"Obsolete weapons do not deter."
- British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher
(1,000 points) Built for speed and armed with ultra long-range weapons. It's no wonder that the F-14 Tomcat is the main defender of the US fleet. The Tomcat's AWG-9 radar has the ability to engage as many as six targets at once, which is the same number of targets that can be engaged by three F-18 Hornets. Additionally, it's Phoenix air-to-air missiles can kill hostile bombers 90 miles away -- before they can launch their attacks. With its distinctive swing-wings, which enables it to combine high-speed performance and supersonic maneuverability, the F-14 Tomcat is undeniably one of the world's true "Top Guns".
Pictured here is a gorgeous 1:72 scale diecast replica of a USN F-14D assigned to the Air Test and Evaluation Squadron Nine "Vampires", based at Point Mugu, California. Now in stock!
Dimensions:
Wingspan: 7 inches
Length: 10.5 inches
Release Date: December 2005
Historical Account: The VX-9 “Vampires” are otherwise known as Air Test and Evaluation Squadron Nine. The squadron conducts operational testing of various aircraft and weapon systems in order to develop appropriate tactics and procedures. The unit also maintains a permanent F-14 Tomcat detachment at Point Mugu in California.
As of 2000, VX-9 had 67 officers, 350 enlisted personnel and 28 aircraft including the FA-18E/F Super Hornet, FA-18 Hornet, F-14 Tomcat, EA-6B Prowler, AV-8B Harrier, and AH-1 Cobra. Typically, aircrews are qualified in more than one of these aircraft types, increasing their versatility and providing broader based expertise to be applied to each project. VX-9's mission has grown to include the operational evaluation of attack, fighter, and electronic warfare aircraft, weapons systems and equipment, and to develop tactical procedures for their employment. |
