F-14 Tomcat

[Steve Pace]

Does anyone have a good rundown for G-numbers associated with all versions of the F-14? The only thing I have is 303E for the F-14A.

 

[Steve Pace]

Can anyone help with this?

 

[Stargazer]

XB-70 Guy, you're too impatient! I've gotten you used to speedy answers, and now you can't wait! Some topics here find their answers months after the initial message was posted, so please give it some more time...

 

[Steve Pace]

Roger that.

 

[aim9xray]

You know how to search, don't you? (Y'know, it sounded better when Lauren Bacall said almost the same line... )

Go up to search and enter VFAX. A lot of excellent work has already been done by board members, just waiting for you to research it.

 

[Steve Pace]

With 26 published books and hundreds of articles - yes, I do know how to research. I'm just new to Secret Projects and, frankly, I didn't think of VFAX.

 

[Matej]

aim9xray - not VFAX but VFX.

Here is something, trying to remember the source...

 

[Steve Pace]

Thank you!

 

[aim9xray]

aim9xray - not VFAX but VFX.

My apologies to all; I did mean to say VFX. Guess I did not take my anti-grumpy pill this morning!

To our esteemed (or steamed) author - yes, I have many of your efforts. The point that I did not make very well was that a lot of the information that you are starting new threads on has already been covered by postings - all you need to do is look! There is a fantastic amount of hitherto unknown information that has come to light *here* in the past few years.

And the VFX thread is at:
http://www.secretprojects.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,229.0

 

[Orionblamblam]

aim9xray - not VFAX but VFX.

Here is something, trying to remember the source...

Great big hugenormous book from the 80's. I forget the title, but it's got big chapters on the F-14, F-15, B-1, Harrier, etc. I seem to recall "Mike Spick" being an author on the B-1 chapter. Similar sort of early B-1 drawings.

 

[martinbayer]

Sounds like "The Great Book Of Modern Warplanes": http://www.amazon.com/Great-Book-Modern-Warplanes/dp/B000RERZXY

Martin

 

[TJDougherty01]

F-14 walk around photos for those interested in this aircraft. This was on board the Museum Ship Yorktown (CV-10) in Charleston, South Carolina.

 

[NMaude]

Curious Droid has recently uploaded a video about the F-14:

The F-14 was the last analogue fighter designed just before the advent of modern digital electronics and yet it went on to be one of the US Navy's most respected and feared fighters when paired with the AIM-54 Pheonix missile it was a deadly combination. This is the story of how it dominated the air and why all the spare aircraft ended up being shredded into pieces.

 

[FighterJock]

Thanks for posting the video NMaude. The F-14 was one of the best fighters that Grumman ever produced, and the last before it was absorbed by Northrop.

 

[NMaude]

Here's an interesting video about the alternatives the USN considered in the contest that resulted in the F-14:

The US Navy had already begun to explore a companion aircraft to the F-111B before that programme was cancelled. Faced with a shortfall in fleet defence capabilities as the Phantom aged, they instigated a crash programme to procure a new fighter. And although Grumman were clearly the front runners, they were not the only game in town.

This video explores the VFAX and VFX programmes and summarises the Navy's alternatives to the Grumman 303.

Main Sources:

Although I referenced several F-14 books in the making of the video, Crowood Press' "Grumman F-14 Tomcat" by David Baker is in my view the best single volume on the type. Although it is now an expensive book to buy, it is worth it if you're really interested in the F-14

Tony Buttler's "American Secret Projects: Fighters And Interceptors 1945-1978" is in an updated edition and an exceptional purchase. It is understandably a little light on some details of the VFAX/ VFX competitors, but still useful

As ever, there are a wealth of brilliant Secret Projects Forum threads on this topic. Here are a selection:

NASA LFAX-4: https://www.secretprojects.co.uk/thre...https://www.youtube.com/redirect?ev...l-designs-the-real-story.19358/&v=Z0e4m5fQGNk

Overall thread on the competition: https://www.secretprojects.co.uk/thre...https://www.youtube.com/redirect?ev...n-alternatives-to-the-f-14.229/&v=Z0e4m5fQGNk

Vought V-484 - https://www.secretprojects.co.uk/thre...https://www.youtube.com/redirect?ev...vought-v-484-vfax-design.12238/&v=Z0e4m5fQGNk

Vought V-505 and V-507 - https://www.secretprojects.co.uk/thre...https://www.youtube.com/redirect?ev...hters-to-vfx-requirement.15939/&v=Z0e4m5fQGNk

Convair 44 - https://www.secretprojects.co.uk/thre...

Interestingly to is the author of this video made direct reference to related threads in the Secret Projects board.