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F14 Tomcats of the US Air Force and
Marine Corps in aviation art prints by Ivan Berryman, Geoff Lea and
Michael Rondot, available from the aviation art print gallery.
Grumman
Aircraft has had a long tradition of providing rugged aircraft for naval
aviators. These Grumman planes were all named Cats. The F-14 Tomcat, the
latest in the long line of Grumman carrier cats, evolved from Grummans
involvement as a subcontractor in the ill-fated TFX development program.
Ever since the WW II Battle of Midway, the Navy has been concerned about
the vulnerability of its carriers to attack. Super carriers, the largest
mobile machines ever developed by mankind, are vulnerable to attack from
ground, sea or air-launched missiles. To protect its carriers, the Navy
has long recognized the critical need for high speed, long-range,
heavily-armed, interceptors. The first two jet-powered aircraft to fill
this role were the F-8 Crusader and the F-4 Phantom II. The F-14 Tomcat
was developed to provide an improved interceptor capable of carrying the
heavier Phoenix missile, and advanced avionics. The first Tomcat
prototype flew on December 21, 1970.
By late 1972 full scale production of the F-14 had commenced. The
Tomcat is big and heavy. It can operate at altitudes in excess of 50,000
feet, can exceed speeds of 1,500 MPH, and has a maximum range in excess
of 2,000 miles. Despite its size and high performance the Tomcat is an
agile bird. With its variable-geometry wings, the F-14 can be configured
on the fly to change its flying and handling characteristics. The
aircraft is equipped with a 20mm cannon, and can carry a large
assortment of highly lethal guided missiles. The aircraft got its Tomcat
name because of Admiral Tom Connollys involvement in the project, and
the fact that Grumman was the designer and builder of the F-14. The
Tomcat, like the F-4 before it, carries a two-man crew. Grumman designed
the aircraft with upgradability in mind. This has permitted improved
engines, improved avionics, and improved missals to be incorporated into
the basic air frame with remarkable effectiveness. Highly regarded
aviation artist Stan Stokes, in his dramatic painting entitled Cats
First Cruise, shows an F-14 of the Navys VF-1 Wolfpack squadron on
final approach to the USS Enterprise. The Wolfpack, and the VF-2 Bounty
Hunters were the first two squadrons of Tomcats deployed for carrier
duty. Their first cruise was in 1974. By 1980 the Navy had deployed
Tomcat squadrons on nearly all its active carriers.
The Tomcat has proven itself in actual combat and no doubt will
continue to serve as the Navys primary long range carrier-based
interceptor for many more years.
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| Cats First Cruise by Stan Stokes. Grumman Aircraft has had a long tradition of providing rugged aircraft for naval aviators. These Grumman planes were all named Cats. The F-14 Tomcat, the latest in the long line of Grumman carrier cats, evolved from Grummans involvement as a subcontractor in the ill-fated TFX development program. Ever since the WW II Battle of Midway, the Navy has been concerned about the vulnerability of its carriers to attack. Super carriers, the largest mobile machines ever developed by mankind, are vulnerable to attack from ground, sea or air-launched missiles. To protect its carriers, the Navy has long recognized the critical need for high speed, long-range, heavily-armed, interceptors. The first two jet-powered aircraft to fill this role were the F-8 Crusader and the F-4 Phantom II. The F-14 Tomcat was developed to provide an improved interceptor capable of carrying the heavier Phoenix missile, and advanced avionics. The first Tomcat prototype flew on December 21, 1970. By late 1972 full scale production of the F-14 had commenced. The Tomcat is big and heavy. It can operate at altitudes in excess of 50,000 feet, can exceed speeds of 1,500 MPH, and has a maximum range in excess of 2,000 miles. Despite its size and high performance the Tomcat is an agile bird. With its variable-geometry wings, the F-14 can be configured on the fly to change its flying and handling characteristics. The aircraft is equipped with a 20mm cannon, and can carry a large assortment of highly lethal guided missiles. The aircraft got its Tomcat name because of Admiral Tom Connollys involvement in the project, and the fact that Grumman was the designer and builder of the F-14. The Tomcat, like the F-4 before it, carries a two-man crew. Grumman designed the aircraft with upgradability in mind. This has permitted improved engines, improved avionics, and improved missals to be incorporated into the basic air frame with remarkable effectiveness. Highly regarded aviation artist Stan Stokes, in his dramatic painting entitled Cats First Cruise, shows an F-14 of the Navys VF-1 Wolfpack squadron on final approach to the USS Enterprise. The Wolfpack, and the VF-2 Bounty Hunters were the first two squadrons of Tomcats deployed for carrier duty. Their first cruise was in 1974. By 1980 the Navy had deployed Tomcat squadrons on nearly all its active carriers. The Tomcat has proven itself in actual combat and no doubt will continue to serve as the Navys primary long range carrier-based interceptor for many more years. Signed limited edition of 4750 prints. Print size 16 inches x 11.5 inches (41cm x 30cm) Supplied with signed and numbered certificate of authenticity.. Price £40.00
Limited edition of 100 giclee paper prints. Size 21 inches x 14 inches (53cm x 36cm). Price £109.00
Limited edition of 100 giclee canvas prints. Size 45 inches x 30 inches (114cm x 76cm). Price £624.00
Limited edition of 100 giclee canvas prints. Size 36 inches x 24 inches (91cm x 61cm). Price £484.00
Limited edition of 100 giclee canvas prints. Size 27 inches x 18 inches (69cm x 46cm). Price £294.00 ITEM CODE STK0143 |
| At The Break by Stan Stokes. F-14s from the USS Kennedy pass over the ship during Operation Desert Storm. Limited edition of 950 prints. Print size 40 inches x 28 inches (102cm x 72cm). Price £109.00
Signed Limited edition of 200 prints, signed by Adm Stan Arthur, and the artist. Print size 40 inches x 28 inches (102cm x 72cm). Price £135.00 ITEM CODE STK0142 |
| Return of the Bounty Hunter by Philip West. A pair of F-14 Tomcats of VF-2 Bounty Hunters return to the USS Constellation from a CAP mission in the Indian Ocean, 1997. Two F-14D Tomcats, with tail hooks lowered, prepare to recover aboard the USS Constellation at the end of a mission during a deployment that took the carrier to the Western Pacific, Indian Ocean and Arabian Sea in 1997. Generally accepted as the worlds finest long range interceptor, the Tomcat has celebrated 25 years of F-14 front-line service. Signed limited edition of 500 prints. Paper size 23 inches x 15 inches (58cm x 38cm). Price £80.00 ITEM CODE DHM2044 |
| USS Ranger by Ivan Berryman. Two F14 Tomcats of VF-1 pass in close formation over the stern of the veteran USS Ranger (CV-61) Signed limited edition of 1150 prints. Image size 25 inches x 15 inches (64cm x 38cm). Price £95.00
Limited edition of 50 artist proofs. Image size 25 inches x 15 inches (64cm x 38cm). Price £135.00
Limited edition of 50 giclee canvas prints. Image size 36 inches x 24 inches (91cm x 61cm). Price £590.00
Limited edition of 50 gicle canvas prints. Image size 30 inches x 20 inches (76cm x 51cm). Price £460.00
Postcard size 6 inches x 4 inches (15cm x 10cm). Price £2.00 ITEM CODE DHM0985 |
| The Bear and the Tomcats by Keith Aspinall. F-15 Tomcats of VF-143 Pukin Dogs intercept a Russian Tu-95 Bear over the Mediterranean during the Cold War. Open edition print. Image size 14.5 inches x 9.5 inches (37cm x 24cm). Price £16.00 ITEM CODE KA0026 |
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