The F-14 is the navy's primary fighter. The F-14 is one of the only aircraft in the world that can actually vary the angle of it's wings for more speed or maneuvering power. With the wings forward the Tomcat has a lower stall speed and better maneuverability, while with them back, it has a higher speed. The Tomcat is manned by 2 men- the pilot and the radar intercept officer (RIO). The RIOs job is to operate all of the electronic equipment in the Tomcat, while the pilot's job is to fly the aircraft in combat and at all other times. The Tomcat's main armament is it's 6 AIM-54 Pheonix air-to-air missiles, and super-radar that can track 24 different air-to-air targets and launch the Pheonix missiles, or even the shorter range sidewinders and sparrows (or AMRAAM, depending what it is carrying) at any target. The Tomcat is also equipped with a M61-A1 vulcan 20mm cannon, for those close-in-fights.
Specs on the F-14:
Manufacturer: Grumman Aerospace Corporation
Engines: 2 General Electric F-110-400 afterburning Turbofans
Max Speed: 1,544 mph (Mach 2.34)
Wingspan: [68-degree sweep] 38ft. 2 in.; [20-degree sweep] 64 ft. 1 1/2 in.
Length: 62 feet, 8 inches
Height: 16 feet, 0 inches
Weight: [empty] 40,104 lb.; [maximum loaded] 74,348 lb.
Weapons Systems: One 20 mm M61-A1 gun; four AIM-120 AMRAAM missiles and 4-8 AIM-9
Sidewinder missiles, or 6 AIM-54 pheonix missiles and 2 AIM-9 Sidewinder missils; maximum
weapon load of 14,500 lb.
Crew: Pilot; RIO
First flight: 1970
Service entry: 1972