Squadron/Signal Publications 5006: F-14 Tomcat - Modern Military Aircraft series (Repost)

Introduction: When I wrote "F-14 In Action" during 1977. the Tomcat was a relatively new aircraft. It had made its first operational deployments just two years previously and there were only ten squadrons in active service. A lot has happened since 1977. but Grumman's big swing-wing fighter is still the hottest thing in the fleet It was the aircraft flown by Maverick and Goose in "TOP GUN" and. while all Tomcat pilots wont end up with Kelly McGillis. you can bet that they believe the only reason is that there is a limited supply of Kelly McGillises. Tomcat pilots are the elite of the carrier air wings, masters of the air-to-air arena, the tip of the foreign policy sword and are filled with a self-confidence borne of the certain knowledge that they are flying the best fighter-interceptor the Navy has ever put aboard ship.
Victories against terrorism are few and far between, but the most celebrated victories in recent years have been won by Tomcats and Tomcat pilots. These include four kills against the Libyan Arab Air Force and the capture of the hijackers of the ACHILLE LAURO.
The Tomcat was born almost twenty years ago. yet with new engines and a re-manufacturing program the F-14D will remain in front-line service well into the next century. The fact that new tech­nology can be integrated into the basic airframe of the Tomcat is an impressive tribute to the sound design of the F-14. In this book you will read the experiences of four of the Tomcat's test pilots. These are men who are uniquely qualified to discuss the design of the airplane and how it has been kept up to date with new avionics, engines and improved tactics. From this vantage point, it would be easy to call the F-14 "The Timeless Tomcat."