It is good looking and has a lot of nostalgia, but my God is it overrated in practical terms. It's really closer to a 3rd gen fighter than a 4th gen, and it's primitive electronic architecture held it back.
@@taylorc2542 I didn't mean its "practical terms". I mean the bad ass look of F-14. I know it is totaly outdated equipement today, but it still looks great (in my opinion). It's beautiful.
aviation design will always be ahead of automotive. especially fighter jets and stealth aircraft. Look at a sr71 blackbird and tell me if that design looks dated or not.
It almost seems as if it has alien tech in it. Nothing about these jets seem humans when you look real close at them. The advancement from 1950s to 70s is unreal.
The F-14 was big, fast, powerful, and it just plain looked GOOD. It was one of those warplanes that really made you want to be a naval aviator! Bar none, my all time favorite aircraft.
Big sure, fast enough but powerful no: the biggest issue of the F14 was its engines, too weak for this big and heavy fighter. It's weight to power ratio was one of the worst !
For me, it's its superior design that have extraordinary lift building design ,interesting enough, but it's the russian who have better eyes on tomcat to realize its excellent lifting capability that they incorporates many of tomcat's design aspect into their super maneuver flanker. Tomcat vg and wing design especially gave him a unique and "variable" behaviour during dogfight. A primary factor that allowing tomcats to beat eagles in several occasions. Their phoenix missiles are powerful weapons. It shame that us navy regulation to do visual identification before they got a "clear to engage" order, thus rendering phoenix unuseable. Lots of pilot definitely feared phoenix missiles as they wouldn't be able to see one coming their way at mach5, whenever they engages the tomcat. The only jet that excellent in both interceptor & air superiority role.
@@thunderboltcougar5626 The Phoenix would have been intended to defend the fleet in the event of open hostilities when any aircraft was even remotely appearing to be a Russian Bear, Backfire, or other comparable strike or bomber aircraft. Under those circumstances, they wouldn't even bother with VID. That's where the Phoenix would have shined.
@@thunderboltcougar5626 none of the sukhoi t10 designs where made due to the F14, that is a ignorant statement. ogive wing, fly by wire with aerodynamic instability bias none of that is present on the f14...
I was part of the first Navy team to help bring the F-14 into the Navy in 1972. Went to Hughes Aircraft in LA, then to VX-4 at Point Mugu. Loved the Tomcat. Ended my Navy career in 1977 with VF-143 - The Tomcat 'Pukin Dogs'.
You probably know my father who was an AVCM. He was stationed at Miramar when the F-14 was first introduced to the Navy. He was also with the Pukin Dogs. When the F-14 was brought to the east coast in 1976 he went the F-14 to Oceana.
My favorite jet is the F-14 but that’s like comparing apples and oranges. F-35 is a flying computer that turns a battlefield into a literal virtual video game.
I never forget the plane inspire me too become a Aviator. The mighty beautiful F14 😘❤️🐈. The most beautiful long range Interceptor ever built. From Austria 🇦🇹
I love the Tomcat. My name is Tom and I took a real interest in aviation due to the "Top Gun" movie. I joined the Marine Corps and worked on the KC -130 refueler during my enlistment.
My time I served in the Navy & worked on Tomcats was a thing to be desired & just mesmerizing! The things I seen the dog fighting aircrafts could was a thing of beauty! I grew up loving the movie Too Gun then I had my dream come true to be able to work around & maintenance these fighter bets! They are without a doubt the best dog fighting jet ever created by the Navy! Watching that tomcat break the sound barrier was so awesome! That sonic boom is a thing of beauty!
Versatile extremely powerful and long range jet. . A couple at an airshow made my jaw drop when they did a fly by and then straight up and out of sigh in seconds.
Yup. Veritech Fighters is exactly why I love Robotech and F-14 Tomcats. They go together. If they ever make a live version Robotech Series, have to use to Tomcats.
@@topshonuff sadly, Robotech is not going to see any animation for the foreseeable future. I'm sticking to Macross (which is the same but with much more details). Look for Macross Zero transformation in youtube if you wanna check it out
…and years later, the Tomcat still has qualities that are unmatched with anything we have today. Ironically, the threat we thought was over to allow its demise is rising in the East once more!
I got to meet paul bavitz, one of the engineers that designed the variable geometry wing system. He said he still loved the Tomcat. That week it was announced that the Tomcat was retiring.
My dad bought me a toy Tomcat from an Air Force Museum when I was a kid. I just thought it was so cool that the wings could move forward. Glad to know a little more about these planes.
Yep, I was already into military aircraft and then Top Gun came out. In '88 I got to see one run through it's paces at the Cleveland air show. I'm so glad I got to see this beautiful plane in flight first hand. In my mind it still is "the plane."
Northrop Grumman didn't yet exist when the Tomcat was developed. It was developed by Grumman Aerospace Corp. of Bethpage, NY. I worked in the mid 70's at their remote Plant # 58 in Northern Virginia. We manufactured Tomcat wing skins among other projects for F-14's, A-6E's, E-2C's and EA-6B's. Admiral Nimitz once said: "The name Grumman on a Navy plane is the same as sterling on silver". Good stuff!
We still got at least 40 F14-A in iraniain Air Force. The legend of air superiority during 8 years war. A heritage from forever Iranian king. Rest In Peace.
