From the Cockpit

摘要

Pilot Cdr Chip King (Ret) and RIO Cdr Michael C Peterson provide an insight into what it was like to fly and fight in the F-14. Cdr King logged 3,500 hours on type, while Cdr Peterson reached 2,500 hours. Between them they have flown numerous combat missions in the Balkans, Afghanistan and Iraq, with Cdr King commanding VF-213 Blacklions during the opening phase of Operation Enduring Freedom. As a pilot, I remember the first time I flew the Tomcat being thrilled by the awesome acceleration rate. A 'slick' F-14 in full afterburner would leap off the runway in less than 2,000ft. Catapult launches are even more spectacular; you feel as though all your internal organs are being pressed against your spine as the aircraft accelerates down a 200ft catapult track, from standstill to a flyaway airspeed of just under 150kts in about three seconds.