US Navy Fighter Squadron 84 (VF-84) was established on July 1st, 1955. Three US Navy squadrons have used the name and insignia of the Jolly Roger: VF-61 (originally VF-17), VF-84, and VFA-103. While these are distinctly different squadrons that have no lineal linkage, they all share the same Jolly Rogers name, the skull and crossbones insignia and traditions. VF-84 adopted the name in 1960 while operating the FJ-3 Fury. The squadron transitioned through the F-8 Crusader and F-4 Phantom II before upgrading to the F-14A Tomcat in 1976. VF-84 deployed several times aboard the USS Nimitz and USS Theodore Roosevelt before being disestablished on October 1st, 1995, and handing over the Jolly Rogers title to VF-103.
This model has a "clean" paint finish without panel line shading. To learn more, visit the Calibre Wings Youtube Channel.
Please note: An optional display stand is available separately if you wish to display this model "in-flight".
Designed to carry the formidable long range AIM-54 Phoenix missile, the Grumman F-14 Tomcat was first flown on December 21st, 1970. Made famous by the Hollywood film Top Gun, the F-14 replaced the F-4 Phantom II as the US Navy's primary maritime air superiority fighter. Its design includes a variable geometry wing that can sweep back for high speed supersonic intercepts and forward for improved positioning in air to air dogfights. Nicknamed "Bombcat," the F-14 spent much of its late career in an air-to-ground role, carrying the Low Altitude Navigation and Targeting Infrared for Night (LANTIRN) system.
Calibre Wings have designed their tooling to include many features that are important to F-14 fans, including a couple that aren't currently offered by the competition:
Martin Baker GRU-7 ejection seats (for A/B version)
Realistic pilot & RIO figures
Canopy in open or closed position
Working glove vanes
Positional airbrakes
Movable sweep wings & horizontal stablizers
Interchangeable engine nozzles in open or closed positions
Landing gears extended or stored
Jet intake covers
Wheel chocks
Rubber tires
Pay load ordnance (based on operational readiness)
