F-14A Tomcat from the USS Nimitz during Operation Southern Watch
The Grumman F-14 Tomcat is a supersonic, twin-engine, two-seat, variable geometry wing aircraft. The F-14 was the United States Navy's primary maritime air superiority fighter, fleet defense interceptor and tactical reconnaissance platform from 1974 to 2006. It later performed precision strike missions once it was integrated with the Low Altitude Navigation and Targeting Infrared for Night LANTIRN system.[2] The F-14 was developed after the collapse of the F-111B project, and was the first of the American teen-series fighters which were designed incorporating the experience of air combat in Vietnam against MiGs.
It entered service in 1974 with the U.S. Navy, replacing the F-4 Phantom II. It was later exported to the former Imperial Iranian Air Force in 1976, during a time when the US still had good relations with Iran. It was retired from the active U.S. Navy fleet on 22 September 2006, having been replaced by the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet.[3] As of 2008, it remains in service only with the Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force.
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F-14的開發起自於冷戰時代,美國海軍需要一架能在航艦上起降、擁有強大空對空攻擊武力的戰鬥機,用來作為航空母艦戰鬥群外圍的空中護衛用途,尤其是針對當時以蘇聯為首的共產國家勢力所擁有之機載型反艦飛彈。F-14能夠配置射程超過200公里的AIM-54"鳳凰"式(Phoenix)長程空對空飛彈,搭配休斯(Hughes)開發的AN/AWG-9長距離雷達系統,該系統擁有超過160公里的目標搜尋能力並能同時追蹤多達24個的目標,能夠在敵人根本還偵測不到自機的存在時,就予以視距外攻擊的能力。事實上,F-14戰機,AIM-54飛彈,與AN/AWG-9雷達這三者可以說是脣齒互依的共生事物,由於鳳凰飛彈的體積與重量實在太過龐大,F-14是世界上唯一能搭載這種飛彈的發射載台。
從1970年正式開始服役後,F-14就一直保持其純空優戰機的角色,相比之下其對地攻擊的武力非常有限,因此鮮少被著墨。直到1990年時為了因應冷戰結束後的任務轉變以及維繫經費的前提下,F-14陸續進行各種對地武器籌載和投擲的改良與測試。首先是從攜帶無導引的炸彈開始,接著是可以攜帶雷射導引的精靈炸彈,最後達到F-14可以自行攜帶標定目標需要的筴艙執行對地攻擊。經過這些改良的F-14被稱作炸彈貓。
美國海軍曾經花費三百萬美金進行F-14與AIM-120先進中程空對空飛彈的整合工作,但是最終美國海軍並未將AIM-120配署給F-14使用。在AIM-54退役後,F-14曾在短暫的一小段時間中成為美國海、空軍當中視距外接戰能力最差的飛機,因為其上只有半主動雷達導引的AIM-7麻雀式飛彈可以使用。
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下載F14短片之網頁 : http://www.milavia.net/aircraft/f-14/f-14_vids.htm http://www.flightlevel350.com/aviation_videos.php?airplane=Grumman+F-14+Tomcat http://hk.video.yahoo.com/video/video.html?id=120021&pt=v
除役前最後一次降落 : http://www.metacafe.com/watch/257695/final_f_14_tomcat_landing/
再見雄猫 : http://www.metacafe.com/watch/258348/farewell_to_the_f_14_tomcat/
The 1970s 70年代
這年代F-14參加了越戰的最後期, 作戰術巡邏任務, 但沒有任何戰積記錄過. 70年代中期正是冷戰時期,多次攔截蘇聯熊式長程轟炸機, 後期在伊朗人質事件時期在波斯灣作戰術巡邏任務展示武力.
F-14A of VF-84 Jolly Rogers, in a 1970s color scheme.
Operation Frequent Wind
The F-14 made its first combat debut flying cover during Operation Frequent Wind in April 1975. VF-1 and VF-2 deployed on board USS Enterprise (CVN-65) with Carrier Air Wing 14. The cruise began on September 17, 1974 and ended May 20, 1975. The two squadrons flew combat air patrols over South Vietnam during the operation but did not encounter any North Vietnamese MiGs, though they were fired upon by enemy anti-aircraft guns.
An F-14A Tomcat from VF-114 intercepting a Soviet Tu-95RT "Bear-D" maritime patrol aircraft.
