Grumman F-14D Tomcat (Fighter)

Snapshot

Background

The Grumman F-14 Tomcat is a supersonic, twin-engine, variable swept-wing, two-seat strike fighter used by the U.S. Navy from 1974 to 2006. The aircraft was designed for air combat in all weather conditions, in day or night missions. With its advanced weapons control system, the Tomcat can track up to 24 targets and attack 6 enemies simultaneously with Phoenix AIM-54A missiles. For over three decades, the four variants of the F-14 Tomcat served as the U. S. Navy’s primary air superiority fighter, fleet defense interceptor and tactical reconnaissance platform.

Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum’s F-14D, Bureau Number 163904, rolled off the Grumman Iron Works production line on Long Island, New York in April 1991. It was one of 37 built as production model F-14Ds and not converted from an F-14A. It first served at NAS Miramar with VF-11 Red Rippers. It finished its career with VF-31 Tomcatters, based out of NAS Oceana, where it participated in the final flight ceremonies of the Tomcat.

This F-14D was loaded aboard the USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD-6) at San Diego and delivered to Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum on June 27, 2008.

Please visit “Our Tomcat “Felix 102” blog post for more information on this aircraft.