Steam here: store.steampowered.com/app/89...
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When describing the F-14's combat history, you forgot to mention the time a pair of F-14A's splashed a pair of Mitsubishi A6M's over the Pacific ocean. :P
I loved that movie
@@cakeman7364 Same here, watched it constantly as a kid. It actually came out the same year I was born.
That's classified!!!
@@lb7144 the sekrit dokuments
My dad took me to see "The Final Countdown". Those F-14s were the stars of the movie to me. The events of the U.S.S. Enterprise are still classified until this day...lol.
The f14s design is still unique and timeless Its One of the most beautiful designed jets ever
Well, it beats the Fail-35's fat piggy design any day....
@@KondorDCS Fail-35 Nice name for them.
f-111
Also to those who doubt about the f35 Must realize it is a very capable fighter jet in the modern world f14 is nice and all But don't disrespect the F35 based on misconceptions you've heard about it.
@@ceddricc5909 I think it's more of the rnd cost and unit cost and development time, as well as the fact that it basically failed at it's intended role.
Was a Tomcat Tweaker whilst serving with U.S. Navy Fighter Squadron VF-32 back in the Cold War Days. Despite being over 33 years ago, I recall the plane systems and troubleshooting them as if it was yesterday.
Always fantastic to hear from personnel with real experience! I was part way through the application process to be an ABH in the Royal Australian Navy when I fkd up my back in a car accident and had to pull out... That's when I first started KZhead actually
Were the aircraft mechanics known as "Bobcats". I remembered reading from a forum the tomcat was a.... well difficult to maintain due to checklists.
Which boat where you on,? My dad was a yellowshirt on the Ranger.
I did 30 Years USN... Big E, Connie, Kitty, Indy, Vinson, and Truman.... And as far as I can remember the Tomcats Standard Heavy Anti-Air was a 4x2x2 (Phoenix, Sparrow, Sidewinder) configuration. That's what we saw all the time I was on deck... Especially when in the Gulf.
I wonder how much Iran would pay for you lol
Video Idea: The F-5 Freedom Fighter’s evolution, all the way up to the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet.
It's for sure going to be coming soon!
I had the same idea
Shoutout to Project Wingman for filling that Ace Combat itch PERFECTLY.
The entire video I had to keep telling myself that it wasn’t Ace Combat.
If and when warthunder adds this the playboy camouflage better be an option.
Probably a pre-order exclusive skin premium ))))))))))))))))))))))))))
@@pyencdocde5716 well seeing as it would be top tier and they don’t do tops tier premiums the only way they could monetize it would be to be like a 300 GE skin.
I woukd buy the Jolly Rogers skin for 300 GE if i have to
@@direvwade7199 Rank VI, BR 9.7 premium Tomcat incoming
@@jacobrudder7582 but that would be way too much even for Gaijin with the thing now going against freaking Sabres and MiG-15 which it far out passes.
I love the f-14, Although i was probably exposed to it first by Ace Combat 5, rather than Top Gun
I see you are a person of culture... I think I was first properly introduced to the F-14 by a friend of mine who got introduced to it by Top Gun, and later went on to play the Ace Combat games. He also led me to playing not only Ace Combat, but Project Wingman (through his love for Ace Combat, he has yet to play it though), DCS (sort of, I have yet to play it but I own a plane in it) and War Thunder (which I haven't touched in months because I have some 600 SL left and cannot afford to lose a single aircraft).
I was exposed to it during the iran-iraq war
HERESY
Same I never saw top gun til this day tho today is more than haven’t want it yet than to that nobody had it and not being air on tv or cable
I saw my first F-14 in May of 1972 at the Navel Test Center in Paxtuxet River, Md. One crashed with a fatality in July just of shore of the base. I got to see a lot of different aircraft being in land based Naval Aviation
Still one of the best looking fighters ever, too. There are a lot of other fighters that look cool, scary or just plain interesting, but I think the Tomcat is almost an expression of the pure, distilled "fighter", whatever that means.
I served in Aviation Helos. I have been on Aircraft carriers threw 70s and 80s . Watched them scramble and I even rode backseat cat shot. was fast as fuck What an EXPIERENCE. Intimidating looks awesome weapons load and it intimidated every plane it intercepted. What a great jet.
