The F-14 Tomcat Story

Designed to improve on the F-4 Phantom's air combat performance, the Tomcat entered service with the U.S. Navy in 1974, replacing the F-4 Phantom II. The winning Grumman design reused the TF30 engines from the F-111B, though the Navy planned on replacing them with the F401-PW-400 engines then under development by Pratt and Whitney for the Navy. Though lighter than the F-111B, it was still the largest and heaviest U.S. fighter to ever fly from an aircraft carrier. The F-14 had its first kills on August 19, 1981, over the Gulf of Sidra and went on to serve in Operation Desert Storm, Operation Enduring Freedom over Afghanistan, and Operation Iraqi Freedom. The only F-14 loss in combat was when a crew was shot down over Iraq, the pilot rescued by Special Forces and the RIO held as a POW until the end of the war. This book tells the story of this fascinating aircraft which still serves in Iran's Air Force today.

About the author

Tony Holmes is an aviation expert and the author of Jane's U.S. Military Aircraft, Jane's Vintage Aircraft Recognition Guide, and Warbird Legends.

Summary

The story of the US Navy's primary air superiority fighter and tactical reconnaissance platform from 1972 to 2006

Product details

• Authors: Tony Holmes
• Publisher: The History Press
• Languages: English
• Product format: Hardback
• Released: 31.12.2021
• EAN: 9780752449852
• ISBN: 978-0-7524-4985-2
• No. of pages: 128
• Dimensions: 192 mm x 133 mm x 19 mm
• Weight: 312 g
• Series: Story; Story (History Press)
• Subjects: Guides > Motor vehicles, aircraft, ships, space travel > Aircraft, space travel; Non-fiction book > History > Miscellaneous; Social sciences, law, business > Political science > Political science and political administration