Kurt R. Todoroff wrote:
Variable geometry wings proved to be a great asset to the
F-111 in the interdiction/strike role. In my opinion it provided no
benefit to the F-14 in the A/A role. The F-15A empty weight was 28,500
pounds. The F-14A empty weight was 40,000 pounds.

A couple of comments: VG helped the Tomcat in the A/A role by
extending loiter time, and in the Fleet Air Defense role they spent
a lot of time at max conserve. And, once the F-14 got decent engines
it was a pretty good dogfighter, some of that because the wing
optimized as you went along. One disadvantage was that, if your
opponent knew what he was doing he could look at you and deduce your
energy state from your wing position. Whether he was able to do
anything about depended on what he flew--for example, the MiG-23,
also VG, could not sweep his wings at more than 2.5G, so if you kept
the pressure on he was pretty well stuck in a non-optimal configuration
regardless.



Jeff

--
Love stinks.
J. Geils