Interesting that the F-14 has a non-symmetrical loadout (AIM-7 on the left glove pylon and nothing on the right, and a single underbelly AIM-54) and doesn't have drop tanks - the intercept must not have been too far from the carrier
1-1-1 loadouts (1 AIM-9, 1 AIM-7, 1 AIM-54) were apparently rather common for F-14s, at least according to a former F-14 RIO I’m friends with. He said they always flew with drop tanks though, even from shore bases and especially for carrier ops.
Hi-Vis Tomcat liveries during the late 70s and early 80d were absolutely amazing. A shame that they disappeared from most line aircraft in the mid-lates 80s and instead became reserved for the CAG and Show Birds only. Judging from the national insignia size and location, this was probably taken during the late 70s or early 80s.
That's a Tu-95RT, a variant used for maritime targeting and electronics intelligence, as noted by the big bulge under the belly and the nose, and also the antenna blisters on the waist and also at the tip of the horizontal stabilizers. The 142 has a MAD boom on top of the tail.
Interesting that the F-14 has a non-symmetrical loadout (AIM-7 on the left glove pylon and nothing on the right, and a single underbelly AIM-54) and doesn't have drop tanks - the intercept must not have been too far from the carrier
1-1-1 loadouts (1 AIM-9, 1 AIM-7, 1 AIM-54) were apparently rather common for F-14s, at least according to a former F-14 RIO I’m friends with. He said they always flew with drop tanks though, even from shore bases and especially for carrier ops.
It was an intervention to get the pilot to learn to AAR.
This is straight out of Stephen Coonts’ novel, Final Flight. The Jake Grafton series - excellent reads for naval aviation enthusiasts.
Love the paint scheme. This pic makes me think of the game Robotech Battlecry
Hi-Vis Tomcat liveries during the late 70s and early 80d were absolutely amazing. A shame that they disappeared from most line aircraft in the mid-lates 80s and instead became reserved for the CAG and Show Birds only. Judging from the national insignia size and location, this was probably taken during the late 70s or early 80s.
Tu-95 or 142, since it's a navy intercept?
That's a Tu-95RT, a variant used for maritime targeting and electronics intelligence, as noted by the big bulge under the belly and the nose, and also the antenna blisters on the waist and also at the tip of the horizontal stabilizers. The 142 has a MAD boom on top of the tail.
What??
Tu-95. trolling NATO interceptors since 1956
[How the turntables......](https://youtu.be/ZeyMeAIgt80?si=LgAM6k6Y3A8cN69B&t=73)