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US Navy Grumman F-14A Tomcat Fleet Defense Fighter - VF-33 "Starfighters", USS America (CV-66), 1981 (1:72 Scale)
US Navy Grumman F-14A Tomcat Fleet Defense Fighter - VF-33 "Starfighters", USS America (CV-66), 1981

Calibre Wings US Navy Grumman F-14A Tomcat Fleet Defense Fighter - VF-33 "Starfighters", USS America (CV-66), 1981 (1:72 Scale)




 
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Product Code: CA721406

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Calibre Wings CA721406 US Navy Grumman F-14A Tomcat Fleet Defense Fighter - VF-33 "Starfighters", USS America (CV-66), 1981 (1:72 Scale) "Obsolete weapons do not deter."
- British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher

The F-14 Tomcat program was initiated when it became obvious that the weight and maneuverability issues plaguing the U.S. Navy variant of the Tactical Fighter Experimental (TFX) (F-111B) would not be resolved to the Navy's satisfaction. The Navy requirement was for a fleet air defense fighter (FADF) with the primary role of intercepting Soviet bombers before they could launch missiles against the carrier group. The Navy also wanted the aircraft to possess inherent air superiority characteristics. The Navy strenuously opposed the TFX, which incorporated the Air Force's requirements for a low-level attack aircraft, fearing the compromises would cripple the aircraft, but were forced to participate in the program at direction of then Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara who wanted "joint" solutions to the service aircraft needs to reduce developmental costs. The prior example of the F-4 Phantom which was a Navy program later adopted by the USAF (under similar direction) was the order of the day. Vice Admiral Thomas Connolly, DCNO for Air Warfare took the developmental F-111A for a flight and discovered it was unable to go supersonic and had poor landing characteristics. He later testified to Congress about his concerns against the official Department of the Navy position and in May 1968, Congress killed funding for the F-111B allowing the Navy to pursue an answer tailored to their requirements.

NAVAIR shortly issued an RFP for the Naval Fighter Experimental (VFX), a tandem two-seat fighter with maximum speed of Mach 2.2 and a secondary close air support role. Of the five companies that submitted bids (four of which incorporated variable-geometry wings as on the F-111), McDonnell Douglas and Grumman were selected as finalists in December 1968, and Grumman won the contract in January 1969. Grumman had been a partner on the F-111B, and had started work on an alternative when they saw the project heading south, and so had an edge on its competitors. Their early design mock-ups and cost projections were floated among Navy brass as an alternative to the F-111B.

The winning Grumman design reused the TF30 engines from the F-111B, though the Navy planned on replacing them with the F401-PW-400 engines then under development by Pratt and Whitney for the Navy (in parallel with the related F100 for the USAF). Though lighter than the F-111B, it was still the largest and heaviest U.S. fighter to ever fly from an aircraft carrier, its size a consequence of the requirement to carry the large AWG-9 radar and AIM-54 Phoenix missiles, also from the F-111B and an internal fuel load of 16,000 lbs (7300 kg). The F-14 would also share a similar inlet duct, wing, and landing gear geometry with Grumman's A-6 Intruder.

The F-14 first flew on December 21st, 1970, just 22 months after Grumman was awarded the contract, and reached Initial Operational Capability (IOC) in 1973. While the Marine Corps was interested in the F-14 and went so far as to send pilots to VF-124 to train as instructors, they were never fully sold on the aircraft and pulled out when the stores management system for ground attack munitions was left undeveloped, leaving the aircraft incapable of dropping air-to-ground munitions (these were later developed in the 1990s).

Pictured here is a stunning 1:72 scale diecast replica of a US Navy F-14A Tomcat Fleet Defense Fighter that was attached to VF-33 "Starfighters". Sold Out!

Dimensions:
Wingspan: 7-inches
Length: 10-1/2-inches

Release Date: February 2019

Historical Account: "Starfighters" - In 1981, VF-33 transitioned to the F-14A Tomcat along with VF-102 and joined Carrier Air Wing One assigned to USS America. Until 1992, VF-33 made twelve deployments with CVW-1 aboard the America to the Atlantic Ocean, the Mediterranean and the Indian Ocean. Their first deployment was a grueling North Atlantic NATO deployment (Northern Wedding) between August and October 1982. VF-33 has used stars as part of their tail markings since the Crusader days and settled on a large star for their latter F-4 tenure and as the main symbol on the Tomcat. In 1987, they abandoned "Minky" and changed their name from Tarsiers to Starfighters, which was their radio callsign. The new patch featured a large star with a head-on view of a Tomcat. On August 20th, 1985, VF-33 was the first squadron to complete 50 missile firings without a single failure.

Features
  • Diecast construction
  • Martin Baker GRU-7 ejection seats
  • Realistic pilot and RIO figures
  • Canopy in open or closed position
  • Working glove vanes
  • Positional air brakes
  • Movable sweep wings & horizontal stabilizers
  • Interchangeable engine nozzles in open or closed positions
  • Landing gears extended or stored
  • Jet intake covers
  • Wheel chocks
  • Rubber tires
  • Operational pay load ordnance
  • Deluxe display stand
  • Limited edition serialized metal plate
  • Collector's box
  • Only 1,000 pieces produced

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