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Tig's Grumman F-14A Tomcat

2,267 CallsignTig  one year ago

https://youtu.be/nAOxtiJwtG8

This is my rendition of the Grumman F-14A Tomcat, and it is in my humble opinion, the best version on SimplePlanes!
I have frequently been frustrated in my search to find a well-built, realistic, and well-performing Tomcat in SimplePlanes, so I went ahead and built one the way I wanted! It has pretty realistic maneuverability and speed, but it can also stand toe to toe with a lot of the relatively "overpowered" SimplePlanes designs.
(AnIndonesianGuy, if you ever see this, your Tomcat was a fantastic starting point! I hope you like what I've done with it!)

https://imgur.com/w1km70x

Modifications done by me are extensive, to summarize:
-Added roll spoilers
-XML modded the engines, changing from AG4-controlled afterburner to a purely throttle based afterburner
-Speaking of afterburner, modified the color and shape to be more realistic
-Fully furnished the cockpit, including G-force camera, HUD readout, and a furnished RIO cockpit with a radar scope
-Added replica missiles/gun (which all work REALLY well by the way!)
-Added countermeasures
-Added trim inputs
-Reworked drag points via XML modding to make the flight model more realistic

https://imgur.com/OZdolnV

As you can see, Mukola's AIM-54 Phoenixes fire true to life! I have yet to see one miss. This 'Cat's BVR capabilities are insane, and start praying if you merge with it! Cockpit is fully furnished as accurately as I could figure out how.
Craft Instructions are complete and included.
I intentionally left it largely undecorated as far as markings/paintjob goes, that way YOU can decorate it in the livery YOU want.

https://imgur.com/XhI0J0Y

DISCLAIMER: The main airframe design credit goes to AnIndonesianGuy's "Grumman F-14 Tomcat", and I pulled in a lot of other parts and designs:
-M61 Vulcan 20mm: “[F-22] Raptor” by The CommentaryGuy
-Front Cockpit & G-Camera: “Grumman F-14 Tomcat” by Deeznutz1234
-AIM-9M Sidewinder: “AIM-9 Sidewinder Evolution” by Cutters127
-AIM-54 Phoenix: “AIM-54 Phoenix" by Mukola
-AIM-7M Sparrow: “AIM-7 Sparrow Air-To-Air missile” by JohnLewis
-And a few pieces that I cannot trace, I downloaded the original designs I pulled from a VERY long time ago.

https://imgur.com/d0bPzVI

Front Cockpit:
https://imgur.com/L1o2vpx

RIO Cockpit:
https://imgur.com/GYXwJq2

Below is a copy of the Craft Instructions.

GRUMMAN F-14A "TOMCAT" NATOPS
Published 21 Oct 2023
THIS EDITION SUPERSEDES PREVIOUS EDITIONS

AG1: Tailhook
AG2: Glove Vanes
AG3: Speedbrake
AG4: Activate Roll Spoilers (Off by default)
AG5: Drop Tanks
AG6: Jettison ALL missiles
AG7:
AG8:

VTOL > 1: Wing Sweep
VTOL < 1: Flaps/Leading Edge Slats
Trim: Trim

Throttle:
0-95% Dry Thrust
95-100% Afterburner

Specifications

Armament: 1xM61 Vulcan 20mm, 2xAIM-9M Sidewinder, 2xAIM-7M Sparrow, 4xAIM-54 Phoenix
AIM-9M Max Range: 3 miles
AIM-7M Min Range: 0.6 miles
AIM-54 Min Range: 2.2 miles

Countermeasures: 2x100 Chaff, 2x100 Flares
Misc Features: G-force camera, Lead-Computing Gunsight, Nose-Mounted
Television Camera

Maximum speed at sea level ~820 MPH IAS

Spotlights

General Characteristics

  • Created On Windows
  • Wingspan 63.5ft (19.3m)
  • Length 62.9ft (19.2m)
  • Height 17.3ft (5.3m)
  • Empty Weight N/A
  • Loaded Weight 27,974lbs (12,688kg)

Performance

  • Power/Weight Ratio 7.23
  • Wing Loading 37.1lbs/ft2 (181.4kg/m2)
  • Wing Area 753.1ft2 (70.0m2)
  • Drag Points 13262

Parts

  • Number of Parts 688
  • Control Surfaces 2
  • Performance Cost 2,933
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  • Profile image

    @CallsignTig OK, good to know

    +1 one year ago
  • Profile image
    2,267 CallsignTig

    @Carsonkiddy2 Not mine, in fact. I've seen this particular HUD published by a ton of different people, so I have no clue who originally created it, but it works like a charm, minus the speed and altitude readouts being mis calibrated. Glad you like it!

    one year ago
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    26.7k ToeTips

    I shoulda spotlighted.

    +1 one year ago
  • Profile image

    The HUD is pretty cool

    +1 one year ago
  • Profile image
    35.8k Graingy

    @Randomplayer Splendid, truly!

    +1 one year ago
  • Profile image
    14.7k Randomplayer

    @Graingy indeed

    +2 one year ago
  • Profile image
    35.8k Graingy

    @Randomplayer very nice pictures

    +1 one year ago
  • Profile image
    14.7k Randomplayer

    Yo @Graingy this is a really nice plane check it out!

    +1 one year ago