Planes, Trains and Automobiles

[Aquila Super Tomcat]

Head-on view of VF-213 Black Lions F-14D in flight:

 

[Aquila Super Tomcat]

F-14C Eagle in flight:

 

[Aquila Super Tomcat]

SAAB JAS Gripen in flight:

 

[Aquila Super Tomcat]

VF-32 Swordsmen F-14A Tomcat in a vertical climb with a full loadout of six AIM-54 Phoenix missiles:

 

[Aquila Super Tomcat]

F-14D Tomcat Lion 213 of VF-213 Black Lions taxiing:

VF-31 Tomcatters F-14D in flight:

 

[Aquila Super Tomcat]

VF-31 Tomcatters F-14D Tomcats aboard USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71):

VF-31 Tomcatters F-14D Tomcat in flight:

 

[Leaf473]

VF-32 Swordsmen F-14A Tomcat in a vertical climb with a full loadout of six AIM-54 Phoenix missiles:

Lots of cool images, there
I like that one the best!

 

[Leaf473]

Found this, looks pretty cool.

 

[Aquila Super Tomcat]

Lots of cool images, there
I like that one the best!

thanks! I like that one too!

 

[Aquila Super Tomcat]

Found this, looks pretty cool.

You're right, that's awesome! I think the Tomcat looks like a giant bird of prey chasing a smaller bird in that gif!

 

[Aquila Super Tomcat]

VF-2 Bounty Hunters F-14D in flight:

 

[Leaf473]

Found this gif. The description says it's an f-35?

"Boondoggle or not, it appears the F-35 Lightning II is here to stay. Fortunately its one of only two fighter jets that can take-off and land vertically, and the only which while fully loaded can depart from a ship without a catapult."
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/285486063856081286/

But does it appear that the cockpit canopy is open or something?

 

[Aquila Super Tomcat]

Found this gif. The description says it's an f-35?

"Boondoggle or not, it appears the F-35 Lightning II is here to stay. Fortunately its one of only two fighter jets that can take-off and land vertically, and the only which while fully loaded can depart from a ship without a catapult."
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/285486063856081286/

But does it appear that the cockpit canopy is open or something?

You're right, that is an F-35; it's the F-35B, which is specially designed for short takeoff and vertical landing (STOVL). The open panel isn't the canopy, it's the door over the lift fan that enables the jet to perform its short takeoffs and vertical landings. Here's some info on the lift fan:

https://www.rolls-royce.com/product...space/combat-jets/rolls-royce-liftsystem.aspx

Rolls-Royce LiftSystem - Wikipedia

 

[Leaf473]

You're right, that is an F-35; it's the F-35B, which is specially designed for short takeoff and vertical landing (STOVL). The open panel isn't the canopy, it's the door over the lift fan that enables the jet to perform its short takeoffs and vertical landings. Here's some info on the lift fan:

Rolls-Royce LiftSystem®

Rolls-Royce LiftSystem - Wikipedia

Wow, now that is fascinating.
That lift fan is
"Capable of delivering 20,000lbf cold thrust"
according Rolls-Royce.

Fascinating! I'm sure the F-35 loses something compared to other jets since it has to carry that extra hardware. But still, there's got to be times when STOVL comes in handy.

 

[Leaf473]

This is an animated gif, but it's large and may take time to load

 

[Leaf473]

And landing

 

[Aquila Super Tomcat]

Wow, now that is fascinating.
That lift fan is
"Capable of delivering 20,000lbf cold thrust"
according Rolls-Royce.

Fascinating! I'm sure the F-35 loses something compared to other jets since it has to carry that extra hardware. But still, there's got to be times when STOVL comes in handy.

This is an animated gif, but it's large and may take time to load

And landing

Those are great gifs! The F-35B/STOVL isn't the only version of the F-35; there's also the F-35A, which is the standard takeoff and landing version, used by the US Air Force, and there's the F-35C, which is used by the US Navy, and is adapted for catapult launches and arrested landings aboard carriers.

Here are two gifs of F-35Cs launching and landing:

 

[N€M€SIS]

Wow, some great pictures here guys.
As you might have guessed from my profile picture, I got to fly in a dual seat Spitfire last year from the iconic Biggin Hill aerodrome; courtesy of a very good friend. A childhood dream that I never thought could ever be reality. I even took the controls for about ten minutes!

 

[N€M€SIS]

By the way, I understand that ‘Top Gun - Maverick’ is on release end of May this year; Absolutely cannot wait!

 

[Aquila Super Tomcat]

Wow, some great pictures here guys.
As you might have guessed from my profile picture, I got to fly in a dual seat Spitfire last year from the iconic Biggin Hill aerodrome; courtesy of a very good friend. A childhood dream that I never thought could ever be reality. I even took the controls for about ten minutes!

By the way, I understand that ‘Top Gun - Maverick’ is on release end of May this year; Absolutely cannot wait!

Wow! That brilliant that you got to fly in a Spitfire, and even got to take the controls!

I'm hoping to watch Top Gun - Maverick myself; from the trailers, it should have some really spectacular flying scenes! The original Top Gun is one of my favourite aviation-related movies, and whenever I hear Top Gun Anthem, Danger Zone, or Mighty Wings, I think of F-14 Tomcats.