December 2013
Surrounded by “Century Series” aircraft, the F-14 was the first of the “Teen” series aircraft put into service. This view of the beloved Tomcat clearly shows how the flat fuselage contributed half of the wing area, resulting in low wing loading which leads to increased maneuverability for aerial combat. At the time, it was the largest and heaviest U.S. fighter to fly from an aircraft carrier. The F-14 first flew in December 1970, made its first deployment in 1974 and finally retired in 2006.