Post a fact about the F-14

[eagl]

There is an F-14 data plate on at least one part in the F-15E.

The targeting pod added to the F-14 near the end of it's service life had a much better INS than the jet, but the info couldn't be automatically dumped to the onboard navigation systems due to basic systems incompatibilities.

One of the things that made the super tomcat upgrade so expensive was the complete re-wiring to include a new mil-std data bus that would have made it much easier to upgrade avionics and allow various systems to integrate together.  The cost of this, and subsequent short upgrade program, was a huge limiting factor in attempts to extend the F-14 service life since it was difficult to add what is essentially off the shelf hardware like you can with an F-15, F-16, F-18, etc.

[AquaShrimp]

Heres another one:

The body of the F-14 produces 40% of its total lift.

[LEADPIG]

I'll say this... I don't see how the FA-18 Super Hornet is supposed to replace the F-14 in it's Fleet defence role. You can not replace the Tomcats ability to engage 6 aircraft at a time. And track 24 at the same time, the thing was a massive radar station, with fighter potential, and one Tomcat was a major deterent to a major attack, let alone a squadron of them.

I don't see the Super Hornet having that. Maybe other weapon systems have come up to take the place of that ability. But frankly i don't think you can replace having an airplane with live humans on the scene of a situation.
I think the Navy will have to eventually get a new plane to go along with the Super Hornet, to replace this role.

[AquaShrimp]

Leadpig, the F-35 along with the long range ramjet Aim-120s will do a pretty good job of replacing the F-14.