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Mar 7, 2022 6 tweets 8 min read Read on X
Tomcat musing: a short thread on the "dowdy" parts of one of the most glamours interceptors of the world. 1/6 #avgeeks #aviation #aviationdaily #Tomcat #TopGun #USNavy
Did you know that when the F-14 stretches its wings fully forward, the fuselage slots into which the wings retracted are sealed with inflatable airbags? The airbags use bleed air from the TF30s to inflation! 2/6
#avgeeks #aviation #TopGun #Tomcat
The F-14's variable-geometry outer wings carry full-span leading-edge slats and almost full-span trailing-edge flaps. In addition, four-section spoilers augment the differential movement of the tailrons in roll control. 3/6
#avgeeks #aviation #Tomcat #USNavy
The crew boards the F-14 via a retractable ladder on the left side of the nose section. The ejection seats are (of course) Martin-Baker GRU.7As or in F-14D, the NACES Mk.14. 4/6
#avgeeks #aviation #aviationdaily #Tomcat #TopGun #USNavy
The engine inlets are two-dimensional shape-lipped retractable with sides very acutely swept back. Hinge panels, vary the airflow in the inlet, and at supersonic speeds close down the throat, diverting excess air out through a door in the top of the pancake. 5/6 #avgeeks
The F-14's large cockpit canopy is molded from a single sheet of Plexiglass (yup, single piece). The finished item is bulged to provide minimum optical distortion while allowing the crew excellent all-round visibility. 6/6 #avgeeks #aviation #aviationdaily #Tomcat #TopGun #USNavy

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More from @RealAirPower1

Jun 27
Before Top Gun made the F‑14 famous, Iran saved it. Yup, Iran’s money not only saved the F‑14, but also kept the AIM-54 AAM program going. Here’s a thread on how the Shah rescued America’s most advanced naval fighter. 1/6 Image
In the early 1970s, Grumman’s F‑14 Tomcat program was in trouble. Cost overruns, technical delays, and political resistance had nearly derailed the project. At Grumman’s darkest hour, Iran stepped in. Under the Shah, Iran placed a massive order: 80 F‑14As and 714 AIM‑54 AAMs, along with parts, simulators, and U.S.-based pilot training. This single $2 billion deal rescued the F-14 from potential cancellation. 2/6Image
But Iran wasn’t just a buyer, it was also a critical test partner. The Shah ordered extensive live-fire trials at the newly constructed Khatami Air Base. Iranian crews fired over 284 AIM‑54 AAMs, conducting more tests than the USNavy had done at the time. This included the famous shot where a Phoenix missile intercepted a drone at 24,000 meters while traveling at Mach 4.4 and pulling 17 Gs - a direct hit that validated the system under real-world conditions. 3/6Image
Read 7 tweets
Jun 8
As news of Pakistan potentially buying the Chinese J-35 stealth spreads across social media, a quieter debate is emerging in Indian circles. Unofficial voices - analysts, commentators, and armchair generals - are shaping opinion around the idea that India should acquire the Su-57 to strengthen its air force. Yet, interestingly, none of these voices seem to recall that India already has a history with the Su-57, and it wasn’t a good one. So, let’s take a brief look. 1/4🧵Maj. Gaurav Arya, an ex-Indian Army officer and a popular defence analyst and media personality, talking about why India should go for the Su-57 on his YouTube channel. Photo shared with me.
It may come as a surprise to some, but India was once part of the Su-57 program. In 2008, it partnered with Russia to co-develop a variant of the Su-57 called the Fifth Generation Fighter Aircraft, or FGFA. A contract was signed between Sukhoi and HAL. Billions were planned. Expectations were high. BUT suddenly, in 2018, India pulled the plug and walked away - quietly, but decisively. 2/4Image
Why? Because as per the Indian Air Force the Su-57 didn’t deliver.

- Its stealth was underwhelming.
- It used older-generation engines.
- Russia refused to share source codes.
- Costs spiralled, timelines slipped.

India didn’t see a fifth-gen jet. It saw a risk. The French Rafale looked much more attractive. 3/4Image
Read 4 tweets
Apr 25
What's the difference between air superiority and air supremacy? They sound similar, but in war, they mean very different levels of control of the skies. Let's break down the four levels of air control, with real-world examples. 1/5
1. Air Parity: When neither side has a clear advantage in the skies. Example: The seesawing airpower situation between Greece and Turkey over the Aegean. 2/5 Image
2. Favourable Air Situation: When the other side's air efforts can't really stop one's land, sea, or even air operations. Example: Serbia vs. NATO during the 1999 Kosovo conflict. NATO controlled the air, but it didn’t impede Serb ground operations. 3/5 Image
Read 5 tweets
Mar 8
How many unguided air-to-air rockets does it take to bring down an aircraft? Turns out, far more than you'd think! Let's talk about the unbelievable Battle of Palmdale in 1956. 🧵 1/4 Northrop F-89 Scorpion's wingtip mounted FFAR pod with 52 2.75-in rockets.
On August 16, 1956, a USNavy F6F-5K target drone took off from NAS Point Mugu and immediately went rogue, heading straight for Los Angeles. In mad panic, the Navy called in the USAF. Two F-89D Scorpions, America's most advanced interceptor, scrambled to take it down. 2/4 Image
Fast, and armed with 104 FFAR rockets each, the F-89s should have made quick work of the slow, WWII-era Hellcat. However, things didn't go as planned. The F-89s caught the drone over Santa Paula and fired. The rockets missed. The F-89s fired again. They missed again. Rocket after rocket streaked through the sky; not a single hit was scored. 3/4Image
Read 4 tweets
Dec 16, 2024
Did you know that during the 2003 Iraq War, USAF and USN pilots feared USArmy Patriot missiles more than Iraqi SAMs? Why? During the conflict, Patriot missiles gained a notorious reputation for misidentifying friendly aircraft and shooting them down. 1/4 Image
As the ground war intensified, Patriot missiles tragically shot down an RAF Tornado and a Navy F/A-18, killing their crews. The reason? Faulty IFF technology and system automation, which struggled to distinguish allies from enemies in the fast-paced, chaotic battlefield environment. 2/4Image
Tensions escalated further when a USAF F-16 fired a HARM at a Patriot battery after its radar mistakenly locked onto the jet. Thankfully, no one was hurt, but the incident exposed the deep mistrust between Patriot operators and pilots. 3/4 Image
Read 4 tweets
Mar 14, 2022
A 10 tweet thread on the indomitable Fairchild Republic A-10 Warthog, the "flying tank". Enjoy! 1/10 #avgeeks #aviation #aviationdaily #USAF #Warthog
A Warthog pilot sits in a "bathtub" of titanium armour, at places up to 38 mm thick and weighing 544 kg. This is proof against direct hits from 23-mm cannon. 2/10 #avgeeks #aviation #USAF #Warthog
The GAU-8/A's barrel is some 80 calibres long, resulting in a length of nearly 2.5 meters. It's one of the largest weapons of its type in the world. 3/10 #avgeeks #aviation #USAF #Warthog
Read 10 tweets

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