Soviet Intercepts and American Hostages In Iran
During the rest of the 1970’s the F-14 did not see any combat, F-14s primarily intercepted Soviet aircraft coming too close to the carrier groups, and VF-142 was the first Atlantic Fleet F-14 squadron to intercept a Soviet Tu-95 Bear bomber on April 23, 1976. In 1979, VF-111 and VF-51 participated in efforts to free the American hostages in Iran. VF-41 and VF-84 were on station during the crisis in 1980 as well. The 1980s 八十年代是輝煌的開始
80年代西方盟國為制裁利比亞包庇恐怖份子在英國上空炸毀泛美航空公司Pan Am 747, 在地中海錫德拉灣 Gulf of Sidra,封鎖利比亞行動,
Gulf of Sidra incident (1981)
First Kill
In the 1970’s, Libya had claimed a 12 mile extension zone of its territorial waters in the Gulf of Sidra, which had prompted US Naval Forces to conduct Freedom of Navigation operations in the area, the so called "line of death". These operations further increased when Ronald Reagan came to office; in August 1981 he authorized a large naval force, led by USS Forrestal and Nimitz, to deploy off the Libyan coast. The Libyan Air Force responded by deploying a high number of interceptors and fighter-bombers, and early on the morning of August 18 when the US exercise began, at least three MiG-25 'Foxbats' approached the US Carrier groups but were escorted away by F-4 Phantom IIs from Forrestal and F-14s from VF-41 and VF-84 from Nimitz. The Libyans tried to establish the exact location of the US Naval Force. 35 pairs of MiG-23 'Floggers', MiG-25s, Sukhoi Su-20 'Fitter-Cs', Su-22M 'Fitter-Js' and Mirage F.1s flew into the area, and were soon intercepted by seven pairs of F-14s and F-4s. The situation was tense, but neither side fired any weapons, even in at least two cases when MiG-25s tried to breach through the American fighters by flying high and fast.
Incident
On the morning of the 19th, two VF-41 Black Aces F-14As, Fast Eagle 102 (CDR "Hank" Kleeman/LT "DJ" Venlet) and Fast Eagle 107 (LT "Music" Muczynski/LTJG "Amos" Anderson), were flying combat air patrol to cover aircraft engaged in a missile exercise. An E-2A Hawkeye from VAW-124 gained radar contact with two Sukhoi Su-22 'Fitters' which had left Okba Ben Nafi Air Base near Tripoli.
The two F-14s from VF-41 Black Aces were ordered to intercept the two Libyan aircraft. Only few seconds before the crossing, at an estimated distance of 300 m one of the two Libyans fired an AA-2 "Atoll" at one of the F-14s, which missed. Then the two Sukhois flew right past the Americans and tried to escape. The Tomcats evaded and were cleared to return fire by their "rules of engagement" (ROE), which mandated self defense on the initiation of hostile action. The F-14’s turned hard port and came behind the Libyan jets. The American pilots fired AIM-9L Sidewinders, and the first kill is credited to “Fast Eagle 102”, and the second Libyan was downed by “Fast Eagle 107”. Both Libyan pilots ejected.
The official United States Navy report states that both Libyan pilots ejected and were safely recovered, but listening to the official audio recording of the incident taken from USS Biddle one of the F-14 pilots states that he saw a Libyan pilot eject but his parachute failed to open.[1]
Less than an hour later, while the Libyans were conducting a Search and Rescue operation of their downed pilots, two fully armed MiG-25s entered the airspace over the Gulf and headed towards the US carriers at Mach 1.5 and conducted a mock attack in the direction of USS Nimitz. Two VF-41 Tomcats and one VF-84 Tomcat headed towards the Libyans, who then turned around. The Tomcats turned home but had to turn around again when the Libyans headed towards the US carriers once more. After being tracked by the F-14's radars, once again the MiGs finally headed home. One more Libyan formation ventured out into the Gulf towards the US forces later that day.[2]
The international tensions and dogfighting incidents seen in the movies Top Gun and Iron Eagle were drawn in part from this incident.[
Computer recreation of Fast Eagle 107's AIM-9 Sidewinder about to hit a Libyan Su-22
Kleeman and Venlet's F-14 Tomcat from the incident is on display at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, California. 當年擊落SU22的原機現在列根博物館展出
Less than an hour later, while the Libyans were conducting a Search and Rescue operation of their downed pilots, two fully armed MiG-25s entered the airspace over the Gulf and headed towards the US carriers at Mach 1.5 and conducted a mock attack in the direction of USS Nimitz. Two VF-41 Tomcats and one VF-84 Tomcat headed towards the Libyans, who then turned around. The Tomcats turned home but had to turn around again when the Libyans headed towards the US carriers once more. After being tracked by the F-14's radars, once again the MiGs finally headed home. One more Libyan formation ventured out into the Gulf towards the US forces later that day.
WoW, F-14 is my most favor fight plane. I like it before TopGun. Especailly on the weapons system plus AIM-54鳳凰飛彈. So sad that they retired & I read from some book that there are a simulation test in between F-14, F-15, F-16 & F-18. The result F-14 is the best. No plane down. (The test is first 2 vs 2, than 2 vs 2 vs 2 & finally 2 vs 2 vs 2 vs 2.)