Ah the tomcat. Grumman's master piece. Bet you anything the navy's aviators wish they still had her
I know many who do, but just as many who say the Super Hornet is just better in every way, besides top end speeds of course
What's the point when they have the Tomcat 21
@@ArmorCast There are a few things that Grumman AND the Navy could’ve done better, or done RIGHT by the Tomcat
My dad loves her
@@Loubie2005 ST21 was never produced
I think being perfect for a war that doesn't take place is a special type of compliment. The most effective weapons system is one that is so successful that it dissuades enemies from engaging entirely. Long live the Tomcat.
Yes, the tomcat singlehandedly intimidated the soviet union into peace.
@@MidnightSvn Hahaha 😅 sarcasm aside (it was MAD that was probably primarily responsible for preventing an all out war), the Tomcat's ability to protect US carrier groups was essential for US global power projection and the resultant Pax Americana.
4:28 While the tomcat did sacrifice some capability in ground attack, it did not sacrifice the capability entirely. The plane could do ground attack but only with dumb munitions like Mk-80 series bombs; Mk-20 rockeyes; and Zuni rockets initially, with guided munitions coming later in the form of paveway series guided bombs being cleared for use for the F-14A and F-14B, while the F-14A(U); F-14B(U); F-14D; and F-14D(R) added JDAMs due to their upgrades over the earlier A and B models. The tomcats "Upgrade program" to use air to ground weapons was not really an upgrade program. It was an overhaul of the poorly maintained air to ground systems (which were poorly maintained since the tomcats were never really sent on air to ground missions before the 90s and crew chiefs sacrificed air to ground systems work to get the planes back into the air for air to air missions), a recertification on the air to ground weapons it could carry from the start, and a certification for new air to ground weapons for the plane like the paveway bombs. 6:15 The F-14 wasn't supposed to use the TF-30s in the first place. The aircraft was designed around using the F401 engine which was the navy version of the F100 engine that powers the F-15A and C as well as early F-16s. The TF-30 has a very similar diameter to the F401 though, which allowed it to become the engine that would power the F-14 when it became clear that F100/F401 production would not be able to keep up with the demands of 3 fighter programs. And even with the F100 only being produced for F-15s at first, i have heard about incidents of the engine backlogs being so bad that the engines would be stripped from accepted F-15s so they could be sent back to the factory to get a new F-15 in an acceptable condition. 8:26 Its debatable that the AIM-54 has never scored a kill in US service. One of the Phoenix shots did pass very close to its target and did directly result in its target crashing due to the target using too much fuel in afterburner while evading the missile to get back to its base which caused it to crash later. From what ive read, the admiral in charge of the naval group that that F-14 was a part of did award the air crew that launched the missile a kill due to the shots direct involvement in the target going down as well. But it was not made official when they returned to the united states since the missile did not impact or detonate on the target to bring it down. The other 2 phoenixes launched by the US failed due to improper loading procedures undertaken by a crew member with no experience loading weapons put in charge of loading the weapons on the aircraft that day (IIRC he was a metal shop guy on his first cruise). The crew member was unaware of the proper loading procedures for aircraft weapons and as such most of the weapons onboard the aircraft he loaded were improperly loaded and either would not have fired correctly or would have failed to fire completely. In the case of the AIM-54s that were fired, their rocket motor safeties were not disengaged and as such the missiles did not fire correctly. 12:16 The F-15 and F-16 don't use the F110-GE-400. The F-16 uses the F110-GE-100; F110-GE-129; and F110-GE-132 depending on the variant and block of the F-16, and the F-15 uses the F110-GE-129 on some foreign variants and the F-15EX. 12:43 The funny thing about the re-designation of the F-14A+s to F-14B is that it happened because of a logistics software change. The new logistics software couldn't recognize the + in the designation so it started randomly sending F110s and parts for them to squadrons that used TF-30s and TF-30s and parts for them to squadrons that used F110s. 13:10 The LANTIRN pod did not replace external fuel, It replaced the weapon on station 8B which is the hanging weapon station on the right side wing glove. The external fuel was carried on station 2 and 7 which are dedicated external fuel tank hard points on the bottom of the engine nacelles. 