The Tomcat Arrives
 
 
The Grumman Corporation learned from the mistakes it made while
developing the F-111B.  Grumman paid attention to these lessons
when it designed a much lighter, cheaper and far better
performing aircraft -- the F-14.  On February 3, 1969, Grumman
was awarded a contract to build twelve F-14A fighters and the
company began production immediately.  Grumman was already
familiar with swing-wing fighters, having created the XF10F-1
Jaguar, whose wings could sweep through 40 degrees.
 
In an incredible manufacturing feat made possible by the
experience on the TFX, the F-14A made its first flight on
December 21, 1970, after only twenty-one months from "go ahead." 
But the career of this first prototype ended quickly.  On its
second flight, a hydraulics failure sent the aircraft out of
control and forced the pilots to eject.  The remainder of the
test program, however,  went well and the F-14A entered
operational use in October of 1973.
 
The F-14 was an instant success, popular with pilots because of
the maneuverability created by the swing wing.  The handling of
the Tomcat took center stage in the 1986 film "Top Gun." 
Mechanics also liked the Tomcat because despite its complexity,
it was not hard to maintain.  The F-14 also provides a good
example of the difficulty in crossbreeding Navy and Air Force
aircraft.  It was unable to beat the F-15 in a competition to
meet an Air Force interceptor requirement, while a shipboard
version of the F-15 was deemed too heavy and expensive for Navy
use.