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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

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
Feb 5, 2022
Aardvarks and the dawn of tank-plinking, a thread. 1/8
#avgeeks #aviation #USAF #DesertStorm #History
On the night of Feb 5, 1991, Col. Tom Lennon, commander of #USAF's 48th FW, led a pair of F-111s on an experimental mission against dug-in units of the #Iraqi Republican Guard in the deserts north of Kuwait. 2/8 #avgeeks #aviation #DesertStorm #History
For the experiment, each F-111 was armed with a Pave Track pod and four GBU-12 500 lb LGBs. The crews were to see if LGBs could be guided accurately enough to hit targets as small as an AFV. 3/8 #avgeeks #aviation #USAF #DesertStorm #History
Read 8 tweets

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