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Aviation History
1971
1971 - 0032.PDF
30 Mil encountered. Comparable in size to the F-4 Phantom, it is a twin-tailed, swing-wing, twin-engine aircraft carry ing a mix of weapons and a two-man crew—pilot and missile control officer. A one-piece bubble canopy and tandem seating provide all-around clear vision, enabling the fighter crew to detect readily, and to maintain visual con tact with, the enemy. "The swing-wing design assures optimum wing geometry over a full spectrum of speeds. Unswept (for ward), the wings give ample lift for low wind-ovor-the-deck launches and carrier landings at 120kt. Unswept during combat air patrol missions, they increase endurance while giving the aircraft instant ability to accelerate to supersonic dash speeds. Swept fully to 68°. the aircraft is just what it appears to be—a high-performance, highly manoeuvrable fighter. "Our three-phased programme of weapon system development assures ever - increasing performance as advanced technology engines and avionics become available. The three are designed A, B and C. Phase A uses a version of the thoroughly ex perienced TF30 engines, carried in external pods for ease of maintenance and optimum straight-line airflow to the compressor face. Each engine will deliver nearly 20,5001b s.t. Knowledge of the engine, added to experience already gained on the AWG-9 weapon control system, ensure a low-risk pro gramme permitting deployment of the aircraft in the shortest possible time. "The second phase of development, the F-14B, introduces an advanced technology engine with major im provements in thrust and weight. The airframe was sized and configured from the onset to accept the advanced technology engine and no modifica tions are anticipated. The third phase F-14C will carry advanced multi- mission avionics, but the F-14J! engine/ airframe combination will remain un changed. "The F-14's thrust-to-weight ratio and wing loading produce outstand ing manoeuvrability—the ability to engage and disengage the enemy at will while bringing weapons to bear. "In the air combat manoeuvring environment, the F-14 will have no "equal. It will have:— "Outstanding dash times in level flight acceleration with a Mach-sweep- programmer to position the wing automatically for best fighter perform ance—high G manoeuvrability and agility throughout the entire speed spectrum. A fast-acting pilot-controlled manoeuvring flap, enhancing combat agility in the subsonic-transonic speed ranges: the manoeuvrability envelope extends smoothly to the structural limits of the aircraft. Glove vanes extending from the leading edge of the fixed portion of the wing at Mach 1, offsetting shift, in the aerodynamic centre at this speed: the horizontal stabiliser is left free for manoeuvring, and trim drag effects are minimised; the vanes also boost instantaneous manoeuvring ability. "In the advanced stages of a suc cessful development and test pro gramme, the AWG-9 will provide optimum weapons control for both close-in air-to-air engagements and long-range stand-off attacks. The air combat mode enables rapid selection of any desired air-to-air ordnance: M-61 gun, and Sidewinder, Sparrow or Phoenix missiles. "To give the fighter crew real-time information in combat, the cockpit has multiple computer-coupled visual FLIGHT International, 7 January 197f displays. The head-up display (Hud) provides attack information symbology on the pilot's windscreen. Steering commands, allowable steering error, target display, overtake, range scale and maximum and minimum firing ranges and envelopes are optimised. "The Hud also has a carrier landing mode that gives the pilot real-time information on his landing glide slope position. For attack steering, the. pilot may also refer to the vertical display indicator group. Radar homing and warning displays, which supply enemy radar information and surface-to-air missile warning, are presented to the pilot on a horizontal display, along with navigational information. "The missile control officer in the back seat has a tactical information display which presents the entire tac tical air situation by computer sym bology, a detailed data display of raw radar information, and a radar homing and warning display similar to the pilot's. These displays provide all the information needed to fight and sur vive in any arena. "In the Sparrow configuration, the F-14 will have internal fuel to escort strike groups on 500-mile-radius mis sions without inflight refuelling and will still retain a combat package of fuel to fight on its own terms. "Rapid turn-round between missions is exemplified by the F-14 loading of six Phoenix missiles in 18 minutes with standard Aero 21A skids. Integral hoists raise and lower the rail seg ments. Some of the F-14 weapons mixes are: six Sparrows and four Sidewinders; six Phoenix missiles, four Sidewinders and two fuel tanks; Mk 83 iron bombs, rockets and Side winders or Mk 84 iron bombs with Sidewinders. In addition to this wide variety of external stores, the M-61 internal gun provides outstanding fire power for close-in air-to-air or air-to- - ground roles." ™-\ Offspring and its progenitor: occasional visitors to the UK are the drab EB-66Cs of the USAF 39th Tactical Early Warning Squadron, attached to the 36th TFW at Spangdahlem, Germany. The wing operates F-4Ds and the EB-66 squadron, totalling approximately 8-12 aircraft, co-operates closely with the fighters on early warning and ECM duties. Below, progenitor of the EB-66 was the A-3 Skywarrior, which is still giving valuable service with the USN. This electronics EKA-3Q was photographed at the Naples Air Facility and is from VAQ-130, CVW-6 aboard USS "Roosevelt" »*s ^J J
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