Our Aircraft’s History

Grumman F-14B “Tomcat” (Bureau # 162694; MSN #540) ~ The Tomcat hanging out at MAPS Air Museum was created by Grumman Aviation Corporation in Bethpage, New York in January of 1986 as an F-14A-140-GR and delivered to the US Navy on July 1, 1986.

Here are her travels:

  • Jul 1986 – Fighter Squadron (VF) – 32, Naval Air Station (NAS), Oceana, Virginia.  Deployments: 

    • Mediterranean aboard U.S.S. John F. Kennedy (Aug 86—Mar 87 & Aug 88 – Feb 89)

    • Arabian Gulf aboard U.S.S. John F. Kennedy (Aug 90 — Mar 91) in support of Operation DESERT SHIELD/DESERT STORM

    • Mediterranean aboard U.S.S. John F. Kennedy (Oct  92 — Apr 93) in support of Operation PROVIDE PROMISE

    • Caribbean aboard U.S.S.  Dwight D. Eisenhower (May 94—Sept 94) in support of Operation UPHOLD DEMOCRACY (Haiti).

  • Jan 1995 Returned to Grumman facility in St. Augustine, Florida on 11 Jan 95 for upgrades and conversion to F-14B.  Returned to active service 21 Dec 95.
  • Dec 1995 VF-103, NAS, Oceana, VA.
  • Aug 1996 VF-102, NAS Oceana, VA .  Deployments:
    • Mediterranean/Arabian Gulf aboard U.S.S. George Washington (Oct 97—Apr 98) in support of Operation SOUTHERN WATCH.
  • Mar 2001 VF-101, NAS, Oceana, VA.
  • Mar 2002 VF-32, NAS, Oceana, VA.  Deployments:
    • Mediterranean aboard U.S.S. Harry S. Truman (Dec 02—May 03) in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM
    • Arabian Gulf aboard U.S.S. Harry S. Truman (Dec 04—Apr 05) in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM.

In October 2005, she was removed from the Navy Aircraft Inventory and flown to MAPS Air Museum, where it was decommissioned on October 5th, 2005.

MAPS Air Museum display notes: Paintings and markings are of its time with the VF-32 as an F-14A between 1986-1994 and is maintained by Crew Chief Carl Bergsneider.

Specifications/Performance (F-14D)

  • Role: Interceptor/air superiority/multirole fighter
  • Manufacturer: Grumman Aerospace Corporation
  • First Flight: December 21, 1970
  • Introduction: September 22, 1974
  • Retired: September 22, 2006 (US Navy)
  • Produced: 1969-1991
  • Number built: 712
  • Unit Cost: US $19.2 million in 1977
  • Crew: 2 (Pilot & Radar Intercept Officer)
  • Length: 62 ft 9 in
  • Wingspan: 64 ft (fully extended)
  • Height: 16 ft
  • Empty Weight: 43,735 lb
  • Max weight: 74,350 lb
  • Engines: 2 x General Electric F110-GE-400 afterburning turbofan, 16,610 lbf each (28,200 lbf with afterburner)
  • Max speed: 1,544 mph (Mach 2.34)
  • Combat Range: 580 mi (Ferry range: 1,800 mi)
  • Service Ceiling: 50,000 ft

Armament, notable

  • Guns: 1 x 20 mm M61A1 Vulcan 6-barreled Gatling cannon (675 rounds)
  • Rockets: 7 x LAU-10 rocket pods (for 28 rockets)
  • Missiles, combinations of: AIM-54 Phoenix, AIM-7 Sparrow & AIM-9 Sidewinder
  • Bombs: JDAM precision-guided munition or Paveway series of laser-guided bombs or Mk 80 series of unguided iron bombs or Mk 20 Rockeye II

Designed to replace: McDonnell Douglas F-4 “Phantom II”

Intended Successor aircraft: McDonnell Douglas/Boeing F/A-18 “Super Hornet”

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