Radar Intercept Officer

Did you know the USAF F-4 Phantom II variant had to be designated the F-110 Spectre? The Century Series Fighter that Never Was

Did you know the USAF F-4 Phantom II variant had to be designated the F-110 Spectre? The Century Series Fighter that Never Was

In 1962 approval was given for the USAF F-4 Phantom II variant to be designated the F-110 Spectre. In response… Read More

2 months ago

US Navy F-4 pilot recalls when his Phantom II radar screen went black because of the high speed of an SR-71 Blackbird he and his RIO tried to intercept while it was exiting Chinese airspace

‘I watched in amazement as the Vc circle [on the radar display] which told us the relative closing velocity of… Read More

5 months ago

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

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

5 months ago

Tomcat RIO tells the story of when he and his pilot destroyed a supersonic target drone by means of an AIM-7 fired by their F-14 flying at more than Mach 1

“Halfway through the turn my “radar lock” lights went out. I had messed up the intercept! ‘Broke lock,’ I growled… Read More

7 months ago

Tomcat RIO tells the story of Pat O’Brien, the Civilian Engineer that Made Dozens of Flights in the F-14, F-4, TA-7, and Others

After working as a college intern at North American Rockwell, Pat O’Brien decided he wanted to be in flight test.… Read More

7 months ago

“We reached 18,000 feet in less than thirty seconds!” Tomcat RIO tells the story of when on his third F-14 flight his pilot did a memorable unrestricted climb

“I looked at our rapidly increasing airspeed as we neared the end of the runway, and Crush yanked back on… Read More

7 months ago

Because I was Inverted! Tomcat RIO who took part in the making of Top Gun tells the true story behind the famous scene where Maverick and Goose’s F-14 flies inverted above the black two-seat F-5F (AKA MiG-28)

‘Of course, for safety reasons there wasn’t any aircraft flying inverted one above the other, and that iconic scene was… Read More

8 months ago

US Navy F-14 Tomcat RIO tells the story of when he and his pilot intercepted a Concorde during Operation Desert Shield

‘As we swung our nose in the direction of the vector we got, I got an immediate lock on an… Read More

9 months ago

Clarence Alfred Gilyard Jr., aka LT.(JG) Marcus “Sundown” Williams who briefly served as Maverick’s RIO in Top Gun, passed away

Born on Dec. 24, 1955 Clarence Alfred Gilyard Jr. was best known among The Aviation Geeks, as Top Gun’s Radar… Read More

10 months ago

US Navy F-14 Pilot explains how he was able to Land his Tomcat Without Canopy after his Backseater erroneously Bailed Out

The incredible photos in this post show an F-14 Tomcat (actually the F-14D BuNo. 164341) flying without canopy. Advancements during… Read More

10 months ago

From doing a 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

10 months ago

American Fighter Aces Association Changes Policy to Include Back Seaters in its “Ace” Category

The change was led by Randy “Duke” Cunningham, a retired US Navy commander and former F-4 Phantom pilot, who along… Read More

12 months ago

F-14 pilot tells the story of when he landed his crippled Tomcat with the wings swept back

‘Since the wings weren’t budging, we were getting ready to have one wild landing.’ Mark Vizcarra, F-14 Tomcat pilot. Advancements… Read More

1 year ago

US Navy F-4 RIO tells the story of when his Phantom II was mistakenly shot down by another US Navy F-4 (flown by a USAF exchange pilot)

“Greyhound” Simons was a decorated Air Force exchange pilot who had lots of combat time over Viet Nam. He remembered… Read More

1 year ago

IRIAF F-14 Tomcat crashes near the central city of Isfahan. Both crew members eject safely.

The IRIAF Tomcat involved in the accident is believed to be F-14A serial 3-6054. An Islamic Republic of Iran Air… Read More

1 year ago

Top Gun: Maverick’s final trailer teases rivalry with Goose’s son Bradley “Rooster” Bradshaw

As shown in the latest trailer, Tom Cruise's Pete "Maverick" Mitchell must gain the courage to face Miles Teller's Bradley… Read More

2 years ago

The story of the F-4 Phantom II pilot that ejected, hit a large boulder and fell 20 feet down after his parachute deflated. He survived and flew in the US Navy for another ten years.

Ejecting from an aircraft is a dangerous business as Jim Ginn, whose father flew the F-4 Phantom II in the… Read More

2 years ago
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