13:25 Super Tomcat is not a nickname, its the service name for the F-14D just like Tomcat is the service name for the F-14A and F-14B. Also the nickname Bombcat was not an F-14D specific nickname. The tomcats as a whole had the nicknames Turkey and Bombcat. Turkey came about because of the large wing spanning flaps that made it look similar to a turkey flying when it came in to land, and bombcat came around after the air to ground systems refurbishment program the F-14A and F-14B got. 13:38 The F-14 never getting fly by wire is not fully correct. The DFCS (digital flight control system) was built from the fly by wire of the Eurofighter typhoon, but it did not have direct control over the flight controls which makes it not a full Fly by wire system. 15:09 While costs do fluctuate between orders for aircraft, the may 2019 order for Block 3 Super hornets (which are the most advanced superhornets currently) equated out to roughly $51.282M per aircraft. So no, the best Superhornets are not cheaper than $38M
Point 1: More meant that the Tomcat completely left behind the idea of multirole - it COULD carry a few dumb bombs (in the age of ARMs and Mavericks and such that doesn't really mean a whole lot), but it had to forego the idea of replacing any ground strike platform - the A-6 and A-7 both had to remain in service because the F-14 couldn't do enough to take over, which it was initially envisioned to. The project behind it was initially meant to produce an aircraft that could be some 50/50 air to air and air to ground (like the JSF), but instead it was more like a 90/10 split, if that. We're slightly embellishing for the sake of the video, but you get the idea. Point 3: Talking about official records, that would be counted as a maneuver kill at best. If a hostile rolls into the ground trying to avoid cannon fire, it's not counted as a gun kill, it's a maneuver kill. In this particular case, I doubt it was attributed to the pilot at all, though if it was, it should be a maneuver kill. Point 4: More meant to specify the model the Tomcat used, that FAMILY being shared by the USAF fighters. Obviously they aren't the same between the Eagle and Viper either, but you still say that they shared an engine. Hadn't heard that about the computers not accepting the +, that's a very interesting bit of information. Cheers! As far as fly-by-wire goes, it IS correct that the Tomcat never received it - what you're talking about just does not count, not even as an analog fly-by-wire system. If we're talking about the F-15's Control Augmentation System (CAS), then you could argue that the F-15 has a "fly-by-wire-based system", but as far as the Tomcat goes; no. It never received fly-by-wire. As for per-unit cost, you're forgetting to adjust for inflation.
@@ArmorCast Point 1: The tomcat didnt leave behind the idea of multirole entirely, it only sacrificed some of its abilities to do multirole missions. Remember that at the time guided weapons were only just coming into widespread use and were very rare to use in anything but SEAD which was done by specialized SEAD aircraft at the time. When the tomcat first came out it was just as capable at doing ground attack missions as the other fighters of the time besides the ability to carry bullpups. The primary thing that held the tomcat back on its air to ground record was the existence of the A-6 and A-7. The A-6 and A-7 were tactically more expendable than the F-14 and less important for defense of the fleet. So why risk an F-14 to go blow up that bridge while at the least temporarily weakening your fleets defenses by having an F-14 out in the boonies and at worst lose that F-14 permanently when you could send a cheaper and not necessary for fleet defense A-6 or A-7 out to do the same job. Point 3: I would count it as a maneuver kill as well. My point was more that its a debated thing if that shot resulted in any kill or not. Point 4: I get that, but in the video you specifically state "the F110-GE-400 already installed on the F-15 and F-16" which is not correct. Costs: Yeah, i just re-watched the section relating to the costs and i had misheard what you said. I thought you just said that even modern superhornets don't cost as much as $38M.
You can make any plane have the capability for ground attack, it's just a matter if you want the plane back again.
To steal a great line from a terrible move: "She's beautiful in an ugly kind of way." I wanted to fly these so bad and almost joined the navy just to do so. Fortunately the Marine blues looked so good; the Tomcat was retired before I would've gotten to fly it. Shame it didn't get the love a lot of legacy weapons get.
