[Paul Ross]

The Tomcat wasn't as close as it looked though.

I can believe that. Of course, the F-14 is a big bird. The range that extra size lends means it can do things like this...go way out at supersonic speeed, to intercept and then slow down to "escort" a lumbering Bear past the carrier battle group...all beyond the Bear's own weapons range...

[cva66snipe]

An F-14 in the late 70's usually stayed on a catapult ready to go while underway and flight ops were secure. If anyone got too close you heard launch the alert cat and 9 out of 10 times could roll over and go back to sleep. In about a minute or two you'd hear it launch.