Thirty minutes to choose your fighter jet: how the Shah of Iran chose the F-14 Tomcat over the F-15

The Aviationist ^ | February 11, 2013 | Dario Leone

[occamrzr06]

The thing with the F-14.....1 Aircraft, one bullet.

[Michael Barnes]

Neat.

Correct me if I am wrong however, Doesn't the F-15 have the "perfect" record?

[PAR35]

” the Tomcat is still in service “

Can any of them still fly?

[Haiku Guy]

Anytime, Baby!

[Slings and Arrows]

Did Iran get the Phoenix missile? That thing gave a new meaning to “Reach out and touch someone!”

[gleeaikin]

Iran military aviation ping.

[Kickass Conservative]

The assumption is that (1), Iran procured replacement parts in the Black Market way back when and (2), they cannibalized many of their F-14’s to keep a lesser number operational.

The fact that they are still flying says a lot about the Sturdiness of the Airframe and the skill level of the Iranian Mechanics servicing them.

there were opinions that we should have modernized our F-14’s rather than replace them with F-18’s way back when.

We like to think that the Iranians are unable to accomplish things that we Americans have done, but it is a false assumption. There are many well Educated and talented individuals within their Population, many whom were Educated in American Universities.

But let’s remember, Pharaoh Obama said we have nothing to fear from those “small” Countries. So it is written, so it shall be done.

[Hillarys Gate Cult]

Iran begged, borrowed, and stole to get a few F-14s flying. They cannibalized most all of their fleet to do it.

[JerseyanExile]

They did. Apparently they used them to good effect against the Iraqis during the war - ironically the only real example of the Phoenix missile being used effectively in combat.

[Slings and Arrows]

Thanks. That was a bad missile to be on the business end of.

[Stonewall Jackson]

Two F-15's were lost to ground fire (one AAA and one SAM) during Desert Storm and a Japanese F-15 was accidentally shot down by one of its squadronmates (oops!), but thus far there has not been an F-15 lost to enemy aircraft.

Here's a picture of an Israeli F-15 that lost its right wing in a collision with an A-4 during a training exercise in 1983. The pilot could not see the extent of the damage due to the stream of leaking fuel, so he flew ten miles to the nearest base and landed.

[Hillarys Gate Cult]

Used to be that Iran's revolutionary government executed all who were trained or educated in the West. A full on backward mentality ruled. So it's not a false assumption since those who were Western educated were either executed or ran for their lives to other countries. Only a few were able to hide it.

Friend of mine had an Iranian roommate in college. He said the Iranian's father was a army general. After the Shah was deposed, all of Iran's military leaders were called to meet with the Ayatollahs government. His father went got tired of waiting so he went down the hall to the restroom. From the meeting room he heard machine gun fire. He then escaped out the bathroom window, the only survivor of that meeting. The General got his family out to America.

The cavemen who took over Iran would print what looked like a yearbook. Would have a picture of a military leader taken at their graduation from a Western military course or school, taken from their files. The next page would be a picture of that person's gruesome execution. The books circulated heavily throughout the Iranian exile community. People wanted to make sure their relatives or friends weren't in the book.

[Candor7]

Iran has recently tested a brand new air-to-air missile dubbed “Fakour”, >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Fakyours !

[Portcall24]

In 1977 students at Air Command and Staff College have three mixes about 3 months long over the course of the year. The exchange officer in my first mix was Iranian. Very nice and pleasant fellow. Unfortunately he had progressed too far up the chain when the Shah fell after his return and he didn’t “escape out the bathroom window”.

[BwanaNdege]

Excellent post!

[Safetgiver]

I witnessed this exhibition from about 100 yards away from the runway. Those things were awesome at takeoff and turns. The Shah was said to be about another 200 yards away and was thunderstruck. The whole base stopped and watched (if they were outside).

[BobL]

Nice back then when we had friends in the Middle East (other than Israel). I hope Jimmy Carter is proud of what he’s done.

[taildragger]

there were opinions that we should have modernized our F-14’s rather than replace them with F-18’s way back when.

Yes, however I have heard it said in the halls of aerospace that in terms of being a customer the Navy will always break your heart.

For the life of me I don't know why Pratt didn't do a follow on to the TF-30 or at least a FADEC upgrade.

Having the pleasure of seeing a F-14D @ Reno give an incredible flight demo w/ the GE engines, it did things no F-14 ever did before.

The proposed Upgrade beyond the F-14D never made it past the proposal phase, dang shame.

We should have sold them to the Israeli's for a $1 and let them do a continuous improvement program, they'd still be flying and kicking @$$ IMHO...

[taildragger]

Just wow...

I had a former co-worker in the early 90's who's dad was someone high in the Intel and or Military and got out before it hit the shan. He noted it was an incredible country before the Ayatollah took over, much like America and for a young man a great deal of fun, then again he was probably of the privileged class.

Now one can only imagine what a cesspool the country and culture is, and our dear leader Chumpolini turned his nose to their begging for liberation and one wonders how many more were "purged". The worse part is he is Carter part Duex and his Iran will be Egypt for starters if no more countries...