I put a decent amount of blame on one of the aspects of it's design that it's most known for it's swing wing that thing came with ridiculous maintenance costs
@@spartanx9293 That's part of it, but beyond the maintenance aspect, the weapon it was designed to carry became obsolete, and it was a larger aircraft when space on a carrier deck is limited. By the time the Super Hornet rolled around, it could do the same job as the F-14 for lower costs, it took up less space, it was more maneuverable, and it could carry more weapons.
@@spartanx9293 the F-14 Tomcast guys did a series of interviews with maintainers about just this. Maintenance was a significant factor but there is more to it. The shortage of spare parts was the main issue. due to the Tomcat program funding cuts there were very few spare parts being produced. Each part needing replacement had to first be cannibalized from another air frame doubling the maintenance hours and cost per flight hour. now pare this with the significant physical age of many of the air frames the Tomcat never had a chance. given an even playing field history might be different.
The F-14 is one of my favorite planes in DCS.
"The defense department regrets to inform you that your sons are dead because they were stupid."
I owe my love of aviation to this plane
My father worked for Gould, the company that installed the F-14 simulators/trainers for the Imperial Iranian Airforce. One of my prize childhood possessions is a large IIAF Tomcat sticker that he brought home from Iran in '76.
I love the tomcat.....my heart is with the battle proven F4 Phantom queen of her era
My dad worked on the NavAir supply and maintenance manual for the F14 and my buddy’s dad drove them. A really incredible piece of machinery. The things it’s hard to capture in a video are the way it would make your lungs shake in your chest as it roared by or practiced T&G’s at NAS Alameda and the insanely high operating cost per hour which eventually did what enemy aircraft couldn’t: put it down. Still my favorite of all time.
That Project Wingman promo was super unexpected, but welcome. Its a great dogfighting game that's basically Ace Combat made by lifelong Ace Combat fans. Strong recommend. The F-14 is probably your best bet if you want to go the entire game's campaign with Prez (your voiced RIO companion) in the backseat. Really says how good it is when its still viable from the beginning of the story to the end. I mean, its a challenge at the end fighting 5th/6th generation bosses, but its definitely possible.
5:36 apparently the Tornado could use automatic wing sweep, but the RAF and other countries chose not to use them except for the saudis
The german Tornados use the wing sweep system too
I do believe the Tornado F3 ADV were equipped with auto wing sweep
Un mistakenly the best looking air superior jet for the fleet. What a ferocious looking aircraft,with her wings folded back! She is loved by millions of sailors!
New upload on the Tomcat, FANTASTIC!
I was ten when the first Gulf of Sidra incident happened (1981) and two Cats downed two Libyan Sukhois. I immediately got a model (Monogram’s 1/48) and built it and was obsessed from that point on.
Babe wake up, new armor cast video just dropped! Also funny story: when the F-111s were tasked with precision strike in the mid-80s, they actually ended up going over to F-14 crews asking how to use and integrate PGMs into their mission profiles
It must have been the other way around, because the way you describe it doesn't make any sense. The F-111 was used as a strike platform ever since it entered service in the 1960's (save for the EF-111A variant). In the 80's the Tomcat was still used exclusively as a fighter-interceptor, and it was only after Operation Desert Storm that the Tomcats started doing air-to-ground stuff as well (they dropped their first bombs over Bosnia in 1995).
@@billythibaud1921 No I read it an a Navy periodical, I'll see if I can find and link an online version of it
Here it is. My beauty. Lol, I saw the clips from “Final Countdown” Nice work Koala. I’m proud to say that this highlights the ups and down of the TFX program to create my favorite aircraft
Dale "Snort" Snodgrass was also a pilot of the Grumman F-14 Tomcat and a great one too.
Growing up with Top Gun and Robotech/Macross, being able to interact with and work on the mighty F-14 while deployed in the 90s (CV-62 & CV-67) was a little bit of daily magic. Even with their age setting in, constant hydrolic leaks (if it’s not leaking, it’s empty), and newer F/A-18s entering the fleet at the time, the Tomcat will always be what I think of as the definition of a great fighter.
My first ever model kit as a child was a big 1:35 F-14 Tomcat, beautiful machine, painted it black because at that time I was fascinated by the Su-47 Berkut :D
Tomcats: I need maintenance Maintenance crew: *jumps off the deck* JK If only it has LESS moving parts, it would've been a reliable plane with less hangar time. Plus the F100 would've been better than the TF30. They just need to uprate it. Composite materials would've made it more durable. Grumman did had the Model 303F, which is a non-variable geometry wing version of the F-14. Northrop Grumman should resurrect it and give it a low observable design and modern avionics and engines.
