The Evolution of the F-14 Tomcat.
Posted: Wed May 20, 2009 3:02 pm
1960s
The US Navy Wanted to replace the FAST-CLIMBING/HIGH-SPEED INTERCEPTOR both the F-105 & F-4.
Plus, the wanted a FLEET DEFENSE FIGHTER of the recently cancelled Douglas XF6D-1 “Missileer”.
There solution was the General Dynamics F-111B "Aardvark" (TFX- Tactical Fighter Experimental)
However, it had underperformed for the US Navy and was cancelled due to being overweight and combat-ineffective (The Airforce kept the F-111A).
Their solution was the proposed Grumman G-303 VFAX Navy Fighter Attack Experimental).
The basic goals were to make a plane superior to the McDonnell F-4 Phantom, "particularly in the air superiority, escort fighter, and deck-launched interception role". It would also have to be designed to be a nimble and agile dogfighter. If the F-111 was proof that it was difficult to turn a medium bomber into a fighter, Grumman's solution demonstrated again how simple it can be to make a large agile fighter carry heavy loads like the Phoenix.
There were originally 8 Layouts of the G-303 VFAX designs:
303-60 The January 1968 proposed aircraft: Podded Engines, High Variable-Sweep Wing
303A Nacelle Modification of 303-60: Podded Engines, High Variable-Sweep Wing
303B Design 303-60 updated for configuration comparison: Podded Engines, High Variable-Sweep Wing (see above photo)
303C Submerged Engines, High Variable-Sweep Wing
303D Submerged Engines, Low Variable-Sweep Wing
303E Basically, the winning F-14 design: Podded Engines, High Variable-Sweep Wing
303F Submerged Engines, High Fixed Wing
303G A fighter only version (AWG-10, 4 Sparrows) without Phoenix capability:
Podded Engines, High Variable-Sweep Wing
1970s-2000s
The 303E won and there was a plan for both the Fixed-Wing and the Swing-Wing for the Navy (interestingly enough, The USAF chose the Fixed-Winged version to create the McDonnell Douglas (now Boeing) F-15 Eagle):
McDonnell Douglas (now Boeing) F-15 Eagle.
Here was the finished product (5 variants were made afterwards: A/A+/B/C/D).
Sadly, the US NAVY Retired the F-14 Tomcat in 2005.
The Imperial Iranian Air Force currently uses it.
The current Carrier-Based Figher.
The Future Strike Fighter This was a proposed Lockheed Martin/Boeing F-22 Raptor design.
The Final Lockheed Martin/Boeing F-15 Raptor Design.
The Future of Carrier-Based Fighter.
Lockheed Martin F-35C Lightning II
The US Navy Wanted to replace the FAST-CLIMBING/HIGH-SPEED INTERCEPTOR both the F-105 & F-4.
Plus, the wanted a FLEET DEFENSE FIGHTER of the recently cancelled Douglas XF6D-1 “Missileer”.
There solution was the General Dynamics F-111B "Aardvark" (TFX- Tactical Fighter Experimental)
However, it had underperformed for the US Navy and was cancelled due to being overweight and combat-ineffective (The Airforce kept the F-111A).
Their solution was the proposed Grumman G-303 VFAX Navy Fighter Attack Experimental).
The basic goals were to make a plane superior to the McDonnell F-4 Phantom, "particularly in the air superiority, escort fighter, and deck-launched interception role". It would also have to be designed to be a nimble and agile dogfighter. If the F-111 was proof that it was difficult to turn a medium bomber into a fighter, Grumman's solution demonstrated again how simple it can be to make a large agile fighter carry heavy loads like the Phoenix.
There were originally 8 Layouts of the G-303 VFAX designs:
303-60 The January 1968 proposed aircraft: Podded Engines, High Variable-Sweep Wing
303A Nacelle Modification of 303-60: Podded Engines, High Variable-Sweep Wing
303B Design 303-60 updated for configuration comparison: Podded Engines, High Variable-Sweep Wing (see above photo)
303C Submerged Engines, High Variable-Sweep Wing
303D Submerged Engines, Low Variable-Sweep Wing
303E Basically, the winning F-14 design: Podded Engines, High Variable-Sweep Wing
303F Submerged Engines, High Fixed Wing
303G A fighter only version (AWG-10, 4 Sparrows) without Phoenix capability:
Podded Engines, High Variable-Sweep Wing
1970s-2000s
The 303E won and there was a plan for both the Fixed-Wing and the Swing-Wing for the Navy (interestingly enough, The USAF chose the Fixed-Winged version to create the McDonnell Douglas (now Boeing) F-15 Eagle):
McDonnell Douglas (now Boeing) F-15 Eagle.
Here was the finished product (5 variants were made afterwards: A/A+/B/C/D).
Sadly, the US NAVY Retired the F-14 Tomcat in 2005.
The Imperial Iranian Air Force currently uses it.
The current Carrier-Based Figher.
The Future Strike Fighter This was a proposed Lockheed Martin/Boeing F-22 Raptor design.
The Final Lockheed Martin/Boeing F-15 Raptor Design.
The Future of Carrier-Based Fighter.
Lockheed Martin F-35C Lightning II
