This F-14 hails from the Top Gun School at Miramar
The F-14A is a twin seat, twin engined interceptor, capable
of air-to-air, air-to-ground and reconnaisance roles. A
Mach Sweep Programmer selects the optimum sweep angle based on speed and
altitude. The aircraft has twin vertical tails with rudders and all-flying
horizontal tails. The large rectangular inlets utilize variable multiple
shock ramps for good supersonic performance. The crew consists of two,
seated in a tandem arrangement on Martin Baker GRU/7A zero-zero ejection
seats, with the pilot in front and RIO (Radar Intercept Officer) in back
(leading to the RIO's unofficial nickname - GIB (Guy In Back) .
Two Pratt & Whitney TF30 engines, each rated at 20,900lb thrust (in
afterburner). Primary weapon system is the AWG-9, which controls the radar,
calculates intercepts, sets priorities and monitors other subsystems. Physical
firing of missiles is done by the AWG-15 computer. Weapons carried include
the AIM-9 Sidewinder, AIM-7 Sparrow, AIM-54 Phoenix, M61A1 20mm vulcan
cannon, Mk80 series bombs, training bombs, Mk20 cluster bombs, sea mines
and Laser Guided Bombs (LGB's).
