Grumman F-14 Tomcat - American Aircraft and Warplanes

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Grumman F-14 Tomcat

The Grumman F-14 Tomcat is an American supersonic, twin-engine fighter aircraft developed by the United States Navy.

Time Period: Post-WW2
Country of Origin: United States
Type: Fighter Aircraft, Interceptor Aircraft, Air Superiority Aircraft
Manufacturer: Grumman

Grumman F-14 Tomcat Aircraft Overview

The Grumman F-14 Tomcat is a supersonic, twin-engine, two-seat fighter aircraft that was designed and built by Grumman Aerospace Corporation (now Northrop Grumman) in the 1970s. It was primarily used by the United States Navy as a fleet defense interceptor and air superiority fighter.

The F-14 Tomcat was notable for its swing-wing design, which allowed it to adjust the sweep angle of its wings in flight depending on the desired speed and maneuverability. It was also equipped with advanced radar and weapons systems, including the AIM-54 Phoenix missile, which gave it the ability to engage multiple targets at long ranges.

The F-14 was introduced in the 1970s and saw extensive use during the Cold War, including in several conflicts such as the Gulf War and the Iraq War. It was eventually retired from service in 2006, after more than three decades of service with the U.S. Navy. The F-14 Tomcat gained widespread recognition through its appearances in the 1986 movie “Top Gun,” starring Tom Cruise.

Grumman F-14D Specifications

Crew: 2 (pilot and radar intercept officer)
Length: 62 ft 9 in (19.13 m)
Wingspan: 64 ft 1.5 in (19.545 m)
Swept wingspan: 38 ft 2.5 in (11.646 m) swept
Height: 16 ft (4.9 m)
Wing area: 565 sq ft (52.5 m²) wings only
- 1,008 sq ft (94 m²) effective area including fuselage
Airfoil:
- Grumman (1.74)(35)(9.6)-(1.1)(30)(1.1) root
- Grumman (1.27)(30)(9.0)-(1.1)(40)(1.1) tip
Empty weight: 43,735 lb (19,838 kg)
Gross weight: 61,000 lb (27,669 kg)
Max takeoff weight: 74,350 lb (33,725 kg)
Fuel capacity: 16,200 lb (7,348 kg) internal fuel; 2 × optional 267 US gal (222 imp gal; 1,010 l) / 1,756 lb (797 kg) external tanks
Powerplant: 2 × General Electric F110-GE-400 afterburning turbofans, 16,333 lbf (72.65 kN) thrust each dry, 26,950 lbf (119.9 kN) with afterburner

Grumman F-14D Performance

Maximum speed: Mach 2.34 (1,544 mph, 2,485 km/h) at altitude
Range: 1,600 nmi (1,800 mi, 3,000 km)
Combat range: 500 nmi (580 mi, 930 km)
Service ceiling: 53,000 ft (16,000 m) plus
g limits: +7.5 g (+6.5 g operational limit)
Rate of climb: 45,000 ft/min (230 m/s) plus
Wing loading: 96 lb/sq ft (470 kg/m²)
- 48 lb/sq ft (230 kg/m²) effective
Thrust/weight: 0.88 at gross weight (1.02 with loaded weight & 50% internal fuel)
Takeoff roll: 2,500 ft (760 m)
Landing roll: 2,400 ft (730 m)

Grumman F-14D Armament

Guns: 1× 20 mm (0.787 in) M61A1 Vulcan 6-barreled rotary cannon, with 675 rounds
Hardpoints: 10 total: 6× under-fuselage, 2× under nacelles and 2× on wing gloves with a capacity of 14,500 lb (6,600 kg) of ordnance and fuel tanks, with provisions to carry combinations of:
- Rockets: 7x LAU-10 rocket pods (for a total of 28 rockets)
- Missiles: AIM-54 Phoenix, AIM-7 Sparrow, AIM-9 Sidewinder air-to-air missiles
- Bombs:
  - JDAM precision-guided munition (PGMs)
  - Paveway series of laser-guided bombs
  - Mk 80 series of unguided iron bombs
  - Mk 20 Rockeye II cluster munition
- Other:
  - Tactical Airborne Reconnaissance Pod System (TARPS)
  - LANTIRN Targeting System (LTS) pod (AN/AAQ-14)
  - 2× 267 US gal (1,010 l; 222 imp gal) drop tanks for extended range/loitering time