Hobby Master 1/72 Grumman F-14A Tomcat 161621, VF-154, USS Kitty Hawk, 1999 "1000th Landing" Diecast Aircraft

Description

General Background

The Grumman F-14 Tomcat is a twin-engine, variable sweep wings capable of supersonic flight. The aircraft is crewed by a Pilot and a Radar Intercept Officer who share the tasks of navigation, target acquisition, ECM and weapons usage. The Tomcat was operated by the United States Navy and the Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force only. The name "Tomcat" is said to come from the call-sign used by Vice Admiral Thomas Connolly which conformed to the USN tradition of giving Grumman aircraft feline names.

The Aircraft

F-14A 161621 was delivered to VF-21 in 1984 and served with VF-111, VF-213, VF-124 and VF- 154 Black Knights. In 1989 while with VF-111 the aircraft was given the nose art Miss Molly. VF-154 received F-14As in October 1983 and in 1998 took possession of F-14A 161621. In 1991 VF-154 moved to NAF Atsugi, Japan. On March 2 1999 while on board the USS Kitty Hawk VF-154 F-14A 161621, piloted by Lt. Baxter with CAG Captain McHarg along completed the 1000th trap before retiring the aircraft in 2004.

Specifications :

Role:	Carrier-based multi-role strike fighter
First Flight:	F-14A 1970, F-14B (F-14A+) 1986, F-14D 1990
Last Production Year:	F-14D July 20, 1992
Number All Variants Produced:	710
Crew:	2 (pilot and radar intercept officer)
Dimensions
Length:	62 ft 8 inches
Wingspan (Swept)	38 ft 2.5 inches
Wingspan (Unswept)	64 ft 1.5 inches
Height:	16 ft
Performance
Powerplants:	F-14A 2 x P&W TF-30-P414A F-14B 2 x GE F-110-GE-400 F-14D 2 x GE F-110-GE-400
Maximum Thrust:	F-14A 34,154 lbs F-14B 56,400 lbs F-14D 56,400 lbs
Maximum Speed:	F-14A 1,544 mph (Mach 2.38) F-14B 1,544 mph (Mach 2.38) F-14D 1,544 mph (Mach 2.38)
Ceiling:	F-14A 50,000+ ft F-14B 53,000+ ft F-14D 53,000+ ft
Range:	F-14A 1,730 nm F-14B 2,050 nm F-14D 2,050 nm
Weights
Empty:	F-14A 40,104 pounds F-14B 41,780 pounds F-14D 43,735 pounds
Maximum:	F-14A 72,000 pounds F-14B 74,349 pounds F-14D 74,349 pounds
Armament:	1 x MK-61A1 Vulcan 20mm cannon
Maximum Weight:	13,000 lbs. Of Combined Ordnance
	Air-Air Missiles
	6 AIM-7 Sparrows
	4 AIM-9 Sidewinder
	6 AIM-54 Phoenix

	Air-To-Ground
	MK-82 (500 lbs.)
	4 MK-83 (1,000 lbs.)
	4 MK-84 (2,000 lbs.)
	MK-20 cluster bombs
	4 GBU-10 LGB
	GBU-12 MK-82 LGB
	4 GBU-16 MK-83 LGB
	4 GBU-24 MK-84 LGB