Show Notes
When introduced, the Grumman F-14 Tomcat set new standards for maneuverability and controllability, making it a great dogfighter.
On this episode, a renowned Tomcat driver describes those capabilities and goes further, providing valuable insights on topics from flying skills to US Navy training programs.
Retired US Navy Captain Sam “Slammer” Richardson takes us from his early days in pilot training to his time as the CO of the F-14 training squadron (aka the RAG), where he flew A-model Tomcats and won dogfights against student pilots in D models to teach them how to be better pilots. A former TOPGUN instructor, Slammer shares his thoughts on learning that “trick maneuver,” how to become a good Tomcat pilot, and launching the program that changed Navy F-14 training. He also debriefs his famous engagement where he gunned a MiG-29 (in training).
With more than 2,700 F-14 flight hours, Slammer says, “The Tomcat was an easy airplane to fly, but hard to fly well.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
More from F-14 Tomcast
This is the 26th and final episode of the F-14 Tomcast season 1.
It is said that all good things come to an end, and so it was with the Tomcat’s service.
Coalition combat returned to Iraq in 2003 with Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF). Among US Navy forces were the Bounty Hunters of VF-2, which brought F-14D Tomcats to the fight. This episode goes into detail on the big fighter’s performance in a challenging threat environment.
In response to the 9/11 terror attacks, American and coalition forces commenced combat operations in Afghanistan with conventional operations commencing 7 October 2001. It was an incredible period in history, and our guest was a key participant.
The AIM-54 Phoenix air-to-air missile was a major part of the F-14 program: it affected the Tomcat’s design and was the weapon that gave the Tomcat its unique and most impressive capabilities.