Quick two questions about the F-14:
1) Was the F-14 developed in response to the Navy not being able to use the F-111? From my "research" on the Net, some components were aided in development by the Advark, but the Navy's choice was not influenced.
Yes and no. Actually, the F-14 was developed because of an advanced weapon system developed well before the F-111 or the F-14.
In the 1950s, the Navy determined that it needed an interceptor that could deliver multiple shots against multiple long-range Soviet targets carrying cruise missiles against the fleet. The radar and weapon system that could do that was developed well before the F-14 was ever designed. It was a weapon system looking for a platform.
The first iteration was the Douglas F6D "Missileer" with the two-stage "Eagle Missile" (which never went into production)
The later TFX program led to the F-111 that proved impossible for the Navy. Grumman then in competition developed a "VFX" which provided a carrier suitable platform complete with the "track-while-scan/multi-shot demanded Phoenix missile system and the advanced AWG-9 radar ......that had long been looking for a home to counter the Soviet bomber/cruise missile threat.
2) Was the F-14 difficult to land on the carrier?
No. Having a 20kt. slower approach speed than an F-4, having a HUD, having DLC, having needles, great auto-throttles, etc. the F-14 was far easier than an F-4 coming aboard - especially at night!!!!!
However, it did have some drawbacks.
1. The F-14 had a fan rather than a pure turbojet engine like the F-4. Therefore, power response was a little bit slower.
2. It had spoilers rather than ailerons. This meant that it tended to rotate about the wingtips' axis, rather the fuselage axis. Thus it wallowed in adverse yaw coming aboard. Not a big deal, except for some of those observing cretins in #3 below.
3. The F-14 with its flapping spoilers and spastic, flapping differential horizontal stabilizers really looked ugly and uncontrolled on approach compared to other airwing aircraft... indeed it looked like a 'turkey' flying and attempting to land! Thus, a guy could fly a "rails OK pass" at the boat, but LSOs seeing the F-14s' wild flapping flight controls would grade the pass only a "fair". Those Communists!
Bottom line: The F-14 was easy to bring aboard (but not nearly as easy as the F-18); but it looked bad and got undeserved, bad landing grades.... until the fleet LSOs finally calibrated their blind eyes and recognized a superb approach when they saw one.
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PS: You wouldn't ever catch me trying to land a helo (I've got 30 hours of fun time in a CH-53 – daytime on land.) on the pitching mini-deck of a small boy, ever! Please tell me helo guys don't do that stuff at night?!!?
