The F-14 Tomcat Fighter Became a Legend — but It Nearly Died From Inflation and Engine Cracks First

The F-14 Tomcat Fighter Became a Legend — but It Nearly Died From Inflation and Engine Cracks First

Summary and Key Points: The F-14 Tomcat became one of the most successful fighters in U.S. Navy history — a Mach 2.3 jet that anchored carrier air wings from the 1970s through Operation Iraqi Freedom. But its early days were rocky. Grumman, squeezed by inflation after underbidding to win the contract, needed emergency loans, and Navy buyer Bob Belter once countersigned a $38 million check by hand. -The Tomcat also overcame dangerous TF30 engine …