@@Truthbomb918 Iranians aren't stupid. They've been sending their brightest students to the best technical universities all over the world for decades. They no longer need original ordnance and Grumman spares to keep their big cats in the air with sharp claws, they design and manifacture their own, in their national aviation industries facility. At its lowest the IRIAF is said to have had about a dozen Cats still flying, but that number has been increasing over the last decade. The last report I read on this matter mentioned over twenty airworthy (which, I know, is not necessarily the same as combat ready) IRIAF F-14 A's, the goal being the forty reza is talking about. The airframes are solid, since they (unlike the USN F-14's) never took the beating of numerous catapult take-offs and arrested landings on carriers which they were designed to sustain, as the IRIAF only flies them from landbased aerodromes with regular tarmac or concrete runways. If they would somehow manage to upgrade the systems and software to modern standards, possibly with help from Russia or China, they're set for at least another decade, maybe even longer. They don't need to be able to bud heads with 5th gen. Western fighter planes, they just have to be able to keep the airforces of their neighboring countries sufficiently respectfull of their capabilities.
@@erprast who said they were stupid, the airframe is old and each has a limit frame life. And Iran has to worry about 5th gen aircraft from Israel and America
@@HesamDS the Iraqi Air Force isn't really a high bar. But the reason I said they aren't skilled enough to utilize the F-14's full potential is because your military doesn't have the budget nor capability to TRAIN them to. Plus the Tomcats you have are more than 40 years old....THEY can't achieve the F-14's full potential. If the Revolution hadn't happened, your Air Force would've potentially gotten avionics upgrades. Maybe the F-14B possibly even near planes, and Your pilots possibly would have been invited to Miramar NAS and Nellis AFB to train. Then they would access to the training AND equipment to fly Tomcats the way they deserve to be.
@@mothafraker Iranian pilots achieved more with the F-14 A and with one hand tied behind their back because of the embargo than any story we hear from the 2 instances our Navy has used this bird in actual combat. Many Iranian pilots have hundreds of real combat hours in the F-14 compared to our navy pilots with training hours. Not a valid comment, sir.
Was my favorite plane when I was a kid, built various models, and was always the go to plane when my dad brought me to his work. It was always awesome to witness on base or on the CV60...
During 8 years of Iran-Iraq war if one Tomcat was on patrol Iraqi fighters would cancel their mission and turn back to their bases that's how powerful was F14, such a beast with huge radar, sometimes Iranian Air Force used F14 as an AWACS because of it's radar capabilities.
I had two model planes that I myself personally built when I was kid, a F4U Corsair and black F-14 Tomcat I called Black Jack that I would run around my house and pretend I’m a ace. This plane evokes strong emotions for me and I simply adore it. None will be better in my heart
Ah, the F4U Corsair and the F-14 are my favorite two military aircraft. Something about the B-17 strikes my heart different as well. Now I'm building multiple models of each. There are few others I admire, and I have bug for some specific helo's too.
It's hard to explain the nostalgic tug that makes me yearn for this fighter jet to come back. Is it the lines? The history? The movie early on in my life? Every few years I check back in to see if by some miracle or chance Grumman has convinced us to bring it back in a modern form. I know it will never happen, but I will love and think about this jet for the rest of my life. I fly an R/C version of this from a company called FreeWing and it is done up in the 25th anniversary livery. The sweep wings works just as the real one and it's as close as I'll ever get to this thing. RIP Tomcat.
the GE engines where great when working at lower altitudes as they provided lots more thrust at lower airspeeds both engines where more equal at higher altitudes and speeds to the point that at high speed high altitude the TF-30s actually had a bit of an edge over the GE's Tho in almost every other situation the GE engines beat the snot out of the TF-30s
@@robertburgess5589 if you are asking me no I'm just a civie but the Tomcat is a passion research project for me I'm always trying to find more information about it and it's little quark's
@@robertburgess5589 To answer the other half of your question the P&W TF-30's where a good engine for what they where originally built for The F-111 and the A-7 These platforms had a very different Flight regiment which is why when paired with the 14 they performed poorly the engine was never designed to go in an airframe that could pull 30 degrees of AOA and maneuver at 9Gs so accidents happened Turbine blades let go and Compressor stalls occurred the Turbine blades issue was bad enough that they wrapped the engines in a layer of armor to absorb the blade fragments when they did go to protect the rest of the airframe. The compressor stalls where primarily caused by actuating the throttle at high AOA.
I grew up 3 miles from Grumman in calverton Ny where the tomcat was built and tested as a kid in the 70s tomcats would scream over my house all the time I never got tired of it I worked at Grumman from 85 - 90 my dad and uncle worked there for over 30 years one of my jobs was to maintain the 2 runways from cutting grass , to fixing cracks in the run way . Many times I would be as close as 75 ft from a tomcat powering up its engines getting ready for a take off the feeling of the power you could feel it through your body it was awesome. I was about 21. The pilots would give me a thumbs up never got tired of it. I got to watch the tomcat test fire it’s gun very cool. I still live close to Grumman and I miss the sound of those cats overhead.
I was on the last aircraft carrier that the f-14 that did deployment on which was my first deployment. When I say from the maintenance standpoint I was happy to see that thing go. I was in avionics we had a cable that was I want to say about 100 to 150 ft long that we had to work on. And all the components on it was so old I would look at tech manuals that were 20 to 30 years older than me. But as far as capabilities and just badassness it was one of a kind. And I really feel fortunate to be able to work on it.
Were you with VF-31 or VF-213? Thats interesting, being avionics. I would of thought that the D's were rewired with the new digital avionics and the rebuild program that upgraded As to Ds, but that was still done in the 90s.
Both F-14 and 15 are my two favorite fighter jets...They look similar but the sweep wings of the Tomcats made the 14 stand out more over the Eagles and made it my absolute favorite fighter jet
F-14's popularity is due in part to the movie TOP GUN.. I admit, after seeing the movie, i wanna be an F-14 fighter pilot.. loved the plane eversince..