The pendulum is beginning to swing back to a peer threat environment. The Super Hornet lacks the speed and the range of more dedicated big air to air fighters or to protect naval assets from cruise missile-carrying bombers.
exactly! the Tomcat out classes the hornet in speed, range, loiter time, payload and weapon reach and didn't need an escort. The hornet is a fine aircraft, but really only good for bombing enemies that cant shoot back.
@@Snugggg I would disagree on payload, the Super Hornet carries much more and is able to use them effectively. The Block III also makes it better in loiter time and range. Although I would lie if said it isn’t getting long in the tooth. With the AIM-260 on the horizon to be integrated with the F-35, it seems it’s much easier to arm a multirole with a top-end missile and radar system.
*Thanks for sharing this vid. Liked & subcribed!!!*
Nice line: *Perfect plane for **_a war that never happened._* ^5
Always loved the flying tennis court. Swat cats, Macross (Robotech) and of course Topgun
I worked with the jolly roger squadron briefly they flew f4 and f14. Might be interesting to look into the f4 wild weasel guys. Now that's crazy What the navy did to get the f14 in part was making sure they got the lions share of the budget over the A F
I had wondered if the Cat could have been a Wild Weasel. But we were still using the A-4 and A-6's for that role before we would use it later in the F-18
Live close to Miramar then Naval Air station and use to watch endless F-14 touch and goes....mesmerizing !!
You had me at "Computer controlled swept wings."
I'm out of breath ....perfect video📹thanks
I see you are also a fan of Final Countdown....'s footage! Nice vid Koala.
What a gorgeous aircraft!
The squat it makes while on the cat right at launch point is an awesome sight. Boom!
Such a beautiful aircraft
awesome machine!! Love flying it in dcs
gotta love jester
Would you consider doing a dedicated video to the AC-130? or the Sikorsky MH-53? Love your content, I'm new to your channel and can't wait for your sub count to blow up
We'll definitely do one on the C-130 family. May not do a dedicated one on the AC-130 variant specifically, but I'm sure we'll get around to covering the "gunship" concept as a whole at some point
Americans build it and Iranian pilots had so much fun flying them With incredible stories. One pilot set a world record in F-14 , “ you will break before F-14 dose “
Awesome AND beautiful!
Got to help in the decommissioning of one of these in highschool. That plane now sits at Grumman hq on display in my home town.
One thing that’s always confused me is how countries number their aircraft (f-104, f-14, f-4, etc.) I know it isn’t random but it doesn’t seem to follow a pattern. Great video btw, I’m glad I found this channel recently!
Nah you're just a time traveller and the f-4 was put into use in 1904, F-14 (1914), F-104 (2004)
There is the century series which covers 101-106 and the teen series which goes 14-18, excluding rejected prototypes (YF-17)
Koala has an entire video on this on his other channel where he explains the USA naming schemes
@@direvwade7199 Will be uploading that video (with some edits) here too before long
@@ArmorCast thanks that video was always a great help. Also do you think we’ll see a video on the century series or teen series as a like summary on the programs and the US’s military thinking/doctrine at the time they created these planes?
Yeah carrying six AIM-54 Phoenix did not necessarily mean six functional AIM-54 missile stations. At best at any time we may have a Squadron plane with maybe three AIM-54 missile stations. But the Russian never knew that. Ha
9:16 this is not at all surprising variable sweepwings are maintenance intensive
By far the most badass looking fighter ever. Looks like Megatrons right hand man. Even today it has a modern look. I love the way the engines are farther apart than the hornets. The variable swept wings are just the perfect touch. Even on the deck it looks like it's dying to fly. The crazy part is it flies even better than it looks.
The true final flights weren't at the ceremony, the true final flights came in the following weeks as we sent them to their museums and the desert. I watched 101 leave from the school house because we were already hot on transitioning. No real fanfare just some misty eyed maintainers. Love these jets. VF-31 02-07
I was actually introduced to the F-14 Tomcat via Robotech, which was released a year prior to Top Gun.
