The F-14 Tomcats that never were vs F/A-18E/F Super Hornet: who would have won?

The Aviationist ^ | Feb 25 2015 | Dario Leone

[Portcall24]

A few decades ago an F-15 Eagle Driver and crew chief were caught in the nozzle of one of the engines at Tyndall as I recall. They must have been pushing the envelop since it was before female fighter pilots and both were the same sex.

[gundog]

Hmmm. Never found a red X in the maintenance log for “Inspector in intake.”

[Oztrich Boy]

In addition to new composite wings, the A-6F was a new-build with F404 engines and a whole new electronics system.

The A-6G was a rewinged A-6E with some new electronics.

Either would have been good.

What the USN got were 20 A-6E with just the new wings, which were then scrapped before service.

All to justify aquisition of (in order), the A-12, the super stealth ATF, the F/A-18E/F.

[Chode]

ping...

[rlmorel]

Hey-I was a plane captain in VA-46 1975-1979...:)

[rlmorel]

The Hornet may be better designed, it may cost less to fly, and who knows what else...

But I have always thought it was the most beautiful jet fighter to take to the air.

And when they did supersonic fly-bys...they looked like alien spaceships. Weirdly seeming to come at an odd angle, and no sound!

I loved watching them fly. And I got caught behind a JBD one time when I wasn’t paying attention and a Tomcat went off in AB. That truly sucked.

I remember trying to get really small in the main mount wheel well, pulling my white turtleneck flight deck jersey up over my mouth and nose, trying to breathe, getting roasted.

I just hadn’t been paying attention for a few seconds. A flight deck is not a good place to lose your concentration.

[rlmorel]

I thought they leaked a lot of fuel...I remember seeing all the drums underneath them when they were tied down on the fantail. I always thought it was for JP5 leaks! Guess I was never curious enough to go peek inside...

[musicman]

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[Chode]

dangerous place the flight deck

[RedWing9]

Thanks for the nostalgia, I spent 10 days on the USS America in 1979 as a 13 yr old kid sitting in the Admirals chair for almost every launch and recovery during that period (yes, I was a lucky brat with a connection :) ). Absolutely fell in love with that F-14 taking off, twin engine afterburners in all their full glory.

Yes.

That is a special memory.

[mcshot]

Another YF-23 fan that hopes it or a variant is being produced as a black project.

[GBA]

Me, too. It would come to late for my employment, that ended when the YF-22 won, but the design is simply too good to let die in the desert or museums.

[mcshot]

That would be crushing to be part of a team for a great plane that pilots loved only to have it fail to the new “Brewster Buffalo” because of politics

[GBA]

Working for a defense contractor, one gets used to the ebb and flow due to politics. I dodged a lot of lay offs, but not that one. Best job I’ve ever had, but to all things a season and nothing lasts forever.