Top gun was a recruitment movie. The F14 just happened to be chosen. They should've chose the F15 eagle . The fight with the mig 28,s ( AMERICAN F 5 s painted to look Russian) would have been more BELIEVABLE.
1 of the only few airplanes that look bad ass sitting still. That shot of Tom Cruise coming up on the elevator and walking toward the F14 Tomcat that is iconic!
Its not just a beautiful jet but it sounds incredible too...the sound of its GE110s at full power is incredible. Everytime I watch Top Gun, its always at FULL volume where the engine noises and afterburner roar really hit you in the chest.
And yes, I agree...it is one of the most beautiful planes ever... (Not only because it was in Top-Gun movie ;) ) ... That "Transformers" type of wings, and modification in flight, from "slow glider - to fast arrow" was excellent possibility for that time, and even now... Excellent project and idea - actually produced, that really happen only to few lucky engineers...
A straight on view of the Tomcat always reminded me of a pissed off Eagle or bird of prey. I love this plane and I think the government should bring it back. It could do so many things that other planes couldn't.
Love the Tomcat, sad to see em retired, I doubt they'll be brought back, but I honestly really hope they do get brought back, but as said, Doubt it. the sexiest jet ever made till this day, its a bloody beast that many love.
@@MikeBrown-go1pc There's dozens and dozens of them on display all over the country. Most likely all stripped and gutted beyond the point of being airworthy ever again. But they were not all shredded.
As a kid growing up on Long Island we would see them flying around a lot. Plus they were in Top Gun and Final Countdown. It was also used on GI Joe in the 80s. It was a rockstar. They also feature in a great book series called Carrier
There has been a lot of aviation movies made since the 80's but i gotta tell you, The Final Countdown is still one of my favourite to this day. It has -sort of- become a cult movie as well, due to its unique plot. It is a masterpiece when it comes to portraying life on an aircraft carrier during war time, the cast is great and the acting is quite good, the music is amazing. A true gem.
In the 8-year war between Iran and Iraq, the F-14s of the Iranian army defended the sky of Iran like an eagle, Jalil Zandi, the best F-14 pilot in the world is known🦅
I first saw the F-14 in the film "The Final Countdown", featuring the carrier USS Nimitz and its' fighter planes. This was about 6 years before Top Gun. Such an awesome plane, I used to have a model of one in my room when I was a kid.
The carrier deck shots on that film, are now, amazing! I spotted an RA5 Vigilante on there FFS! I mean, "WOW!" (looking back at it) . . . . - I'd have loved to have seen something like USS Midway c. 1957-59 when, pretty much, the widest range of aircraft the Navy employed ever was aboard.
I'm addicted to the F-14! I can't get enough of it, it's so wonderful. It has always been and still is be amazing! A great machine! Such a combination of Monica Bellucci and Mike Tyson.
Yeah baby, the F-14 Tom Cat is one of the all time favorites of many Aviators. The Navy and many other military personnel always at least wanna go up with the pilot just one TIME! Now we all know Just One Time is never gonna be enough. I got my chance only twice in my career, I still gotta say OH, DAMN, what a rush. What a Magnificent machine.
F14 had a larger cockpit giving the crew more room to be more comfortable on long flights. I love it and for those who don't know aim 54 is 14.5-15 feet long most aircraft would need a gas tank station just to try and carry it
as a genius once said, the F-14 is the muscle car of US jets, it may not be the best at everything but holy shit is it cool and badass in what it does.
Compare the kill ratio of Grumman aircraft vs McDonell Douglas. In WWII the Grumman Hellcat shot down more enemy aircraft than any other aircraft. More than the Corsair, more than the P-51 Mustang. The only word MD would have for Grumman would be “Respect”.
@@williamfarren3718 That's not true at all, considering the P-38 scored the most air to air kills of any aircraft in the Pacific theatre alone. Douglas also produced the DC-3/C-47, the best selling airliner of all time, the SBD Dauntless, without a doubt the most successful dive bomber of ww2, and many more.
I was in VF-1 in the mid-'80s, attached to the Kitty Hawk. Fantastic memories. A lifetime ago, but still just yesterday. I have my Olongapo-built wooden Tomcat sitting on my desk, and Tomcat pics scattered throughout my screensaver photos file. The Tom, the F-4 Phantom II and the F-4U Corsair are my favorite airframes.
Iranian Tomcats shot down a MIG-25 flying at 90,000 feet going Mach 2.8 while in the Tomcat was pushed into a vertical climb up at nearly Mach 1.8 with AIM-54 missile. The AWG-9 radar was able to picked up the Foxbat and locked on it. (Source: Tom Cooper and Farzad Bishop book., Iranian Tomcat Units in Combat) Nothing Navy ever got was as fast, could carry as much, could see as far out as the Tomcat and cover both air superiority and ground strike together like the F-14 Tomcat could. Truly one of a kind.
We all know that's Snort flying the Grim Reaper F-14 at the end. I was stationed in VF-101 at that time he would just decide to demo the jet usually at like 1600, If memory serves me correctly.
The F-15 and the F-14 were the 2 most beautiful fighters ever designed, and both were highly capable of doing their jobs very well. I don't care what anyone says about the over priced, over budget, and highly overhyped F-35, even though it's a next gen fighter it will never be as good as the F-14 or F-15 and will never match the capabilities of either aircraft. That's just my opinion though.
@@oot007 exactly, the F-35 cannot live up to what it was expected to do. The damn thing is over budget and still plagued with problems. In all honesty, the F-22 Raptor should not have been shelved, it's an all around better fighter than the F-35.
