Combat Aircraft takes a trip down memory lane to join F-14B Tomcats conducting operational evaluation of the Joint Direct Attack Munition. Strap in — it’s time to fly with the ‘Bombcats’.
IF YOU COULD go back in time to a particular day, a special moment in aviation, this might just be one of those occasions. Picture the scene: it’s NAF El Centro in southern California during 2001. There’s a row of F-14B Tomcats in the flight line, and they’re all carrying heavy weapons.
The US Navy’s mighty F-14 may have exited service 13 years ago, but it’s lost none of its appeal. Armed with the LANTIRN (Low-Altitude Navigation and Targeting Infra-red for Night) pod and precision-guided munitions, the Tomcat had a new swagger late in its career as it turned its hand to ground attack. Being a pure air defender was no longer an option — there was a need to get more munitions on targets when the air wing was in town. The ‘Bombcat’ was born.
Carrier Air Wing (CVW) Nine’s VF-24 ‘Fighting Renegades’ and VF-211 ‘Fighting Checkmates’ dropped 500lb Mk83 and 2,000lb Mk84 inert weapons in August 1990. During a subsequent detachment to NAS Fallon, Nevada, in May 1991, VF-143 ‘Pukin’ Dogs’ became the first fleet Tomcat unit to …
