RAF F-14 FGR3 ADV fighter

spike7451 · June 02, 2008, 05:25:06 AM

After the collapse of the Eurofighter EF2000 deal due to internal squablings,the Mod & the current Conservative Gov decided to go it alone & purchase 34 ex-USN F-14 Tomcat fighters to suppliment the existing Tornado F3 fleet.
By doing this the MoD saved £340 million pounds,a great asset to the taxpayer.

Taiidantomcat · June 02, 2008, 10:53:33 AM

Cant get enough RAF Tomcats

Shasper · June 02, 2008, 12:53:30 PM

Sweet! Is it an A, B, or D?

Oh wait, never mind its a D! Not sure if you blokes would've gotten 34 of em (the guys out in Arizona seem to be chopping these things up as soon as the engines died), but I still love the idea!

Shas

spike7451 · June 02, 2008, 01:27:52 PM

Not Whiffery-I believe that back in the late 70's,the RAF sent pilots to evaluate various aircraft including the F14,15 & 16 as they needed a replacement for the Lightning & Toom.But like most Government's back handers came into it & we ended up with the Tornado F3 & the failed Nimrod AEW.

gunfighter · June 02, 2008, 02:04:10 PM

In my favourite ever novel, red storm rising, USN tomcats operate from northern england after the nimitz is blown by a soviet attack. The tomcats fight alongside the F3s, and if I´m not wrong, their persistence is better. I mean, they suffer less casualties, but it´s just a novel...
I think the concept behind the ADV is the same as the tomcat, a loitering jet optimized for long range shots on incoming bombers, but the F14 looks best suited to this.

Shasper · June 02, 2008, 02:29:46 PM

Well, the way I've understood it, the ADV was more of an interceptor to ward off the evil Bears, while the F-14 had a good bit of dogfighter built in so it could handle both the wily MiGs and the Bears (at least better than the previous fleet defender - the F-4)

Shas

spike7451 · June 02, 2008, 03:11:24 PM

The F3 was originally designed to work in conjunction with the Nimrod AEW.The Nimrods radar could even pick up it's own toilet seat & cars on the roads below.
The F2/3's Foxhunter radar was so far behind schedule the jet flew with concrete ballast in the nose for over 2 years.In the mid 90's one Sqn of RAF jets took on the role of SEAD & was fitted with Towed decoy pod made from the GR version BOX-107 pod,Skyshadow pod on the other wing & belly pylons for ALARM missiles.
Sadly it did'nt see action on Op Telic.
Merv

Shasper · June 02, 2008, 07:39:33 PM

Yeah I vaguely remember that, too bad a flight of the EF.3s wont be around. . . I could see em all tricked out w/ALARMs n stuff.

Which leads to my next thought, a few tommies tricked out for Recon & WW?

Shas

Captain Canada · June 02, 2008, 09:25:29 PM

Nice one. You got any higher rez shots of her ? Or maybe some more light ? I'd like to see it better !

Like the man said....can't get enough RAF Tomcats !

SPINNERS · June 02, 2008, 11:34:20 PM

Quote from: spike7451 on June 02, 2008, 01:27:52 PM
Not Whiffery-I believe that back in the late 70's,the RAF sent pilots to evaluate various aircraft including the F14,15 & 16 as they needed a replacement for the Lightning & Toom.But like most Government's back handers came into it & we ended up with the Tornado F3 & the failed Nimrod AEW.

Not quite. The decision to go with the MRCA (Tornado) ADV was made much, much earlier. I'm guessing about 1970. Even RAF yearbooks from the early-mid 1970's show the projected Tornado ADV and I seem to recall contemporary references being honest enough to state that the UK couldn't afford the F-14 and that the F-15 was ruled out for only having one crew member.

Personally, I wish the UK had gone for the F-14 and the Tornado was certainly less popular than the Phantom with the crews who transitioned to it. Indeed, I think the Buccaneer was more popular than the Tornado in the squadrons that went from the 'banana bomber' to the Tornado.

spike7451 · June 03, 2008, 01:54:31 AM

Quote from: Captain Canada on June 02, 2008, 09:25:29 PM
Nice one. You got any higher rez shots of her ? Or maybe some more light ? I'd like to see it better !

Like the man said....can't get enough RAF Tomcats !

I'm trying!

Problem is it's one of those little digi cams with the screen on the back & I cant seem to get the focus right.....

Oh,and what does 'MACRO' do/mean? I cant find it explained in the manual.....

Hobbes · June 03, 2008, 04:48:10 AM

'Macro' is an option for taking really close-up photos. Switch this option on, and the camera will focus properly.
Also, you need more light. The flash won't do, try taking the photos in daylight.

Shasper · June 03, 2008, 11:53:07 AM

What he said

Spinners - after the Shah fell Britain was offered the F-14 (leftover from the undelivered 2nd IIAF batch) at a knocked down price, but this was turned down as the ADV had become an object of British pride by that point. At least thats the way I understand it.

Shas

SPINNERS · June 03, 2008, 02:43:37 PM

That would make a good back story for anyone wanting to place the Tomcat in RAF service. I seem to recall that only 1 Iranian F-14A was embargoed as the rest had all been delivered by the time the Shah was overthrown.

Shasper · June 03, 2008, 05:57:01 PM

True that, but at the time of the Revolution the Shah had another 80 F-14s on order, these eventually went to the Fleet but at the time Grumman was trying to barter these a/c off to everyone in the book (Britain, Japan, Canada etc)

Shas