But you always wondered what it was like?… Well here you go. Looks like the Demo at Moffett Field. Not sure when… Any Tomcat Bubbas want to own up to flying this demo? Snort?
And part 2
The two attached videos above really serve to illustrate the two-man crew of the F-14, and the coordination between the two throughout the demonstration envelope. (HT to YouTube Member “KutWrite”)
And if you long for a good Turkey demo from the outside, this still remains one of my favorites… disregard the fifth generation preview just before the Tombird takes wing. But enjoy the definition of LOW TRANSITION!
The Tomcat always gave good show… Some of my fondest memories were of this great plane… and well before THAT movie!
I grew up in Naval Aviation! Spending many a day sitting on the patio at the Miramar Ops Building, watching Tomcats come sizzlin' into the break pattern with their swing wings in full retreat, only to transform from intimidating point of the arrow, to a flailing, waving dynamic of horizontal stabilizers, wings and spoilers, fully living up to her other nickname of “Turkey-bird” all in a matter of 360 degrees of a landing pattern. I could watch for hours as Pilot and RIO (radar intercept officer) shot Touch and Go's on Miramar's “Two-Four Right” and “Two-Four Left” runways. What a great way to be exposed to the "Sound of Freedom!"
One of my favorite memories (not Capt. Hackinson's then CO of NAS Miramar) involving the Tomcat was during a rehearsal for the Miramar Airshow. My Dad then COMNAVBASE San Diego was invited by Capt. Hackinson to come out to Miramar the day before the weekend's airshow to watch some of the rehearsals and "Of course please bring your son John with you, he'll have a blast!"
Oh Yeah!
Well the usual opening act of the Miramar air show was to have an F-14 perform a NEAR-Supersonic flyby. Capt. Hackinson, proudly pointed off to the eastern horizon over the low hills guarding the approach end of Miramar's runways, at a very small, but rapidly growing, slightly descending, very menacing looking F-14! displaying those great broad shoulders head-on HAULING THE CHILI! The good Captain announcing to me and my father that he'll be passing by show center at about "Point Nine-Eight Mach!" Hot Damn this ought to be fun! Especially since... well... we're at "Show Center!"
That F-14 did not disappoint!… Me anyway! Wish I could say the same for Capt. Hackinson.
Having grown up around high powered fighter aircraft I am very familiar with their sounds and flight characteristics. And when a fighter approaches at near supersonic speeds some really fascinating stuff happens! First, it is very VERY Quiet as the aircraft approaches you! Remember he is damn close to the same speed as the sound he is creating is traveling! Second, the extreme bow-wake and aerodynamic pressures start to create Vapor Compressions, usually in the shape of a cone extending out and back from just aft of the cockpit. The faster the plane, the less the sound, and the more the shockwave cone.
As the Tomcat passed us at show center some 100 feet off the deck, Dad, Capt. Hackinson and I all noticed the very same thing at the very same time! The F-14 had just passed us and we still had not heard him!…
Uh Oh!
Actually I'm pretty sure I heard in stereo from the two Senior Naval Aviators on my sides... "Ahw SheeeeeiT!" As an exclamation mark to their expletive, the ShockWave of the SONIC BOOM hit us! WABOOM!
Heheh.... uh.... whoops!
As I glance over to a none-too-happy Capt. Hackinson I hear my father with his great Georgia drawl ask in four eloquent words... "Point Nine Eight Huh?"
Capt. Hackinson promptly excused himself to go deal with the soon to be ringing off the hook noise complaint line at NAS Miramar. Turns out that little over-speed broke not only the Sound Barrier but some 29 Bank and Businesses windows on Miramar Road. I Loved it!… Of course, I wasn't paying for the windows!
-JC
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