Grumman F-14A Tomcat "Super CAG" 160660, VF-111 "Sundowners", USS Carl Vinson, 1986

The Grumman F-14 Tomcat is a twin-engine, variable sweep wings capable of supersonic flight. The aircraft is crewed by a Pilot and a Radar Intercept Officer who share the tasks of navigation, Navy and the Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force only. The name “Tomcat” is said to come from the call-sign used by Vice Admiral Thomas Connolly which conformed to the USN tradition of giving Grumman aircraft feline names.

The VF-111 “Sundowners” began flying the Grumman F-14A Tomcat in October 1978 and deployed twice onboard the USS Kitty Hawk. In March 1983 VF-111 sailed with the USS Carl Vinson on its maiden world cruise. During the eight months of deployment VF-111 carried out 1,400 carrier landings and 3,000 flight hours. In 1986 VF-111 flew more than 4,000 flight hours and accumulated 7,000 hours of accident free flight hours. Ironically F-14A 160660 crashed July 16, 1992 ending the accident free record.