Air Power Series>1:72 die-cast display model>F-14>HA5225
Grumman F-14A Tomcat BuNo 161616, VF-21 "Freelancers", USS Independence, CVW-5, 1994
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
Originally established as VF-81 in 1944; over the years the unit under went several designation
changes. In 1946 they became VF-13A, in 1948 they were VF-131 and 1950 saw them become
VF-64. Their final designation as VF-21 Freelancers came in 1959 making them the third USN
squadron to have this designation. In June 1990 VF-21 made its first deployment onboard USS
Independence and completed its final deployment in November 1995. On January 1, 1996 VF-21
was disestablished and F-14A 161616 was sent to VF-101 and finally struck off charge in 1999.
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 |