F-14 FUN FACT OF THE DAY #28
The NATOPS limits the F-14 Tomcat to 6.5 Gs despite being designed for a maximum of 7.5 Gs. This is because anything beyond 7.5 Gs will result in permanent, most likely irreparable, deformation to the aircraft along with the fact that there was no G-limiter on on the F-14 Tomcat. Unlike newer aircraft, the F-14 will not prevent you from doing any maneuver, even potentially fatal ones, so pilots had to know the limits of themselves and the limits of the aircraft when flying. Because of this, over-stresses happened somewhat often.
During his first BFM (Basic Fighter Maneuver) hop in the RAG, “Jambo” was in a dog fight against another pilot when he pulled a maneuver that had him “grey out” (not quite blacked out). Then his back seater told him “ok cowboy, level it out and take it home.” When Jambo asked why, he was told to check the G-meter. It said 11.