My message of gratitude to the school of thought which makes such inventions possible for mankind, and the many engineers and scientists whose efforts saved this ancient land from her many enemies. From Iran.
US$195,000 What can a Black Hornet drone do? th-cam.com/video/9IkaP6XMNZw/w-d-xo.html
us is built on lies, blood and bullsht. Ussr didnt fall. It didnt threat us - other way around. And f14 is crap.
ممكن تعمللنا حلقة عن منظومة الدفاع الجوي الاءيرانية s 300 وشكرا
F-14 is one of most beautiful jets ever created! I always loved it. Even today, i have a model of it right beside me.
Sexy. Sleek. Mechanical porn. Greatness. American.
True, giving tough competition to russian Sukhoi jets in looks
It is good looking and has a lot of nostalgia, but my God is it overrated in practical terms. It's really closer to a 3rd gen fighter than a 4th gen, and it's primitive electronic architecture held it back.
@@taylorc2542 I didn't mean its "practical terms". I mean the bad ass look of F-14. I know it is totaly outdated equipement today, but it still looks great (in my opinion). It's beautiful.
@@UniverseArtificial Oh yeah. Russian jets are one of the most beautiful ones. I love especialy SU-27. This bird is so cool looking!
Insane how 30+ year old airframes still look soo gorgeous and modern.
aviation design will always be ahead of automotive. especially fighter jets and stealth aircraft. Look at a sr71 blackbird and tell me if that design looks dated or not.
It almost seems as if it has alien tech in it. Nothing about these jets seem humans when you look real close at them. The advancement from 1950s to 70s is unreal.
@@iVenture01 nut
50+ years old, this thing was designed in the 60s, and first took flight in 1970. First started flying for the navy in 1974. It's quite old.
just look at the horten ho 229 for example. still looks like a ufo, but a ww2 design
The F-14 was big, fast, powerful, and it just plain looked GOOD. It was one of those warplanes that really made you want to be a naval aviator! Bar none, my all time favorite aircraft.
Big sure, fast enough but powerful no: the biggest issue of the F14 was its engines, too weak for this big and heavy fighter. It's weight to power ratio was one of the worst !
When u said powerful a. A 10 : are u sure about that?
Sorry if im garmmar
Wel the tomcat big fast but not that powerful
The powerfull is a 10
The F14 was the late 60s musclecar of the fighter jet world. Beautiful, fast, and just looked badass
For me is the Speed, Phoenix missiles and the Looks that makes the F-14 the Big Boss!
Too Big Boss. Fighters should be half sized Tomcats.
Phoenix wasn't that great a missile. There is a reason it was never used on any other aircraft. The F14 is a big target.
For me, it's its superior design that have extraordinary lift building design ,interesting enough, but it's the russian who have better eyes on tomcat to realize its excellent lifting capability that they incorporates many of tomcat's design aspect into their super maneuver flanker. Tomcat vg and wing design especially gave him a unique and "variable" behaviour during dogfight. A primary factor that allowing tomcats to beat eagles in several occasions. Their phoenix missiles are powerful weapons. It shame that us navy regulation to do visual identification before they got a "clear to engage" order, thus rendering phoenix unuseable. Lots of pilot definitely feared phoenix missiles as they wouldn't be able to see one coming their way at mach5, whenever they engages the tomcat. The only jet that excellent in both interceptor & air superiority role.
@@thunderboltcougar5626 The Phoenix would have been intended to defend the fleet in the event of open hostilities when any aircraft was even remotely appearing to be a Russian Bear, Backfire, or other comparable strike or bomber aircraft. Under those circumstances, they wouldn't even bother with VID. That's where the Phoenix would have shined.
@@thunderboltcougar5626 none of the sukhoi t10 designs where made due to the F14, that is a ignorant statement. ogive wing, fly by wire with aerodynamic instability bias none of that is present on the f14...
I still cant believe my dad flew this beautiful beast for 20 years.
Such an honor m8 ! you definitly are so proud :)
Lucky man!
Your dad was lucky man.
He is the real world Tom Cruise....a Hero
@@maybesherlock734 beyond. The guy could fall asleep on a roller coaster. 🤣
I was part of the first Navy team to help bring the F-14 into the Navy in 1972. Went to Hughes Aircraft in LA, then to VX-4 at Point Mugu. Loved the Tomcat. Ended my Navy career in 1977 with VF-143 - The Tomcat 'Pukin Dogs'.
That is legendary. Pukin Dogs was my favourite Tomcat squadron as well.
You probably know my father who was an AVCM. He was stationed at Miramar when the F-14 was first introduced to the Navy. He was also with the Pukin Dogs. When the F-14 was brought to the east coast in 1976 he went the F-14 to Oceana.
VF-41 The Black Aces here, NAS Oceana in the 90s
Thank you for your service. Although I am not an American but I have huge respect for Army, Navy and Air Force personnels all across the globe
Thanks for defending our way of life.
Too Expensive to Maintain?
Ow yea, that F35b is a real money saver!
The difference is it's expensive and modern.. But this is expensive and old. So easy choice really.
My favorite jet is the F-14 but that’s like comparing apples and oranges. F-35 is a flying computer that turns a battlefield into a literal virtual video game.
Well, it'd be the F-35C for USN operations.
F35 so ugly pregnant plane,its just modern
F-22 is better 👍🏻
I never forget the plane inspire me too become a Aviator. The mighty beautiful F14 😘❤️🐈. The most beautiful long range Interceptor ever built. From Austria 🇦🇹
When I get older, the same might be for me. Though I will never get to really fly the f-14, I can fly it’s kids. It’s grandkids.
