F-14 on the History Channel's "Modern Marvels"

A couple of night ago the History Channel aired a program about the
F-14. During the promo it was stated that the Tomcat is the world's
fastest fighter. I dunno, every aviation book in my house puts it
clearly behind the F-15 and the MiG 25.

Brian,
I started Discovery wings about 1 year agao and the biggest disapointment was
all of the inacuracies they had in the programs. An F-5 isn't suprising, radial
engine sounds with a turdo prop taking off the wrong jet sounds for the A/C
pictured. The toper was the narator saying it took Lindy 17 hours to fly to
Paris from NY. Now when we watch it's a game to pick out the crap in the story.
I wonder how much is in the stores I don't anything about. The B-58 program I
liked but the creditability is always suspect.
The A-6 progam it is mentioned none had ever been shot down by another plane. I
understand that when VA-196 lost 4 planes on the raid up north they were jumped
by Migs and at least one was bagged in China while trying to avoid the air
threat.
It also mention they have no A/A capability I have many hours flying on
deploymemt carring an AIM-9N. That is more then the other bomber the AF refers
to the Stealth Fighter.
Sparky

On 9 Oct 2003 22:17:57 -0700, (Brian J. McCann) wrote:

Did anyone else see the program, or can anyone give me some clear and
unimpeachable facts?

The program appears to be utter BS. The promo also said something about the
F-14 shooting down aircraft from 200 miles away, which is beyond silly.

--
Andrew Toppan --- --- "I speak only for myself"
"Haze Gray & Underway" - Naval History, DANFS, World Navies Today,
Photo Features, Military FAQs, and more - http://www.hazegray.org/

bjm- A couple of night ago the History Channel aired a program about the
F-14. During the promo it was stated that the Tomcat is the world's
fastest fighter. I dunno, every aviation book in my house puts it
clearly behind the F-15 and the MiG 25. BRBR

Must've been written by Grumman...
P. C. Chisholm
CDR, USN(ret.)
Old Phart Phormer Phantom, Turkey, Viper, Scooter and Combat Buckeye Phlyer

Pechs1,

I have read a statement by an F14 RIO that in the 90's that the F14
was known as the "world's fastest or quickest aircraft" this may have
changed since some of the aircraft had their engines changed. Mind
you, he was saying this when he was in the Bravo version.

jd

(Pechs1) wrote in message ...
bjm- A couple of night ago the History Channel aired a program about the
F-14. During the promo it was stated that the Tomcat is the world's
fastest fighter. I dunno, every aviation book in my house puts it
clearly behind the F-15 and the MiG 25. BRBR

Must've been written by Grumman...
P. C. Chisholm
CDR, USN(ret.)
Old Phart Phormer Phantom, Turkey, Viper, Scooter and Combat Buckeye Phlyer

jdata- I have read a statement by an F14 RIO that in the 90's that the F14
was known as the "world's fastest or quickest aircraft" this may have
changed since some of the aircraft had their engines changed. Mind
you, he was saying this when he was in the Bravo version. BRBR

-110 engines did make a HUGE difference...but rmember the RIO was looking at
perhaps the last tactical seat available in the F-14 for NFOs, so I am sure a
lot of them really talked up the A/C..Good thing the F-18F came along or these
guys would be SOL...and may be 'soon' anyway, Isn't the USN JSF single seat??


P. C. Chisholm
CDR, USN(ret.)
Old Phart Phormer Phantom, Turkey, Viper, Scooter and Combat Buckeye Phlyer

You have a very good point. Yes, the F35 is only a single seater
although LM does have a 2 seater "mockup".

Julian

(Pechs1) wrote in message ...
jdata- I have read a statement by an F14 RIO that in the 90's that the F14
was known as the "world's fastest or quickest aircraft" this may have
changed since some of the aircraft had their engines changed. Mind
you, he was saying this when he was in the Bravo version. BRBR

-110 engines did make a HUGE difference...but rmember the RIO was looking at
perhaps the last tactical seat available in the F-14 for NFOs, so I am sure a
lot of them really talked up the A/C..Good thing the F-18F came along or these
guys would be SOL...and may be 'soon' anyway, Isn't the USN JSF single seat??


P. C. Chisholm
CDR, USN(ret.)
Old Phart Phormer Phantom, Turkey, Viper, Scooter and Combat Buckeye Phlyer

You have a very good point. Yes, the F35 is only a single seater
although LM does have a 2 seater "mockup".

Looking at what an F/A-22 (single seater) and a B-2 (twin-seater) can do, I
find it harder and harder to justify a thing like an F/A-18F....
_____________
José Herculano

Yep - RIO (running into obsolesce). 2 pair of eyes was always better
than one.

Woody

Pechs1 wrote:
jdata- I have read a statement by an F14 RIO that in the 90's that the F14
was known as the "world's fastest or quickest aircraft" this may have
changed since some of the aircraft had their engines changed. Mind
you, he was saying this when he was in the Bravo version. BRBR

-110 engines did make a HUGE difference...but rmember the RIO was looking at
perhaps the last tactical seat available in the F-14 for NFOs, so I am sure a
lot of them really talked up the A/C..Good thing the F-18F came along or these
guys would be SOL...and may be 'soon' anyway, Isn't the USN JSF single seat??


P. C. Chisholm
CDR, USN(ret.)
Old Phart Phormer Phantom, Turkey, Viper, Scooter and Combat Buckeye Phlyer

On 11/4/03 12:37 PM, in article
, "James Woody"
wrote:

Yep - RIO (running into obsolesce). 2 pair of eyes was always better
than one.

Woody


Woody,

In the air-to-air arena, I've never found the two sets of eyes in the Tomcat
(or the Strike Eagle for that matter) to be an advantage against single-seat
fighters at the merge. Been there many times against Tomcats when the Toms
are tally 0 (red or blue) and the Hornets are tally all (blue or red). In
fact, I see "no joy's" out of Tomcats way more than out of Hornets.

Don't take that as NFO bashing. I've got a lot of respect for B/N's, WSO's,
and RIO's in the systems weapons and sensor supported weapons roles. It's
great to have one guy totally focused on target acq and weapons support
leaving the pilot to flying form and avoiding the threat.

I just think that their additional utility (given current technology) in the
air-to-air arena is limited.

I'm sure I'm going to get many responses from this one. Seriously, folks,
not a troll.

--Woody

Pechs1 wrote:

-110 engines did make a HUGE difference...but rmember the RIO was
looking at perhaps the last tactical seat available in the F-14 for
NFOs, so I am sure a lot of them really talked up the A/C..Good thing
the F-18F came along or these guys would be SOL...and may be 'soon'
anyway, Isn't the USN JSF single seat??

Yes, but the JSF will replace F/A-18Cs, also single-seaters, not the Es and
Fs.

The NFOs may have worries because there will only be one two-seat Super
Hornet squadron per air wing. But hasn't that already ahppened with the
F-14 anyway?

--
Tom Schoene Replace "invalid" with "net" to e-mail
"If brave men and women never died, there would be nothing
special about bravery." -- Andy Rooney (attributed)