Hobby Master HA5224 Grumman F-14A Tomcat 162603, VF-1 Wolfpack, 1991 MI-8 Killer
The Grumman F-14 Tomcat is a twin-engine, variable sweep wings capable of supersonic flight. The aircraft is crewed by a Pilot and a Radar Intercept Officer who share the tasks of navigation, Navy and the Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force only. The name “Tomcat” is said to come from the call-sign used by Vice Admiral Thomas Connolly which conformed to the USN tradition of giving Grumman aircraft feline names.
In 1991 Grumman F-14A Tomcat 162603 NE-103 was assigned to VF-1 “Wolfpack” during Operation Desert Storm. On February 6 1991 it launched from the USS Ranger and intercepted an Iraqi MI-8. The F-14 carried four AIM-9s and four AIM-7s plus 700 high-explosive 20mm bullets but the radar was unserviceable. This meant the Tomcat had no computer assistance with the weapons and had to be pointed directly at the target but they managed to down the MI-8. This F-14 was lost in 2000 due to a bad CAT Shot but both crew members were rescued.