@@bryandodson4101 Ever heard of DCS there is a simulated version you can fly you just have to purchase the module
I was the radar shop supervisor in VF-301 At Miramar NAS from 86 to 88. Helluva bird.
Thank you for your service.
Imagine it with modern Avionics and the ability to Supercruise.
beautiful
Thrust vectoring as well
Problem is the Navy personnel flying them ... subpar in every way
Install thrust vectoring engines.
It would be costly as F35 and US are Looking for F36 King Snake.
I am a navy vet , and the F14 tomcat was always an amazing machine.
It still is
😂😂😂😂
I love the Tomcat. My name is Tom and I took a real interest in aviation due to the "Top Gun" movie. I joined the Marine Corps and worked on the KC -130 refueler during my enlistment.
My time I served in the Navy & worked on Tomcats was a thing to be desired & just mesmerizing! The things I seen the dog fighting aircrafts could was a thing of beauty! I grew up loving the movie Too Gun then I had my dream come true to be able to work around & maintenance these fighter bets! They are without a doubt the best dog fighting jet ever created by the Navy! Watching that tomcat break the sound barrier was so awesome! That sonic boom is a thing of beauty!
The only thing to say about F-14 Tomcat is that---"TOP GUN"
And The Need, for Speed!
THATS THE F15.
Versatile extremely powerful and long range jet. . A couple at an airshow made my jaw drop when they did a fly by and then straight up and out of sigh in seconds.
I work for boeing i know they build amazing fighter jets but the f14 tomcat was my all time favorite fighter jet when i was a kid and still is today
I was on the Big E when the F-14 was entered into the inventory. We took the FIRST deployed squadrons “Tomcats” to sea. VF-1 and VF-2.
When I think of Macross/Robotech, this thing comes to my mind. Beautiful, fast sweep wing aircraft.
Yup. Veritech Fighters is exactly why I love Robotech and F-14 Tomcats. They go together. If they ever make a live version Robotech Series, have to use to Tomcats.
@@topshonuff sadly, Robotech is not going to see any animation for the foreseeable future. I'm sticking to Macross (which is the same but with much more details). Look for Macross Zero transformation in youtube if you wanna check it out
I consider the "Macross" franchise to be part of the F-14's pop-culture legacy.
The Jolly Roger F14 squadron was the direct inspiration for the VF-1 design.
@@topshonuff The Jolly Roger F14 squadron was the direct inspiration for the VF-1 design.
…and years later, the Tomcat still has qualities that are unmatched with anything we have today. Ironically, the threat we thought was over to allow its demise is rising in the East once more!
I got to meet paul bavitz, one of the engineers that designed the variable geometry wing system. He said he still loved the Tomcat. That week it was announced that the Tomcat was retiring.
My dad bought me a toy Tomcat from an Air Force Museum when I was a kid. I just thought it was so cool that the wings could move forward. Glad to know a little more about these planes.
When I was a kid this was the jet
With an up grade it still can be the boss
@@rogeryelverton5661 Na it’s time has passed. An F-22 can shit on it from miles away.
@@rogeryelverton5661 and we already developing 6th generation technology
Yep, I was already into military aircraft and then Top Gun came out. In '88 I got to see one run through it's paces at the Cleveland air show. I'm so glad I got to see this beautiful plane in flight first hand. In my mind it still is "the plane."
@@lucidclanyt1525 still, can’t argue that it’s super badass.
Northrop Grumman didn't yet exist when the Tomcat was developed. It was developed by Grumman Aerospace Corp. of Bethpage, NY. I worked in the mid 70's at their remote Plant # 58 in Northern Virginia. We manufactured Tomcat wing skins among other projects for F-14's, A-6E's, E-2C's and EA-6B's. Admiral Nimitz once said: "The name Grumman on a Navy plane is the same as sterling on silver". Good stuff!
We still got at least 40 F14-A in iraniain Air Force. The legend of air superiority during 8 years war. A heritage from forever Iranian king. Rest In Peace.
Limited aircraft now due to unavailability of spares and weapons. If the Russian su35 deal goes ahead then Iran will again have a world class aircraft
@@Truthbomb918 Iranians aren't stupid. They've been sending their brightest students to the best technical universities all over the world for decades. They no longer need original ordnance and Grumman spares to keep their big cats in the air with sharp claws, they design and manifacture their own, in their national aviation industries facility. At its lowest the IRIAF is said to have had about a dozen Cats still flying, but that number has been increasing over the last decade. The last report I read on this matter mentioned over twenty airworthy (which, I know, is not necessarily the same as combat ready) IRIAF F-14 A's, the goal being the forty reza is talking about. The airframes are solid, since they (unlike the USN F-14's) never took the beating of numerous catapult take-offs and arrested landings on carriers which they were designed to sustain, as the IRIAF only flies them from landbased aerodromes with regular tarmac or concrete runways. If they would somehow manage to upgrade the systems and software to modern standards, possibly with help from Russia or China, they're set for at least another decade, maybe even longer. They don't need to be able to bud heads with 5th gen. Western fighter planes, they just have to be able to keep the airforces of their neighboring countries sufficiently respectfull of their capabilities.
@@erprast who said they were stupid, the airframe is old and each has a limit frame life. And Iran has to worry about 5th gen aircraft from Israel and America
When I was younger my favorite fighter was the F-16. But now I have absolutely fallen in love with the F-14. 🥰
1 it's sexy
2 it's futuristic still
3 it's still useful today
Re 3: By an air force whose pilots are not skilled enough to utilize it's full potential.
