AIM-54 Phoenix

The story of when a US Navy F-14 Tomcat fired six AIM-54 Phoenix missiles against six different targets simultaneously: the six-on-six missile shot test

The story of when US Navy F-14 Tomcat fired six AIM-54 Phoenix missiles against six different targets simultaneously: the six-on-six missile shot test

A new capability introduced by the AIM-54 was strictly linked to its radar: the AWG-9 had the unprecedented ability to… Read More

3 weeks ago

F-15 maintainer explains why even though NASA equipped an Eagle with an AIM-54 the USAF Never Outfitted its F-15 fleet with the mighty Phoenix

The odd photos in this post show an F-15 Eagle fighter jet carrying an AIM-54 Phoenix long-range air-to-air missile. The… Read More

3 months ago

From doing flyby of the tower at over 400 knots to ejecting from an F-14: former Tomcat RIO answers your questions

‘I have actually done a fly by of the tower at over 400 knots…and I have photos to prove it,’… Read More

6 months ago

A Kill is Kill! The story of the Iraqi MiG-23 that crashed while trying to escape from two AIM-54 Phoenix missiles fired by US Navy F-14 Tomcats

While approaching for the second landing attempt, the Iraqi MiG-23 ran out of fuel, stalled and crashed only 200 metres… Read More

7 months ago

The day Shah of Iran said he liked the F-15 because it was an Air Superiority Fighter but he liked the F-14 even more because he Needed an Air Supremacy Fighter

The Shah was very intelligent man and knew the benefits which an F-14/AWG-9/PHOENIX system would provide in defending the… Read More

1 year ago

Even though the AIM-120 was successfully tested on the F-14, the AMRAAM integration into fleet Tomcats was scrapped. Here’s why.

F-14A/B/D did not have the capability to carry and fire the AIM-120 because - even though missile tests were conducted… Read More

2 years ago

Here’s why F-14 Tomcat fighter jets preserved in museums could never be restored in flight conditions

The key structural element of an F-14 is its wing box. It is an electron beam welded titanium box that… Read More

2 years ago

The F-14 Tomcat posed such serious threat to the Soviets that they once tried to fish one that fell off the aircraft carrier USS John F. Kennedy

The Soviets tried to go fishing for an F-14 that fell off the USS John F. Kennedy in 1976 - after the… Read More

2 years ago

US Navy F-14 crew members explain how you could land Tomcat with a full load of six AIM-54 Phoenix missiles on the aircraft carrier

‘Actually, you could trap aboard the boat with 6 Phoenix, but you wouldn’t have much fuel at max trap gross… Read More

2 years ago

Here’s why the F-14 Tomcat was true multirole fighter (and not just a fleet defense interceptor)

The F-14 Tomcat wasn’t supposed to be a one trick pony like the F-15 Eagle. Often referred to as a… Read More

2 years ago

The “ADCOM F-14:” the Tomcat that USAF never bought

Studies indicated 170 “ADCOM F-14 Tomcats” could provide the same level of Defense as 290 F-15 Eagles Taken at the… Read More

2 years ago

F-15C scores aerial kill from the furthest distance ever recorded by firing an AIM-120 at BQM-167 drone and brings to memory famous AIM-54 six-on-six missile shot test

A USAF F-15C Eagle fired an AIM-120 AMRAAM at a BQM-167 subscale drone, resulting in a "kill" of the aerial… Read More

2 years ago

Tomcat Supreme: The F-14’s AWG-9 was the most powerful radar in operational service on combat aircraft until the F-22 Raptor with the APG-77 entered service in 2005

When working in Track-While-Scan mode, the AWG-9 emissions were difficult to identify for contemporary radar warning receivers, and thus warning… Read More

2 years ago

Launching the Phoenix and dogfighting against the F-15: Q & A with F-14 Tomcat RIO Dave “Bio” Baranek Part 2

"In multi-aircraft engagement the Eagle’s relative strengths were reduced. When I fought F-15s, which was not often enough, we… Read More

2 years ago

Former IRIAF F-14 Pilot explains how he was able to dodge 20 Matra missiles fired at his Tomcat by Iraqi Fighter Jets

“I called the ground radar but didn’t receive reply. I tried again and still got no reply. After my… Read More

3 years ago

Former IRIAF F-14 pilot explains how he was able to score 16 aerial kills in the Tomcat (eight with the AIM-54 Phoenix missile, two with the M61A Vulcan gun, and one with the MIM-23 Hawk missile)

“I had eight aerial kills with the Phoenix missile, two kills with the Vulcan M61A gun, and one kill with… Read More

3 years ago

Monument will honor US Navy’s F-14 fighter and the 68 Naval Aviators who lost their lives flying the mighty Tomcat

The monument will remember the iconic Grumman’s fighter jet as well as those who gave their lives flying it and… Read More

3 years ago
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