Tomcat
US Navy
S/N 162911
The F-14 Tomcat won the Navy's VFX fighter competetion on January 15, 1969. First production of 12 prototypes came on December 21, 1970, and the original contract for 497 aircraft, including prototypes, was extended into the '90s for a total of 621.
A Class-A carrier-based multi-role strike fighter, its main spar is a one-piece electron beam-welded structure of titanium alloy. Fins and rudders are light alloy honeycomb with multiple spars and boron epoxy composites skins. The fuselage, with machined frames, titanium main longerons, and light alloy stressed skin, is essentially a fuel-carrying box. The internal fuel tank stores 16, 200 lbs, external fuel tanks an additional 3, 800 lbs.
Long-span spoilers ahead of the flaps and automatic leading-edge slats assist maneuvering. The automatic wing sweep has manual override and automatic scheduling of control with airspeed, and autostabilization and angle-of-attack contrro. Very much a "fly-by-wire" system with its autopilot and automatic carrier landing system.
Crew consists of a pilot and radar intercept officer. Typical armament: AIM-54 Phoenix missile, AIM-7 Sparrow missile, AIM-9 Sidewinder missile, air-to-ground ordnance, and one 20mm MK-61A1 Vulcan cannon.
Manufactured at a unit cost of $38 million by Grumman Aerospace Corp at various locations.
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| Powerplant: | Two 16088 lb GE F110-GE-400 turbofans |
| Wingspan: | Open 64' 2 " / Swept: 38' 0" |
| Length: | 61' 10 " |
| Height: | 16' 0 " |
| Wing area: | 565 sf |
| Empty weight: | 41,780 lbs |
| Gross weight: | 74,349 lbs |
| Maximum speed: | 1,584 mph |
| Cruising speed: | 460-633 mph |
| Landing speed: | 125 knots |
| Ceiling: | 68,000 ft |
| Range: | 578 statute miles 1,600 statute miles with externam fuel tanks |
| Status: | Static display |
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