@@mothafraker why would you say that ? F_14 top gun is an iranian pilot ,our pilots destroyed iraq air force in iran_iraq war
@@HesamDS the Iraqi Air Force isn't really a high bar. But the reason I said they aren't skilled enough to utilize the F-14's full potential is because your military doesn't have the budget nor capability to TRAIN them to. Plus the Tomcats you have are more than 40 years old....THEY can't achieve the F-14's full potential. If the Revolution hadn't happened, your Air Force would've potentially gotten avionics upgrades. Maybe the F-14B possibly even near planes, and Your pilots possibly would have been invited to Miramar NAS and Nellis AFB to train. Then they would access to the training AND equipment to fly Tomcats the way they deserve to be.
@@mothafraker true
@@mothafraker Iranian pilots achieved more with the F-14 A and with one hand tied behind their back because of the embargo than any story we hear from the 2 instances our Navy has used this bird in actual combat. Many Iranian pilots have hundreds of real combat hours in the F-14 compared to our navy pilots with training hours. Not a valid comment, sir.
The shape of the tomcat doesn't look out of place even with 5th gen fighters I cried when they weren't put on carriers any more love you f14
Was my favorite plane when I was a kid, built various models, and was always the go to plane when my dad brought me to his work. It was always awesome to witness on base or on the CV60...
Admit it, you cant watch an F-14 video without Danger Zone playing in the back of your head
During 8 years of Iran-Iraq war if one Tomcat was on patrol Iraqi fighters would cancel their mission and turn back to their bases that's how powerful was F14, such a beast with huge radar, sometimes Iranian Air Force used F14 as an AWACS because of it's radar capabilities.
درسته
The Tomcat is, for me, just a legend......!! A marvelous plane.
I had two model planes that I myself personally built when I was kid, a F4U Corsair and black F-14 Tomcat I called Black Jack that I would run around my house and pretend I’m a ace. This plane evokes strong emotions for me and I simply adore it. None will be better in my heart
Ah, the F4U Corsair and the F-14 are my favorite two military aircraft. Something about the B-17 strikes my heart different as well.
Now I'm building multiple models of each.
There are few others I admire, and I have bug for some specific helo's too.
من میخواستم یک پیلاتس بشم 0:35
Probably the most beautiful combat jet ever made in this world
LOOK AT THE F22
F14 IS A UGLY DUCKLING .
It was an unique airplane. Powerful and with a beautiful design.
It's hard to explain the nostalgic tug that makes me yearn for this fighter jet to come back. Is it the lines? The history? The movie early on in my life? Every few years I check back in to see if by some miracle or chance Grumman has convinced us to bring it back in a modern form. I know it will never happen, but I will love and think about this jet for the rest of my life. I fly an R/C version of this from a company called FreeWing and it is done up in the 25th anniversary livery. The sweep wings works just as the real one and it's as close as I'll ever get to this thing. RIP Tomcat.
They really improved their performance when they got rid of the TF30 and replaced them with the GE F110-400. 👀
the GE engines where great when working at lower altitudes as they provided lots more thrust at lower airspeeds both engines where more equal at higher altitudes and speeds to the point that at high speed high altitude the TF-30s actually had a bit of an edge over the GE's Tho in almost every other situation the GE engines beat the snot out of the TF-30s
Was you an ADJ? ONLY they would know that. What about the Pratt-Witney? Good engine also
@@robertburgess5589 if you are asking me no I'm just a civie but the Tomcat is a passion research project for me I'm always trying to find more information about it and it's little quark's
@@robertburgess5589 To answer the other half of your question the P&W TF-30's where a good engine for what they where originally built for The F-111 and the A-7 These platforms had a very different Flight regiment which is why when paired with the 14 they performed poorly the engine was never designed to go in an airframe that could pull 30 degrees of AOA and maneuver at 9Gs so accidents happened Turbine blades let go and Compressor stalls occurred the Turbine blades issue was bad enough that they wrapped the engines in a layer of armor to absorb the blade fragments when they did go to protect the rest of the airframe. The compressor stalls where primarily caused by actuating the throttle at high AOA.
I was an engineer at GE making those F110-GE-400 engines, the retirement of these planes was a bad idea.
I grew up 3 miles from Grumman in calverton Ny where the tomcat was built and tested as a kid in the 70s tomcats would scream over my house all the time I never got tired of it I worked at Grumman from 85 - 90 my dad and uncle worked there for over 30 years one of my jobs was to maintain the 2 runways from cutting grass , to fixing cracks in the run way . Many times I would be as close as 75 ft from a tomcat powering up its engines getting ready for a take off the feeling of the power you could feel it through your body it was awesome. I was about 21. The pilots would give me a thumbs up never got tired of it. I got to watch the tomcat test fire it’s gun very cool. I still live close to Grumman and I miss the sound of those cats overhead.
I was on the last aircraft carrier that the f-14 that did deployment on which was my first deployment. When I say from the maintenance standpoint I was happy to see that thing go. I was in avionics we had a cable that was I want to say about 100 to 150 ft long that we had to work on. And all the components on it was so old I would look at tech manuals that were 20 to 30 years older than me. But as far as capabilities and just badassness it was one of a kind. And I really feel fortunate to be able to work on it.
Thanks for your service sir
@@Military-TV thank you I appreciate it it was my pleasure and my honor.
Were you with VF-31 or VF-213? Thats interesting, being avionics. I would of thought that the D's were rewired with the new digital avionics and the rebuild program that upgraded As to Ds, but that was still done in the 90s.
@@get2dachoppa249 I was I Level so I came out of AIMD JAX. I was an instrument tech and some of them where old, you know like the AOA.
