[flyXwire]

Originally Posted by slammin

I read how the 6 phoenix missle configuration wasn't used very often because of the stress it put on the glove pylons, but this appears to be how every bombcat is configured. I was just wondering if there was a reason they wouldn't choose to put the phoenix on one of the pallets as long as they didn't have to carry 4 bombs.

Found this little ditty info:

"The original specification called for six Phoenix missiles, but it was found that the deck impacts during carrier landings were too hard when carrying six Phoenix missiles, so the full load of six Phoenixes is rarely carried."

[Nockers]

Well there would be no need to load bombs and Phoenix on the same plane.
The Phoenix was for long range intercept of the dreaded Russian bombers
or other aircraft the were coming to attack the fleet.
Which we all know was a joke.

[David Hingtgen]

F-14's carried AIM-54's on the port glove pylon all the time on missions in Iraq, for self-defense (both OIF and Southern Watch). (And as a weight balance to the LANTIRN) A decently common Bombcat load is 2x AIM-9, 1x AIM-54, 1x AIM-7, and 2 bombs.

[Andrew]

Originally Posted by David Hingtgen

F-14's carried AIM-54's on the port glove pylon all the time on missions in Iraq, for self-defense (both OIF and Southern Watch). (And as a weight balance to the LANTIRN) A decently common Bombcat load is 2x AIM-9, 1x AIM-54, 1x AIM-7, and 2 bombs.

I've seen pics of it carrying an AIM-7 instead of AIM-54's in those theatre ops on the port pylon

[David Hingtgen]

Got my answer:

It was tested, but no configuration of Phoenixes and bombs on the pallets was ever fleet-certified. Thus it was basically "illegal" to do so. But VF-31 did it a few times anyways on their F-14D's:

[slammin]

Thank you for your always helpful insight. When was that photograph taken?

Thanks,
Chris

[Nockers]

Originally Posted by David Hingtgen

F-14's carried AIM-54's on the port glove pylon all the time on missions in Iraq, for self-defense (both OIF and Southern Watch). (And as a weight balance to the LANTIRN) A decently common Bombcat load is 2x AIM-9, 1x AIM-54, 1x AIM-7, and 2 bombs.

A million dollar counterweight, glad they found a use for them

[David Hingtgen]

The alternative counterweight was dummy Sparrows filled with cement. Whatever works.

Photo seems to be from 1998.

[bandit95]

Witty and dragon are not the same!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Witty is below standard. They have crap for weapons that dont even come close to resebling the real ones used. They sell stands for aircraft whos gears cant even be retracted and you can easily tell how the aircraft was put together by the large separations in the fuselage. They look too much like a toy. The best thing about witty is the variety of paint jobs and that they have good pilots!! I do agree however that Century makes the best F-14's!!