22. Firing the AIM-54 Phoenix in Anger

Рет қаралды 5,889

17 күн бұрын

The AIM-54 Phoenix #airtoair #missile was central to the #f14tomcat design and employment. During the #tomcat's 3+ decades of service with the #usnavy, however, American crews had only 3 combat Phoenix launches and none of them were successful.
On this episode, “Jumby” Castleton, the lead RIO in a section of F-14Ds that attacked Iraqi aircraft in January 1999 during Operation Southern Watch, describes one of those shots. While the Phoenix did not score a kill, the tactics used makes a great story!

Пікірлер: 28

@michaelskidmore5086 15 күн бұрын

In 1994-1996 timeframe, VF-11 was aboard Carl Vinson with CVW-14 along with VF-31. After that, VF-11 went to the F-14B.

@presley98 15 күн бұрын

I golfed at nas pensicola with a retired navy pilot around 15 years ago who told me he attempted to fire a phoenix at a hostile target in a no fly zone. I wish i could remember his name. He said it just fell off the rack due to a mistake make by the ordies. What i do remember was when he found out i was Air Force, the banter was thick.

@ajtabbilos 15 күн бұрын

Jumby is right regarding the 1994 westpac deployment of USS Carl Vinson. It has the latest model of airplanes and was the most powerful air wing at the time. It was also featured in discovery channel’s carrier fortress at sea documentary.

@darrenschultz3572 14 күн бұрын

To me Desert Fox was annoying, because we (us on the Vinson) were just floating around in the I.O. for the start of it. When we were ultimately allowed to participate, we had 1 night with 2 events. After we launched the first event I went back to my shop ( the AE shop), to see CNN on the TV saying “We just watched the last strike for Desert Fox launch out.” We all thought they were stupid, until a minute later and our bitch box squawked, saying the second event was canceled. On a different note, VF-32 did a 6 on 6, shortly before we got rid (me having to wipe a way a tear) of our Tomcats. It was against TALDs and drones. They had to tweak the jet and select the best of the missiles at Oceana.

@evnthr1zn 15 күн бұрын

I missed Jumby at C2F by a few years. Good episode!

@franklumanog3043 2 күн бұрын

Great show even greater channel 👍

@davidsmith8997 15 күн бұрын

What a story! It all came down to that one non-com red shirt. Wow. Real professionalism in not losing their cool.

@comchia4306 15 күн бұрын

Whenever I'd play Fleet Defender or US Navy Fighters, i always loved loading up on the AIM-54 Phoenix. The weight was a pain, but quickly disappeared as a concern. The only major downside for me was waiting to determine if it actually hit or not.

@KRGruner 13 күн бұрын

Man, I don't know that I would have taken that kind of experience calmly. Everyone makes mistakes, but this was combat, where your life may depend on things the way they are supposed to and everyone doing their job. It would be cool to hear from an Iranian Tomcat pilot or RIO with a Phoenix kill (or two). Not sure if that is even possible.

@SDsc0rch 14 күн бұрын

11:30 - wait, if you crank from TWS you'll feed the missile bad data?? I did not know...! ED...when??

@michaelmulligan0 7 күн бұрын

What was the reputation of the Phoenix in testing (in comparison)?

@tomwilson1006 15 күн бұрын

Jell-O, you down for a mission with Crunch to the Middle East to jack a Tomcat from our “friends” in the desert? 🤔

@FighterPilotPodcast 15 күн бұрын

Sure, sign me up.

@tomwilson1006 15 күн бұрын

@@FighterPilotPodcast haha ok! Although I think you’ve risked & sacrificed enough for this great country already, which is much appreciated! Something tells me you wouldn’t wanna be Crunch’s RIO, so how does flying cover in an airframe of your choice sound? 😏😂

@dindrmindr626 15 күн бұрын

tomcast!

@sonichuizcool7445 13 күн бұрын

Could the aim54 hit a maneuvering target or was it only slow lumbering bombers?

@FighterPilotPodcast 13 күн бұрын

@@sonichuizcool7445 ask the Iranians.

@stijnvandamme76 14 күн бұрын

54:45 tomcat never did centrifuge?? how is that? I would think all fighters pull G and do centrifuge/strain training?

@hoghogwild 15 күн бұрын

Can I get a whoop whoop, we got a Tomcast, retread(no not a RIO becometh a Pilot but a rebroadcast of a TomCast). I guess I got an hour to burn. Thanks a lot "JELLO".

@KGSpradleyAuthor 14 күн бұрын

What are your thoughts on the Navy now developing a long range A2A missile after cancelling its long range A2A missile. Apache guy here.

@TyrannoJoris_Rex 10 сағат бұрын

Which cancelled AAM you talking about? The Phoenix?

@mikel1062 15 күн бұрын

Mig 25 must have off set by 3 degrees and notched the aim 54

@dannyd7714 14 күн бұрын

The attacking plane does the offset, not the defending one.

@mikel1062 14 күн бұрын

@@dannyd7714 yes

@RCAvhstape 15 күн бұрын

My takeaway from this story is that the Iraqi air force was terrified of the Tomcat, and that alone was a useful fact. As soon as they detected the F-14's radar they recalled their planes. And always look at the bright side: you scored a "mission kill" without having to actually kill that Iraqi wing commander MiG-25 pilot. Maybe that guy can be tracked down and interviewed someday.

@davidsmith8997 14 күн бұрын

The Iraqi's were trying to bait the Tomcats with the Mig-23s into the Mig-25, so there's no mission kill here. Maybe a maneuver kill if you count the Mig-23 that crashed. Unfortunately, this was purely an own-team error to not have the Phoenix missiles ready to go and take down the -25.