Love this bird the best. Nothing will ever replace it.
hands down the most beautiful fighter jet ever made
05:16 OMG *that photo* I heard that Tomcat made an emergency landing at Paya Lebar airbase here in Singapore at the time of the accident (a mid-air collision with another Tomcat).
I firmly believe the premature retirement of this legend was the greatest sign that the US military prioritized corporate favors and greasy deals vs actual merit to do the job. We’ve seen it all the way down to the small arms… Nevertheless, Boeing couldn’t be happier.
The F-14 just didn't serve enough of a purpose to justify its cost in a post Cold War era. The F/A-18E Super Hornet beats it in the air-to-air role, and the F-14 was never optimised for the role of ground attack, at which the Super Hornet is among the best platforms in existence
@@ArmorCast I respectfully disagree with you. The demise of the Tomcat was politics, not capability. It was agenda, not need. I am not going to reflect on the Super Hornet, except to say the Navy put $8bil into the Hornet to get the Super Hornet and it still couldn't match the speed, range, and payload of the F-14.
@@v8packard The Super Hornet simply didn't need to match the F-14. No other country has the range and capability of the US Carrier fleet. The F-14 was built in an era of the Soviet scare. After the USSR's fall the US simply didn't see the need to use the F-14 further.
Saddened to find no mention of the time when an Iranian F-14 shot down 3 MiGs with only one AIM-54
Well the shrapnel from the first Mig that got obliterated by the AIM-54 where the ones that destroyed the other two Migs.
@@alistairdiren5790 guy who did it got credit for all 3 kills so it counts
Couldn’t see this on the main channel page for some reason.
I discovered F-14 when I saw it transforming into a robot fighting giant aliens.
2:25 ah yes the aardvark the Navy hated this thing they didn't think it was a bad aircraft for its role but they did not want it
One major flaw, the Tom / Bombcat, was always apart of the F14’s design, but was selfed do to the bomber / Cold War threats. This was event in the Iraq / Afghanistan wars were dropping bombs and laz’n targets for the F18’s the could not remain on station (F18’s low fuel capacity) and a higher resolution targeting system the early Hornets didn’t have. F14 had a greater capacity to bomb than the legacy F18’s.
I am from saudia Arabia and I am enjoying your videos my friend 👍
First time ever youtube recommand me a video that as been upload 40 minutes ago
oh amazing
Did you know about the WSO called "Goose" which died when ejecting in a fight against Su38s over the Indian ocean? There was a problem with the first generation of the F14 where hitting the canopy on ejection was normal.
A big fat yet aesthetic jet
Beautiful plane my favorite fighter.
Finally. Been waiting for 3 days now 🤣
It was the perfect jet fighter for a war that never happened! *Begins shaming the flying dorito*
F14 Tomcat! amazing aircraft and still one of the best looking. such the shame US retired them.
@@HowIsAsh oh i didnt know the US did that to their F14s and yes i would have liked to see a updated versions.
@@HowIsAsh they paid for it and it’s their ‘mainline air superiority fighter’ so….crazy how they even upgrade and overhaul them
The other successor to the F-14 is the VF-1 Valkyrie, although that only exists in Macross, lol.
Video idea: Explaining different missile types and variations, like the difference between a sidewinder and a sparrow for example
Soon...
Did you mention the chaff and flares that were used to confuse enemy missiles?
Transformers and every anime plane in the 80's, it was always my favorite of all times
I feel like it-as well as other 4th gen fighters that came after it-inspired a lot of fictional aircraft designs. I think that most of the jet fighters in Japanese cartoons and shooter titles look like they're inspired by jets from this generation. Furthermore, the styling cues seen on a number of sports and supercars from the '80s onwards pull strongly from this gen of fighter (although models from the 2000s seemingly pull from 5th gen fighter designs; it's hard to see something from Lamborghini's lineup and see a little F-22 in its design).
I watched this when you put it out a year ago but I’m building a F14 model so I watched it again and I did not realize this wasn’t a fly by wire system. Then it dawned on me that I think the F-16 was the first but I could be wrong on that one lol
Technically speaking the F-15 was the first, but the F-15 only had a SECONDARY fly-by-wire system called CAS (control augmentation system), and it was analog rather than digital, so most people count the F-16 instead
I just have to say I love your accent!
