Ever since its first flight in 1970, the U.S. Navy's F-14 Tomcat has reigned supreme as the worlds top Air Defense Fighter. The production version F-14A differs little from the prototype, demonstrating a superb basic design. Its most outstanding aviation characteristic has always been its variable geometry concept or swing wings, which are computer controlled. Wings can be angled a minimum of 20 degrees backwards for take off, and 68 degrees for super sonic flight. The F-14A is powered by two Pratt & Whitney TF-30 turbo fan engines generating over 9,480kg of thrust.
For armament, the F-14A employed highly sophisticated and formidable weapons assisted by the AWG-9 fire control system. This system enables procurement and differentiation of over 24 different targets from over 200km away as well as simultaneous lock on of 6 targets for the Tomcat's AIM-54 Phoenix air to air missiles. From 1990, in addition to its role as an interceptor, the F-14A, noted for its long range and superior weapons systems was designated as a strategic air to ground strike plane. With this new designation the Tomcat was fitted with a new weapon arsenal. For use with this arsenal, the F-14A employs the AN-AAQ-14 targeting pod, referred to as the LAN-TIRN. This targeting pod gives the F-14A precision bombing capability by procuring targets for nose-mounted infrared laser or other laser guided weapons. The AN/AAQ-14 targeting pod contains a high resolution, forward-looking infrared sensor (which displays an infrared image of the target to the pilot), a laser guided munitions, target tracking software, and more. The LANTIRN, combined with GBU-16 and GBU-24 guided bombs, enables precision striking with a minute margin of error from several meters down to tens of centimeters. This precision can be realized at long range.
This naval fighter squadron is attached tot he USS Kittyhawk, home ported at Yokosuka Harbor, Japan. F-14A Tomcats with the VF-154 Black Knights have jurisdiction over the skies above the Pacific and Indian Ocean. The Black Knights were formed after WWII, and were deployed to both the korean and Vietnam War. F-14A were employed with the VF-154 from 1984, and used extensively in Operation Desert Shield during the Gulf war in 1990,
Suggested Paint Colours: TS48 - Gunship Grey, X1 Black. X10 - Gun Metal, X11 - Chrome Silver, X18 - Semi Gloss Black, X2 - White, X3 - Royal Blue, X4 - Blue, X6 - Orange, X7 - Red, X8 - Lemon Yellow, X9 - Brown, XF1 - Flat Black, XF15 - Flat Flesh, XF16 - Flat Aluminum, XF19 - Sky Grey, XF2 - Flat White, XF24 - Dark Grey, XF26 - Deep Green, XF3 - Flat Yellow,