I believe they were Ds but i didnt have know that specifically since I worked on instruments for all the airwing.
This is undoubtedly the best aircraft ever made.
...you don't say...?
Except it's not, was good for its time alright but even then it was handicapped by its weight and terrible engines
IF IT WAS IT WOULDN'T BE OBSOLETE WOULD IT.
😂
Both F-14 and 15 are my two favorite fighter jets...They look similar but the sweep wings of the Tomcats made the 14 stand out more over the Eagles and made it my absolute favorite fighter jet
Those 2 are my favorites, too, but number one for me is the F-15.
If you get the chance, watch the The Fat Electrician video on the F15
I'm an 87 baby, and it's iconic to me. Much more than any of the newer jets.
My father was a Grumman F14 Tech Rep since the program begun. It was like loosing a family member with the Tomcat retirement.
I remember the Tomcat taking off from the carrier when I was on my Destroyer for plane guarding at 1000-2000 yards behind it in 1968-1971
Truly an iconic bad-ass aircraft if ever there was one...... Thank you Grumman.
Growing up in the 80's, this was the coolest fighter jet ever
F-14's popularity is due in part to the movie TOP GUN.. I admit, after seeing the movie, i wanna be an F-14 fighter pilot.. loved the plane eversince..
Top gun was a recruitment movie. The F14 just happened to be chosen. They should've chose the F15 eagle . The fight with the mig 28,s ( AMERICAN F 5 s painted to look Russian) would have been more BELIEVABLE.
For me, the two most iconic planes are the F-14 Tomcat and the F-117A Nighthawk. I just love these two planes
1 of the only few airplanes that look bad ass sitting still. That shot of Tom Cruise coming up on the elevator and walking toward the F14 Tomcat that is iconic!
came back after watching Top Gun Maverick, love the design of this plane, especially the variable wings
One of my dream jobs is to be a fighter pilot, I've always loved the Tomcat and F-15 designs so much and wish I could pilot one of those
I live the swing wing design, it looks so cool when they tuck and run.
I want to fly a Tomcat while listening to Highway To The Danger Zone on my Sony Walkman.
Saving up for a Kawasaki ninja and going to blast Danger zone
So on spot!
Man I’d love to see one of these magnificent beasts flying again. They are one of my favourite aircraft and to see one flying would be a dream.
They’re still flying in Iran
@@henryairconcepts2999 yeah, but sadly it’s quite difficult to go and see one there for obvious reasons, although I would love to see one
A fully armed F15 and F14 really have a stunning beauty
Its not just a beautiful jet but it sounds incredible too...the sound of its GE110s at full power is incredible.
Everytime I watch Top Gun, its always at FULL volume where the engine noises and afterburner roar really hit you in the chest.
EVERY JET SOUNDS THE SAME. LOUD, YOU COULDNT PICK OUT THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A F14 OR F22 TO SAVE YOUR LIFE, THEYRE JUST LOUD.
@@twolak1972 Not true, an F18 sounds very different from a Su30 or a Mig29.
For those who are at least two decades behind, the f-14 is long gone and retired.
And yes, I agree...it is one of the most beautiful planes ever... (Not only because it was in Top-Gun movie ;) ) ... That "Transformers" type of wings, and modification in flight, from "slow glider - to fast arrow" was excellent possibility for that time, and even now... Excellent project and idea - actually produced, that really happen only to few lucky engineers...
A straight on view of the Tomcat always reminded me of a pissed off Eagle or bird of prey. I love this plane and I think the government should bring it back. It could do so many things that other planes couldn't.
Still the prettiest looking fighter jet. May be obsolete by today's standards, but aesthetically, it's untouchable.
One of the sexiest Fighter Jets ,you guys across the pond ever made.
🇬🇧🇺🇸
F-14 Tomcat forever! Best of the best! R.I.P. Never forget!
THE most beautiful jet fighter EVER created.
my favourite of all time.
Love the Tomcat, sad to see em retired, I doubt they'll be brought back, but I honestly really hope they do get brought back, but as said, Doubt it. the sexiest jet ever made till this day, its a bloody beast that many love.
They can never be back. They literally shredded all of them.
@@MikeBrown-go1pc There's dozens and dozens of them on display all over the country. Most likely all stripped and gutted beyond the point of being airworthy ever again. But they were not all shredded.
@@MikeBrown-go1pc come to Iran! they're airborn any time
Next to the P - 51 Mustang, The F - 14 Tomcat is my all time favorite fighter/attack aircraft.
As a kid growing up on Long Island we would see them flying around a lot. Plus they were in Top Gun and Final Countdown. It was also used on GI Joe in the 80s. It was a rockstar. They also feature in a great book series called Carrier
There has been a lot of aviation movies made since the 80's but i gotta tell you, The Final Countdown is still one of my favourite to this day. It has -sort of- become a cult movie as well, due to its unique plot. It is a masterpiece when it comes to portraying life on an aircraft carrier during war time, the cast is great and the acting is quite good, the music is amazing. A true gem.
In the 8-year war between Iran and Iraq, the F-14s of the Iranian army defended the sky of Iran like an eagle, Jalil Zandi, the best F-14 pilot in the world is known🦅
I first saw the F-14 in the film "The Final Countdown", featuring the carrier USS Nimitz and its' fighter planes. This was about 6 years before Top Gun. Such an awesome plane, I used to have a model of one in my room when I was a kid.
The carrier deck shots on that film, are now, amazing! I spotted an RA5 Vigilante on there FFS! I mean, "WOW!" (looking back at it) . . . . - I'd have loved to have seen something like USS Midway c. 1957-59 when, pretty much, the widest range of aircraft the Navy employed ever was aboard.
