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F-14 Tomcat
Air-Superiority Fighter -- What That Means
F-14 Tomcat was designed to have see-first, shoot-first capability. Its radar was the most powerful, its Phoenix missiles had the longest range. It was no stealth fighter -- F-14 pilots wanted to deter enemies by letting them know they're coming. US Navy and Iranian pilots reported they merely had to turn on their radar, enemy pilots feared Tomcats and U-turned back home.
Range
Range of newer fighters actually decreases.
| range (internal): | aircraft: | year: | notes/references: |
| 3600km | F-82 Twin Mustang | 1945 | Set world-record flying non-stop from Hawaii to New York, 8100km, with 4 external tanks. |
| 3000km | F-14 Tomcat | 1970 | |
| 2200km | F-35C Navy | 2006 | link, dated 2019/02 |
Close View of an F-14
Tomcats look awesome in pictures and movies. But in reality from a close view, well, they look different. This was #105 F-14D of VF-31 squadron, now at a museum. It was a surprisingly large airplane, as large as a house. Construction was crude in some ways, rusty philips-head screws, panels don't fit flush, tangles of dirty hydraulic lines. How could a panel held by philips-head screws not be ripped off at Mach 2?
Stray Tomcats
Fake picture? Maybe Russia procured an F-14 from Iran?
Actually, this F-14 was in "aggressor" paint for Top Gun school. Background is of San Diego.
Doing It Wrong!
