5236 1/72 Grumman F-14A Tomcat 3-6020 82nd TFS IRIAF Khatami AB Iran 1987

The Grumman F-14 Tomcat is a twin-engine, variable sweep wings capable of supersonic flight. The aircraft is crewed by a Pilot and a Radar Intercept Officer who share the tasks of navigation, Navy and the Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force only. The name “Tomcat” is said to come from the call-sign used by Vice Admiral Thomas Connolly which conformed to the USN tradition of giving Grumman aircraft feline names.

On May 15, 1981 F-14 3-6020 was the first F-14 to fire at a MiG-25. The Iranian F-14 fired an AIM-54 at a MiG-25RB making the pilot turn around and accelerate to 1,750 mph to evade the missile. This F-14 was one of the most successful during the war with Iraq by scoring approximately a dozen victories. In 1986 this F-14 was used in Iranian Bombcat trials with Mk-83 bombs in place of the AIM-54. After this war 3-6020 was the first F-14A to receive the new IRIAF camouflage colors and a major overhaul.