tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4581529699221437110.post111493852816888226..comments2024-03-22T06:56:26.797-04:00Comments on U.S. Navy Aircraft History: The F-111B versus the F-14A, One More TimeTailspinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17837863895661437038noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4581529699221437110.post-15040079492659081642021-06-10T16:56:52.847-04:002021-06-10T16:56:52.847-04:00AvatarSagel.M: The later SACs were chosen for the ...AvatarSagel.M: The later SACs were chosen for the comparison because, in my opinion, they are more likely to be representative of the weights achieved in production as opposed to those that were proposed, which are almost invariably optimistic...Tailspinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17837863895661437038noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4581529699221437110.post-54748899736604995922021-06-08T02:36:17.905-04:002021-06-08T02:36:17.905-04:00That date of year 1977 for the F-14A is wrong. The...That date of year 1977 for the F-14A is wrong. The first flight of the F-14A was in 1970 seven years before the year give in the above article with the first operational squadron level flights being in 1974 where they participated in the defensive withdrawals from Viet Nam, three years before the year given in the above article. The earliest F-14 SAC is also noted at time of its use in the fleet operations in 1974 and not 1977. The earliest SAC for the F-111B is 1965 and not 1967. http://www.alternatewars.com/SAC/SAC.htmAvatarSageLMhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11874831267121635225noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4581529699221437110.post-31393503475418658222019-08-02T20:15:41.860-04:002019-08-02T20:15:41.860-04:00I was an F111 instrument /autopilot tech and instr...I was an F111 instrument /autopilot tech and instructor from 1971 to 1980. I have come to the conclusion that most of the resistance by the Navy top brass was because they didn't want the Pentagon to determine what aircraft the Navy would have. Once that is allowed it will stay that way. Also military top brass do have some hope or expectation to be hired into a great job with the company they have been doing business with ie Grumman. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08655637291331247112noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4581529699221437110.post-85439129550461130512018-06-11T00:34:31.161-04:002018-06-11T00:34:31.161-04:00Let's keep in mind that the F-14A was only sup...Let's keep in mind that the F-14A was only supposed to be an interim variant, with production switching to the much improved F-14B. This would have had the powerful F-401-PW-400 engines, and the actual production configurations(i.e. an APU, new flight control system, improved reliability,and maintainability features etc.) We all know how that worked out, and the Navy did get the Tomcat they were looking for in the form of the F-14D. The only reason the F-14D was retired in '06 was the program was cancelled in December of 1990, thanks to one Dick Cheney. The F-14 was living on borrowed time for 16 years without having the proper logistical support a frontline Naval aircraft requires. In the end, the maintenance headaches were too much to bear, and she was retired. This is not, in any way reflective of the F-14, but is a result of bureaucratic politics. Javiernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4581529699221437110.post-2117765585890681042015-03-23T18:37:59.850-04:002015-03-23T18:37:59.850-04:00Interesting comment Capn. I left McDonnell (Field ...Interesting comment Capn. I left McDonnell (Field Rep Avionics) in late 67 to go with Grumman A-6A. All I heard from Grummies was how bad the F-4 was. Used to really tick me off. I never saw what use the Phoenix was going to be after being in Thailand with 8th TFW . No BVR in all Route Pak's in N Viet allowed.Jeff Jhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11094695535414833345noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4581529699221437110.post-65101120521493935192013-11-07T23:14:39.012-05:002013-11-07T23:14:39.012-05:00I note that the F-111 remained in service with the...I note that the F-111 remained in service with the RAAF until 2010 while the F-14 was withdrawn in 2006. [I ignore the Iranian F-14s, if any remain, because they don't have a choice.] This supports the notion that the Navy erred in rejecting the F-111 and requiring the F-14.Captain Marknoreply@blogger.com