F-14 Loadout

[MR_BURNS2]

I wonder if it would be better to change the Heavy MiGCAP loadouts to 6*Aim-7 and 2*Aim-9, she was designed with BVR in mind after all. Also, Wikipedia states that 2× AIM-9 + 2× AIM-54 + 3× AIM-7 was the most common load during cold war Era, we might use that instead of Light BarCAP.

What do you guys think?

[ComDev]

It doesn't seem the 6x Sparrow loadout was actually used operationally. Ditto for the 2× AIM-9 + 2× AIM-54 + 3× AIM-7, the last Sparrow carried in the funnel was rarely if ever actually fitted. So both were theoretical fits.

If new loadouts were to be added it would be the 1x AIM-9, 1x AIM-7 and 1x AIM-54 which seems to be used quite a lot [8D]

Thanks!

[MR_BURNS2]

Ok, but what would they have used in case of war? The Light loadouts seem reasonable for a peacetime or transition to war scenario, but wouldnt they pack more punch in war?

[ComDev]

In case of war the heaviest loadout would the the 4x Phoenix, 2x Sparrow and 2x Sidewinder, or 4x Sparrows and 4x Sidewinders (same as F-15s btw).

[MR_BURNS2]

Ok, if you say so.[;)]

[Primarchx]

MR_BURNS2, do you have verifiable info on other loadouts? Command treads a fine line between tactical and operational control. While pylon-by-pylon load management would be cool for those of us who could appreciate it, I think you have to go with discrete loadouts as provided by the game or risk exceeding its' scope.

[Wiz33]

Well. You can always go 6 Phoenix and 2 Sidewinder but you'll be borderline or slightly above the max landing weight limit if you return with the full load.

[thewood1]

My understanding was that the 6 Phoenix load had never been used operationally. I could easily be wrong.

[Wiz33]

And you won't except in a hot war situation where you know there is a regimental strength Backfire strike heading your way. Even then you won't be putting that loadout on your CAP as you literally cannot land back on the CV with the full load, but you may have a few birds with that load on alert that you can send up once the incoming strike have been confirmed.

[thewood1]

Can it take off with 6 and 2...not sure. I assume a less than full load of fuel maybe?

[Wiz33]

Yes it can with 2 drop tanks but it cannot land even if the plane is at minimum fuel level. He would have to jettison some of the ordnance before landing. That's why it was never used during peacetime operation.

[adek670]

Just read the last of the messages on the thread

I remember back to my F4 days, do planes on here jettison drop tanks in a dog fight?

wouldn't this be normal drills in such circumstances?

REaper

[Wiz33]

The 2 drop tanks when empty weights less than the 2 Phoenix (1000lb ea) they have to jettison to land back on the carrier.

[snowburn]

ORIGINAL: Reaper

Just read the last of the messages on the thread

I remember back to my F4 days, do planes on here jettison drop tanks in a dog fight?

wouldn't this be normal drills in such circumstances?

REaper

it should be an opcion under RoE and ENCOM, so you can configure every airstrike to face an agility penalty on evation or lose the extra fuel and A2G ordenance.

[MR_BURNS2]

ORIGINAL: Primarchx

MR_BURNS2, do you have verifiable info on other loadouts? Command treads a fine line between tactical and operational control. While pylon-by-pylon load management would be cool for those of us who could appreciate it, I think you have to go with discrete loadouts as provided by the game or risk exceeding its' scope.

I do not. I just thought that one would make more sense with a dedicated BVR aircraft, so i started the discussion, hoping someone would know and enlighten us.
All i found over google was this:

http://www.aviationspectator.com/image/photos/military-aircraft/fighters/f-14-tomcat/f-14-tomcat-95

But there is only 1 Sparrow more then in one of the stock loadouts, no point in changing anything.

[ComDev]

Hm that's the 3-Sparrow loadout from an operational mission. Guess I need to add it then [8D]

Thanks!

Here's the typical 1x AIM-54, 1x AIM-7, 2x AIM-9 loadout:
http://www.ausairpower.net/CV-Indian-Ocean.html

[bsq]

ORIGINAL: thewood1

My understanding was that the 6 Phoenix load had never been used operationally. I could easily be wrong.

They were never used as designed [:D] there was never that sort of shooting match.

They could be launched with 6 AIM-54, but were overweight for emergency landings and 'punching' unused AIM-54 would be wasteful and not an option in peacetime. The idea of command is surely to test what if's - limit it to what was, then we will never know the art of the possible (of course within the physical constraints of time and design)

[ExMachina]

They could be launched with 6 AIM-54, but were overweight for emergency landings and 'punching' unused AIM-54 would be wasteful and not an option in peacetime.

The Wikipedia page has such a load out.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AIM-54_Phoenix

How risky was it to launch/recover a plane like that?

[mikmykWS]

You can't recover it. You've got to dump some of the weapons.

Mike

[ExMachina]

http://thanlont.blogspot.com/2011/01/f- ... -time.html

the F-14AA could only land with five Phoenix, and even then needed 17 knots wind-over-deck at its maximum landing weight of 51,830 lbs