"TOMCAT", this is the meaning of Tomcat. Nathan just said the word casually. It's too normal. Who doesn't know about it in later generations? The F-14 Tomcat, the most outstanding carrier-based aircraft of the US Navy, is not one of them. Even the F-35 of later generations is not as good as the F-14 in Nathan’s eyes!
However, when he said it, the people present were stunned. Why
Because F-14 has not yet been nicknamed!
There are two versions of the origin of the Tomcat. The two old generals who support it have Thomas in their name: Thomas. So, TOM is extracted from this English word. At the same time, Grumman is naming its own fighter. At that time, they all carried the suffix of cat: CAT.
For example, F4F Wildcat, F8F Panda, and now F-14, the two words together are TOMCAT, which is named Tomcat, which is simply perfect!
Another argument is that the AWG-9 radar on the F-14 fighter jet is extremely powerful. When the radar starts to search, it will make a sound like a cat, but this version is not widely spread.
Now, when they heard Nathan’s words, everyone was stunned for a moment, and then an officer following the old general said: "During the course of the F-14 project, we have always called it Thomas’ cat. Now, Calling it Tomcat, it just happens to be worthy of the name!"
Thomas' cat, "Tomscat", means "General Thomas' cat." Now, Nathan actually called out the word Tomcat directly, and his thoughts are really flexible!
Chris Clark, a member of the U.S. Naval Air Systems Command, came to the base with General Thomas to inspect the base this time. By the way, I saw this young man who had been talked about by General Thomas all day. Who would have thought that he had unexpected gains just now. !
General Thomas also looked excited: "Yes, that's a good name."
Nathan has already reacted. It turned out that Tomcat was given the nickname by himself. History really made a joke with himself!
However, looking at this fighter plane, Nathan's heart is already full of excitement. Compared with the F-4 ghost, this fighter plane does have too much appeal. It is the real weapon for naval pilots.
"How about it, do you want to fly?" General Thomas asked with a smile on his face.
"Well, I have to go through training, right?" Nathan asked.
"For a skilled pilot, it is not difficult to fly it." General Thomas said: "If you want, you can fly it now."
Hearing what General Thomas said, Nathan felt incredible, wouldn't he? Didn't you do anything, you can fly straight away
"Let's go, change your flight suit, and I will be your flight instructor." At this moment, a Gunners instructor walked out and said to Nathan, "It's easy to drive it."
On the first day, after a few glances at the plane, you could get on the plane and fly around? Nathan is still a little puzzled at this time. You must know that this aircraft, which he has just nicknamed a Tomcat, is indeed a two-seater, but behind it is the weapon operator, but there is no aircraft operating equipment and no joystick. , No rudder.
If it were in a previous life, this would definitely violate the rules, and now, looking at the instructor's gestures, Nathan is naturally rude.
The first flight came too fast.
Just when he changed his flight suit, Nathan was already familiar with the instructor.
Major John Lehmann, the first batch of Tomcat fighter pilots, after the change of flight, after only 40 hours of flying, he became the instructor of the VF124 squadron, instructing other veterans to fly.
Yes, all the veterans who can fly this fighter are old birds, so for veterans, the guidance is very easy.
The trainees were sitting in the front and flying, and the instructor sat in the position of the radar operator at the back to give verbal guidance. That's right, that's it!
It is quite difficult to operate the AWG-9 radar on the Tomcat fighter. The flight instructor can say that he can’t understand the sensors, controllers and displays behind him, but he still has to direct the student’s flight, using a vivid description. Said, this is simply to let the blind give directions to myopia.
The Tomcat fighter has never been a two-seater instructor type, so even if it comes to later generations, it will change to fly like this. Students who graduated from the A-4 training unit receive "one-to-one assistance" from the instructor, only because of the later generation With advanced electronic technology, you can already perform familiar operations on the simulator.
The first flight was just a simple take-off and landing. After all, Nathan knew in his heart that the TF30 engine used by the Tomcat is notoriously difficult to handle. Various superb maneuvers must wait for proficiency before proceeding.
After climbing into the cockpit, Nathan had a familiar feeling. The arrangement of the various instruments in front of him was very similar to the F-4 fighter he flew over.
In later generations, after the concept of the glass cockpit became popular, the cockpit of the pilot changed a lot, which made it difficult to change the flight. But in this era, it is almost the same as the cockpit of the Soviet Union. Flying from MiG-15 to MiG-31, the instruments in front of the pilots are almost unchanged.
This also greatly facilitates the modification.
Stabilizing his mood, Nathan began to prepare before takeoff. At this moment, the Lehman instructor behind him suddenly said another sentence.
"Relax, the control of the ejection is with me. If necessary, I will let you eject first."
This sentence makes Nathan unhappy. What kind of setting is this
For two-seater fighters, the ejection sequence is first seat, then the front seat. The reason is simple. The pilot in the front seat can control the aircraft. If the pilot runs first, the radar officer in the back seat has no ability to control the aircraft Aircraft attitude.
However, the control is in the hands of the back seat. This is really the first time. Is it because I am afraid that the pilot will bounce off first
As a pilot’s instinct, I definitely don’t want a question from the back seat: "Do you need a catapult?"
Nathan glanced outside. The group of people who had just welcomed Nathan found an open space and set up a sunshade. They actually came to see him take off and land
Is this a test for yourself? See how your flying skills are
Nathan withdrew his thoughts. Although it was the first time to fly an F-14, he was no stranger. In later generations, one way to get acquainted with his opponent is to play a flight simulation game! Many things are the same as they really are.
"Start the engine, flip the left panel, the first to sixth switches in the second row." Lehman behind him methodically guided, as Nathan flipped the switch, there was a huge roar from the tail. (End of this chapter)