Air Power Series>1:72 die-cast display model>F-14>HA5222
Grumman F-14D Super Tomcat 164601, VF-31 CAG, "Operation Iraqi Freedom"
General Background
The Grumman F-14 Tomcat is a twin-engine, variable sweep wings capable of supersonic flight.
The aircraft is crewed by a Pilot and a Radar Intercept Officer who share the tasks of navigation,
target acquisition, ECM and weapons usage. The Tomcat was operated by the United States
Navy and the Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force only. The name "Tomcat" is said to come from the
call-sign used by Vice Admiral Thomas Connolly which conformed to the USN tradition of giving
Grumman aircraft feline names.
The Aircraft
VF-31 was formed on July 1, 1935 and known as the “Shooting Stars” but later would become
the owners of Felix The Cat emblem and in 1948 received the name “Tomcatters”. In early 1981
VF-31 received the Grumman F-14A Tomcat and in 1992 upgraded to the F-14D Super Tomcat.
In 2002 VF-31 was onboard the USS Abraham Lincoln and heading home from Operation
Enduring Freedom when they were ordered back to take part in Operation Iraqi Freedom where
the Tomcatters flew 585 sorties and dropped 239 LGB/JDAM/Mk 82 bombs.
Specifications :
| Role: | Carrier-based multi-role strike fighter |
| First Flight: | F-14A 1970, F-14B (F-14A+) 1986, F-14D 1990 |
| Last Production Year: | F-14D July 20, 1992 |
| Number All Variants Produced: | 710 |
| Crew: | 2 (pilot and radar intercept officer) |
| Dimensions | |
| Length: | 62 ft 8 inches |
| Wingspan (Swept) | 38 ft 2.5 inches |
| Wingspan (Unswept) | 64 ft 1.5 inches |
| Height: | 16 ft |
| Performance | |
| Powerplants: | F-14A 2 x P&W TF-30-P414A F-14B 2 x GE F-110-GE-400 F-14D 2 x GE F-110-GE-400 |
| Maximum Thrust: | F-14A 34,154 lbs F-14B 56,400 lbs F-14D 56,400 lbs |
| Maximum Speed: | F-14A 1,544 mph (Mach 2.38) F-14B 1,544 mph (Mach 2.38) F-14D 1,544 mph (Mach 2.38) |
| Ceiling: | F-14A 50,000+ ft F-14B 53,000+ ft F-14D 53,000+ ft |
| Range: | F-14A 1,730 nm F-14B 2,050 nm F-14D 2,050 nm |
| Weights | |
| Empty: | F-14A 40,104 pounds F-14B 41,780 pounds F-14D 43,735 pounds |
| Maximum: | F-14A 72,000 pounds F-14B 74,349 pounds F-14D 74,349 pounds |
| Armament: | 1 x MK-61A1 Vulcan 20mm cannon |
| Maximum Weight: | 13,000 lbs. Of Combined Ordnance |
| Air-Air Missiles | |
| 6 AIM-7 Sparrows | |
| 4 AIM-9 Sidewinder | |
| 6 AIM-54 Phoenix | |
| Air-To-Ground | |
| MK-82 (500 lbs.) | |
| 4 MK-83 (1,000 lbs.) | |
| 4 MK-84 (2,000 lbs.) | |
| MK-20 cluster bombs | |
| 4 GBU-10 LGB | |
| GBU-12 MK-82 LGB | |
| 4 GBU-16 MK-83 LGB | |
| 4 GBU-24 MK-84 LGB |