You never mentioned the F-14's true successors, the VF-0 Phoenix, which saw flight tests from 2005-07 and saw brief deployment in late 2007 to late 2008 during the unification wars, only to be replaced by the superior VF-1 Valkyrie which introduced improvements such as exoatmospheric flight capabilities. The VF-1 would see its first taste of combat in 2009 in the opening hours of Space War I. Being used to great effect against invading Zentradi landing forces.
What about the SDF-1 ?
@@StevenSiew2 most of the VF-0 AND VF-1's variable tech is derived from the sdf-1 so its pretty important. If the sdf-1 hadn't crashed on earth we wouldn't have been able to turn the F-14 into the revolutionary military hardware it would become. Opening engagements with zentradi forces proved that conventional military equipment such as tanks and helicopters were obsolete in modern warfare against alien threats only the Variable Fighters, affectionately nicknamed Robotech Fighters by the UN Spacy's American pilots, proved effective in combating the zentradi forces. They served as an amazing stopgap until the discovery of protoculture and music as a pacifier for the zentradi.
My favorite fighter
My Dads F14A Model persian cats are world record holders with a 37 to 1 kill ratio best of any 4th generation fighter hands down. TIMELESS
The most amazing jet fight in 20 century
on august.19,1981. two grumman f-14a-tomcat. shooting down two(2) of lybian arab air force. the fighters were two,(2) sulhoi-su-22-fitters. over gulf of sidra.
The F14 was gorgeous!
Awesome video! Maybe you can do the k2 black panther tank
Soon
Lord if the FAA were ever to know all of the quick, jerry rigging that as a flight deck troubleshooter (avionics) that I had to do to ensure squadron sortie rate I may have been fined and my seabag taken away ha.
Do a video on the most controversial fighter of all time and one I'm backing the f-35 pretty pleeeeease
I know it's a fine aircraft and I know it's an irrational and unreasonable position to hold, but I've always had a strong resentment toward the F/A-18 Hornet for it's role in supplanting and ultimately retiring the F-14. I just hold the F-14 in such high regard and hate that it's no longer in U.S. service. I never got to fly one (my piss-poor eyes eliminated any possibility of that), but I did get to see a few at some airshows when I was a kid. What an incredible jet.
Splash the zeroes, I say again splash the zeroes.
Top gun made me love the f-14
Top gunnn
May we get a similar vid on the hunter?
We'll definitely do the Hunter at some point, I am keen to step into some more legacy tech, so that'll be a really interesting one to cover
The F-14 Tomcat was developed during the Vietnam War as a replacement for the F-4 Phantom. It entered service in 1972 and was retired in 2004. The only F-14s in service now are those we sold to Iran before the Revolution.
Thanks The USA, now we need f 16 fighter jets.
@@mortezaashoury1624 You're welcome/
@@mortezaashoury1624 Tom Clancy's novels, which explored real world politicL PROBLEMS, were well-researched. The Hunt for Red October for example, was based on the attempted defection of a Soviet Navy commissar to Sweden. Red Storm Rising was based on a tabletop board game. He did get the stealth airplane wrong though.
I have never clicked on a notification so fast even though im a few hours late 😂
Enjoyed the video but I get nothing from the video game footage.
11:32 how to spot a proper iranian man That mustache Holy shit
0:02 wait what?..F-86 saber is navy? I never see it and heard of it
Yup, North American developed the naval variant of the Sabre FJ-2 and FJ-3
14:09 Are those... Japanese Zeros, by any chance? Two Mitsubishi A6Ms in original condition? Complete with all markings? I thought so.
They're replicas.
I can never find that movie anywere lol Edit: I wrote necer instead of never
The F14 is truly a legend! Iran airforce is formidable because of the 14s! And I believe that one of their pilots is an Ace of Aces. He single handedly served it to the Iraqi airforce and their Migs and Sukois. I wish that the U.S. Navy had updated their fleet to the F1421s. The F35 across the board isn't nearly as good.
Our f 14s today are too old to fight, Iran needs f 16
Razgriz Squadron, launch!
Are we getting any streams soon