I was told a story once by someone who worked at Grumman concerning the F-14.
It seems that one day a crew took up an F-14 and shortly after take off found
that the pitch controls (elevons?) were stuck causing the aircraft to pitch up
uncontrollably. By increasing power the crew was able to keep the aircraft in
a series of loops. After several loops they used rudder to bring the aircraft
horizontal changing the loops into a series of tight turns. In the meantime
they were radioing Grumman for advice and were told to eject. Instead the
pilot determined that by ruddering back into a loop and using throttle he could
land at the bottom of the loop. This was successful and later manufacturing
tools were found jamming the affected control.

Is this true?

John Dupre'