Warbird Information Exchange

The F-14 made its first flight 50 years ago on December 21. A remarkable and outstanding design. Gone, but not forgotten.

One can always dream that the Super Tomcat 21 was produced instead of the Super Bug.
This Is What Grumman's Proposed F-14 Super Tomcat 21 Would Have Actually Looked Like
https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/2 ... ooked-like

A few F-14 videos for your viewing pleasure. Enjoy.

Great Planes - Grumman F-14 Tomcat
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4arJFZbfKAg

Fighter Fling 2004
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QCmEFrWDAUY&t=1135s

F-14 Design Evolution
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SsUCixAeZ0A

F-14 Tomcat Scenes from The Final Countdown HD Part1
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N4bshTKiwYc

F-14 Tomcat Scenes from "The Final Countdown" HD Part2
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NkOsXNF_ZoM

F-14 Tomcat Scenes from "The Final Countdown" HD Part3
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8M74yB9duRc

Okay, who else feels ancient on hearing that bit of aviation history?

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Remember the vets, the wonderful planes they flew and their sacrifices for a future many of them did not live to see.
Note political free signature.
I figure if you wanted my opinion on items unrelated to this forum, you'd ask for it.

Little bit. Spent 12 great years with the Tomcat. I was two months old when the first flight took place.

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There are some that think old airplanes fly on fairy dust and unicorn farts.

USN Ret
Recip FE

A true icon of an aircraft.

#1 was lost a few weeks later and with a very harrowing ejection. Probably less than 5/10 on the Hobbs meter.

I grew up next to Miramar and loved watching the F-14's in the pattern. One my neighbors was killed in a 1976 F-14 crash at Miramar. Besides the Iranians, are there any F-14's still flying? NASA maybe?

Negative. Only Iran. Last word is they have 6 or so that fly. Those can be seen on airliners.net

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There are some that think old airplanes fly on fairy dust and unicorn farts.

USN Ret
Recip FE

Like these IIAF F-14s at the Kish airshow in November 2018

https://www.airhistory.net/pub/show.php?type_generic_id=814&oper_basic_id=2498

A British pal of mine went over there for an airshow to get some got shots of Tomcats for what will likely be for him the very last time.
Were it not for the whole Iranian thing, Tomcat parts wouldn't be treated like they were radioactive in regard to people getting their hands on them. I'm for sure not saying you'd likely be seeing a privately-owned example by now otherwise, but you just never know what could have been had we not sent these there...
You just have to wonder what the pilots and crews think about them, as they came from a country that the Iranians officially hate.

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Life member, 91st BG Memorial Association
Owner, 1944 Willys MB #366014
Former REMF (US Army, O3)

So not completely gone yet.

I'd be willing to bet the average Iranian does not hold animosity towards the U.S. and the West. I'm sure it's the politicians and hardliners that hate us.

I would love to listen in to the phone call when they contact Grumman for customer support

Concur with you maxum96, think the majority of the rhetoric comes from the top, and through a controlled media. By most accounts many Iranians in pre-revolutionary Iran and the Air crews sent to train on the US types in the US had a positive experience and view. Many of these highly trained and professional crews were purged.

While the F-14 gets most of the attention in the west, let's not forget that the Iran still operates tie F-4, F-5, P-3, C-130, 707, 747, Ch-47's, AH-1's etc. While much of it has to do with they have no other alternative to still operate the types, they can't hate them that much.

Just think if the Shah had wound up with some Kfirs before his downfall. Imagine the Iranian Air Force flying aircraft made for Israel!

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Life member, 91st BG Memorial Association
Owner, 1944 Willys MB #366014
Former REMF (US Army, O3)