Edit: I have a new picture request.

Can I get some pictures of the F-14 with the front bottom Phoenix launchers on (with no missiles)? I want a image that is looking up so I can precisely see how far forward it is an at what angle. A high res side shot of the launchers would be appreciated as well.

The model required me to punch holes from the top, but I decided I wasn't going to put those AIM-54s on... but I changed my mind. So now I have to guess how far forward the launchers go!




I am making an F-14A model kit and I have a question regarding the loadout.

Is it possible for the F-14A to carry two AIM-9s and two AIM-54s under the wings, two more AIM-54s on the bottom in the front, and a single AIM-7 in the rear?

As an example, replace the two AIM-54s on the rear (circled) with a single AIM-7:



Any help would be appreciated. If you can find a picture of such a loadout I would really like to see it.

I believe so, I think that the AIM-54 pallets were in at least 2 pieces (maybe a 3rd counting a separate forward pointy end). Pretty sure that it was a loadout in Fleet Defender fwiw.. Great excuse to look at Tomcat pics, I'll be searching for you.




Edit:

hehehe:

Nice find, tomcat! I wonder if the under-wing pylons can support an AIM-54 and an AIM-9 at the same time. I don't recall ever seeing that combination.

Sure could. That was more common than the pic with the AIM-7/AIM-54 combo:







Interesting to note that in the 1st pic the Phoenix doesn't have with the big fins attached.

Was the weapon being ferried without the fins? That's interesting.

Maybe the red shirts just didn't get to it yet.

I'm hoping Bones or another Tomcat freak is kicking around (maybe the thread title will lure him in like it did me), I'm pretty sure that's an F-14 behind that VF-102 jet with the crewmember sitting on the spine but I don't recognize the tail. Looks like a big B?

Ahhh it's the B in the AB tailcode.. Grrr I shoulda known that.

Thank you for finding this picture. This will be my load out, except I will replace the two AIM-7s on the wings with AIM-54s. I won't put the tanks on.

From what I understand the most common loadout for the F-14 during the Cold War was 2x AIM-9, 2x AIM-54, and 3x AIM-7 on the bottom with the two tanks. Do you know if that is true?

In terms of air frame stress and drag, I think the 4x AIM-54 on the bottom with 2x AIM-9 and 2x AIM-7 would be more logical than the load I will choose. Am I correct? I am just doing my loadout this way so I can see the unique AIM-54s more clearly on my model.

Not sure. If I had to pick a loadout that was most common during the Cold War I'd suggest 4 or 6 AIM-7s with Sidewinders, but no AIM-54s is no fun.. I know an F-14 RIO through Facebook, this gives me an excuse to ask him an F-14 question.

The Wings are installed after Mounting the AIM-54 to its Station.

Aww man, all of these sweet pics make me want a Hi fidelity tomcat sim SOOOOOOOO bad. What a sexy beast. Time to loadup fleet defender.

F-14: How may I blow you outta the sky, let me count the ways...

Pinch?

I would think the real question about whether or not an F-14 would fly with that loadout would be whether or not the plane would be above max gross takeoff weight for a carrier launch.

Less words, more tomcat pron please!

Sorry, no weapons, but these are some of the last photos I got of a Tomcat at an air show:

Yep, that's him! He was nice enough to reply with a ton of great info. He said it comes down to mission specifics: Outer Air Battle fleet defense stuff called for 2 or 4 Phoenix (carriers had a limited supply of em) and Sparrows. For air to air with more nimble things than Bears and Badgers it'd be a mix of 4/4 Sparrows/Sidewinders. The Pheonix and its related pallets if they were carried between the engines added thousands of lbs to the jet.

LOL I am FB friends w/ him too and love talking with him about the Cat. Too funny.

Those are glorious. Thanks for sharing!

It's not TO, it's landing. A Tomcat could takeoff with 6 54s and 2 9s with the 2 ETs (max loadout), it just couldn't land on the carrier with all those missiles. I believe the largest loadout it could land with 2 9s, 2 7s, and 4 54s. On land, of course, it wasn't a problem.



The Jedi Master

Arthanon,

Great pix! Those are from the Tomcat's last appearance at Nellis, isn't it?

I'm a bit late to the game--mOst of the questions that were brought up in the thread have been answered already. Oh well, baby...!

v6,
boNes