Show Notes
Aviation fans are likely familiar with the movie 'Speed & Angels,' a 2008 documentary that still receives high praise for its fighter aviation scenes and realism. The film follows two upcoming F-14 pilots in training, reveals their life stories and dreams, and continues as they enter the fleet.
Our guests are one of the pilots profiled in the film, Meagan Flannigan (who was then Meagan Varley), and the fighter pilot who originated the idea and worked tirelessly to see it to completion, Paco Chierici.
This episode is full of revelations about flying the Tomcat, making a movie, and living in front of the camera. 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.