I'm addicted to the F-14!
I can't get enough of it, it's so wonderful.
It has always been and still is be amazing!
A great machine!
Such a combination of Monica Bellucci and Mike Tyson.
من میخواستم یک پیلاتس بشم
One of my favorite fighter jets.
Looks like F-15 and F-22 combined !!!!
The irony here is it predates both of those aircraft quite handily... so who looks like who? :P
I agree big dog
Need to learn history before jacking his jaw
Looks like the Eagle maybe not the f22
This video answered a question I've had in the back of my mind for some time now.
Should have mentioned how the Aim54 is hypersonic too. Love how the F14 looks.
My all time fav fighter jet! The F14 is beautiful! Sad to see in not in the US naval fleet anymore.
Nice GOT reference at the end. Great video as always.
The most beautiful plane ever I was fortunate enough to get to watch them do touch and go in San Diego with my father
If you're a 80/90s kid, this will forever be America's sweetheart.
Yeah baby, the F-14 Tom Cat is one of the all time favorites of many Aviators. The Navy and many other military personnel always at least wanna go up with the pilot just one TIME! Now we all know Just One Time is never gonna be enough. I got my chance only twice in my career, I still gotta say OH, DAMN, what a rush. What a Magnificent machine.
I love the F-14 reminds me the movie Top Gun.
Que bonitos, cuanta nostalgia. Excelente trabajo. Gracias por mantener volando esas reliquias. Saludos.
Malaysia do use the F/A-18D Hornet. But I still love the F-14 Tomcat
F-14 Tomcat always remind me of two greatest things happened in my life 1)Robotech and 2nd, TopGun movie. Really bring tears..
F14 had a larger cockpit giving the crew more room to be more comfortable on long flights. I love it and for those who don't know aim 54 is 14.5-15 feet long most aircraft would need a gas tank station just to try and carry it
Aim 54?
@@ryand141 Phoenix missile
It is beautiful legend. All the boys who loved airplanes were weaned on the movie Topgun. And also behind the iron curtain :)
as a genius once said, the F-14 is the muscle car of US jets, it may not be the best at everything but holy shit is it cool and badass in what it does.
And it should be the mighty Pontiac Firebird
This is the very first fighter plane that I fell in-love with.
One of the best fighters made. Only Grumman can make the best navy planes
McDonnell Douglas would like to have a word
Compare the kill ratio of Grumman aircraft vs McDonell Douglas. In WWII the Grumman Hellcat shot down more enemy aircraft than any other aircraft. More than the Corsair, more than the P-51 Mustang. The only word MD would have for Grumman would be “Respect”.
@@williamfarren3718 That's not true at all, considering the P-38 scored the most air to air kills of any aircraft in the Pacific theatre alone. Douglas also produced the DC-3/C-47, the best selling airliner of all time, the SBD Dauntless, without a doubt the most successful dive bomber of ww2, and many more.
Vought wants to have a word with you ever heard of the F4U Corsair
I was in VF-1 in the mid-'80s, attached to the Kitty Hawk. Fantastic memories. A lifetime ago, but still just yesterday. I have my Olongapo-built wooden Tomcat sitting on my desk, and Tomcat pics scattered throughout my screensaver photos file. The Tom, the F-4 Phantom II and the F-4U Corsair are my favorite airframes.
The top of the top. I love the F14 ... The Most beautyfull pane of the Navy
when I was a kid I grew up next to nas oceana seeing the f14 with wings swept back still gives me chills
The coolest fighter jet ever made, it’s like seeing Star Wars fighter aircraft
Iranian Tomcats shot down a MIG-25 flying at 90,000 feet going Mach 2.8 while in the Tomcat was pushed into a vertical climb up at nearly Mach 1.8 with AIM-54 missile. The AWG-9 radar was able to picked up the Foxbat and locked on it. (Source: Tom Cooper and Farzad Bishop book., Iranian Tomcat Units in Combat) Nothing Navy ever got was as fast, could carry as much, could see as far out as the Tomcat and cover both air superiority and ground strike together like the F-14 Tomcat could. Truly one of a kind.
cuz it looks awesome
We all know that's Snort flying the Grim Reaper F-14 at the end. I was stationed in VF-101 at that time he would just decide to demo the jet usually at like 1600, If memory serves me correctly.
The F-15 and the F-14 were the 2 most beautiful fighters ever designed, and both were highly capable of doing their jobs very well. I don't care what anyone says about the over priced, over budget, and highly overhyped F-35, even though it's a next gen fighter it will never be as good as the F-14 or F-15 and will never match the capabilities of either aircraft. That's just my opinion though.
That's the beauty of opinion - untethered by the burdens of facts :)
You're spot on about the F35. It was murdered by the 40 year old F16 in dogfighting during it's testing.
@@oot007 exactly, the F-35 cannot live up to what it was expected to do. The damn thing is over budget and still plagued with problems. In all honesty, the F-22 Raptor should not have been shelved, it's an all around better fighter than the F-35.
F14 it's a best fighter, I'm Iranian , I know really what is the F14. Thanks from America & American people's.
Hands down the best looking airplane ever made!
The SU-27, bf-109, P-51 Mustang and the Supermarine SpitFire would like you to take a closer look at them.
@@MikeBrown-go1pc Don't agree with the bf-109. Too angular. Other than that the F-14 is up there with the others imo.
Proud to say I worked on these birds for 12 years as an AT.....
Talk to me Goose.
My message of gratitude to the school of thought which makes such inventions possible for mankind, and the many engineers and scientists whose efforts saved this ancient land from her many enemies. From Iran.