Because of its protagonist in "Top Ambition", the F-14 "Tomcat" is perhaps the most widely known U.S. Navy fighter jet. It is an advanced interceptor and air superiority fighter that can attack six at the same time within a range of more than 100 miles. An enemy aircraft, AIM-54 Phoenix missile.
Equipped with a weapon control system, the aircraft's crew can track 24 enemy targets within a range of 195 miles, and use AIM-54 Phoenix missiles to attack six targets at the same time. A combat aircraft carrier squadron was deployed in 1975. The F-14 made a brief appearance over Vietnam to perform protection patrols for helicopters, and finally evacuated American personnel and foreigners from Saigon without opposition from enemy aircraft. When encountering Libyan fighters in the 1980s, the Middle East was destined to be the place where "tomcats" started fighting.
The upgraded F-14A (enhanced) and F-14D were put into use in the late 1980s and early 1990s, with enhanced avionics and a more powerful F110-GE-400 turbofan engine. The aircraft also proved to be an excellent air-to-ground platform, using capabilities that existed in the original design work but were rarely used. At the peak of employment, 30 naval squadrons operated the F-14.
Tomcat performed combat missions during the Gulf War, from 2001 to Iraq and Afghanistan, until the F-14 was retired in 2006.
The remaining intact US F-14s were airlifted and stored at the 309th Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group "Boneyard" at Davis-Monson Air Force Base in Arizona; in 2007, the US Navy announced plans to smash the remaining F-14s To prevent Iran from acquiring any parts.
Several tomcats are kept in the museum.
Is it possible to restore the flight conditions of the museum's F-14?
"The key structural element of the F-14 is its wing box," aviation expert Ryan Payne said on Quora.
'This is an electron beam welded titanium box that can firmly connect the wing to the rest of the aircraft.
In 1974, the United States sold 80 F-14s to the King of Iran. In 1979, the Iranian Revolutionary Army overthrew the monarchy, established theocratic politics, and took the so-called "Persian cat" as its own.
“Because fighter jets consume spare parts almost as fast as fuel, the United States banned the export of Iranian F-14 spare parts. This has had some impact, but over time, Iran’s industry has developed to the point where it can be manufactured or purchased from a third party. The point of most spare parts. However, one thing they cannot make is the wing box.
'You don't use a MiG welder to weld titanium with electron beams; this is a rather complicated process and Iran does not have the necessary equipment.
'When the U.S. Navy retired the F-14 in 2006, they ensured that the wing box of each aircraft was cut open, destroying its structural integrity. They destroyed the welding equipment needed to make it.
"Every F-14 you see in the museum will not fly anymore. No one is operating them except the Iranian Air Force. The Persian cat that hasn't been worn to the point of scattering scrap metal is the only "seaworthy" in existence. F-14.
'But who knows? Maybe someday someone will build a replica in some way.
Image source: MATS House and Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center at Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum
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nothing is impossible! We can use today's manufacturing progress to recreate anything. Let's finish it! ! !
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