[David Hingtgen]

Ack, I got it backwards (I should have checked before posting). It's front RIGHT and aft LEFT for GBU-24's. (everything switches depending on if you're looking from above or below)

[Min]

Originally Posted by David Hingtgen

Anyways, the GBU-24 has to go on the forward right, and aft left positions.

Originally Posted by David Hingtgen

Ack, I got it backwards (I should have checked before posting). It's front RIGHT and aft LEFT for GBU-24's.

Erm... sorry to point it out David, but I think you got it backwards twice

[Andrew]

Originally Posted by Min

Erm... sorry to point it out David, but I think you got it backwards twice

Or maybe he's just emphasising THIS time

[David Hingtgen]

What the?????? Ok, I'm just going to cut and paste it from the original note as I seem to have an inability to type what I am thinking:

"For the record, the GBU-24B/Bs were only loaded on the front left and rear right stations (looking from above).

F-14B/Ds were authorized for up to four GBU-31(V)2/B (Navy Mk 84 JDAM) and last cruise (VF-213 and -31) F-14Ds could carry up to four GBU-38/B (Mk 82 JDAM). The GBU-32(V)2/B (Navy Mk 83 JDAM) was never cleared on the Tomcat."

[Nockers]

I just got this bird Any hints on how to get the main gear to set right in the pockets.
They are rocking, if ipush down hard at the rear the front pops up, if I
push hard on the front the rear pops up
.

[muesingman]

Originally Posted by David Hingtgen

What the?????? Ok, I'm just going to cut and paste it from the original note as I seem to have an inability to type what I am thinking:

"For the record, the GBU-24B/Bs were only loaded on the front left and rear right stations (looking from above).

F-14B/Ds were authorized for up to four GBU-31(V)2/B (Navy Mk 84 JDAM) and last cruise (VF-213 and -31) F-14Ds could carry up to four GBU-38/B (Mk 82 JDAM). The GBU-32(V)2/B (Navy Mk 83 JDAM) was never cleared on the Tomcat."

Hey Dave,

could You please be so kind and tell us why just the GBU-24´s had to be loaded like that? I am still a little unsecure about that, since I have found enough pictures showing the GBU-24´s next to each other - unfortunately from plastic modellers. So may of course be that they were wrong, too.

If You´re right, is it realistic (better: was it possible) to add the 2 Mk84 JDAM´s in the front right and rear left position, thus showing the heaviest imaginable payload?

I just would like to display my Grim Reaper´s Bombcat correctly...

[David Hingtgen]

Sheer clearance issues. You can't put bombs on a plane with only 1 inch between them, they'll collide when dropped. The limits/combinations for various weapons side-by-side on Super Hornets is insane due to clearance and airflow issues. And yes, you'll see plenty of pictures of Tomcat MODELS with GBU-24's side by side. Just like you see models of F-14D's with an F-14A's shrouds and fairings. You won't find any pics of GBU-24's side by side on a real F-14.

As for the JDAMs, I believe it should be possible, I just don't know if it's ever been done. Could be a fore/aft clearance issue. Four 2,000lb bombs of any type besides dumb---don't know for sure. I'll ask about combinations of 4 2000 pounders. I just asked over at another forum (where I ask all my bomb questions--that's often the hardest thing to research on military planes and so few books mention what planes really carry or can carry in combination)

[David Hingtgen]

Ok, got some answers:

GBU-24's are used alone. While other stuff will physically fit and you could attach it at an airshow or something, nothing else is cleared to fly with GBU-24's.

You can use 4 GBU-31's, but like the 6-missile Phoenix load, it's too heavy to bring back to the carrier. 3 GBU-31's was decently common. (Presumably 4 Mk84's are also too heavy to bring back to the carrier)

GBU-31's should be able to be mixed with any 1000lbs or less bomb but not sure.

It seems anything from 1000lbs or less can be mixed and used in any combination in any position. However (and I totally forgot this until someone mentioned it again) Paveway II's (GBU-12/16) should be avoided in the rear positions due to airflow concerns, and there are serious speed restrictions when carrying them there.

[zed550]

4 GBU 12/16 can fitted and were during OIF but speed is limited to 470 knots and the rear one's had to be dropped first.
VF-2 had a tarps jet that flew missions with 3 mk 84's and also flew with a combined mk84/jdam load both with the tarps fitted.

[David Hingtgen]

Mk84's with TARPS? That sounds seriously heavy/unlikely. Especially with 3 of them? I've never heard of anything being put next to a TARPS pod, can't imagine anything would fit, much less large bombs. For TARPS+bombs I've only ever heard of loading Mk82's or GBU-12's on the forward pallets. ::checks around:: Found a quote from a VF-32 RIO saying they couldn't carry JDAM with TARPS at all due to size.

PS--everything is always launched rear pallets first on the Tomcat, including Phoenixes. I believe it also applied to belly Sparrows.