Perhaps the largest potential order for the Tomcat (other than the Navy) was from the US Air Force. The Air Force instituted a series of studies (Advanced Manned Interceptor, CONUS Interceptor, etc.) during 1971-72 for a new interceptor and had considered a wide variety of possibilities, including a modified Lockheed YF-12A, an improved General Dynamics …
In early 1989, Grumman proposed an upgraded F-14D to the Navy as an alternative to buying the Navy Advanced Tactical Fighter. This program is generally thought of as the Tomcat 21 project, especially after Aviation Week ran a series of articles on that aircraft. However, in reality Tomcat- 21 referred to just one of three …
In August 1984, the Navy awarded Grumman a $984 million fixed-price contract for improved versions of the F-14 and A-6. The new Tomcat would be known as the F-14D or Supertomcat. The F-14D designation had originally been unofficially assigned to a cost-reduced, stripped version of the Tomcat, proposed at a time when the rapidly-increasing cost …
The F-14B Tomcat was developed version of the F-14A, with the primary difference being that advanced turbofan engines would be used. These engines would overcome the one significant shortcoming of the basic F-14A. that of being slightly overweight and thus somewhat underpowered. It was anticipated that essentially the same avionics suite used in the F-14A …
Between 1976 and 1978 the Imperial Iranian Air Force (IIAF) took delivery of 79 F-14As from Grumman. These aircraft retained the AN/AWG-9 radar and Phoenix missile capability, but differed in other electronic systems, primarily in having some ECM systems deleted. The aircraft retained their in-flight refueling capability, and the IIAF uses modified Boeing 707 airliners, …
A total of 19 aircraft were assigned to the F-14A flight test program, with each assigned a unique set of flight trials. The first aircraft had been intended for envelope expansion flights and high-speed testing. Since it was necessary to conduct these tests early in the program, the uncompleted twelfth airframe (BuNo 157991) was completed …
The second flight, on 30th December, did not fare as well. Early in the flight a chase plane observed smoke or fluid trailing the aircraft. As the chase plane came in for a closer look, Miller reported that the primary hydraulic system had failed. The aircraft turned to head home, and four miles from the …