In a close air-to-air combat scenario, who will win? The F-14 Tomcat or the F-16N Viper? The answer is not as straightforward as you might think.
Created by aviation artist Mads Bangsø in partnership with former F-14 Tomcat Radar Intercept Officer (RIO) David Parsons, the artwork featured in this post celebrates the 50th anniversary of the powerful Tomcat.
The artwork titled “Fight’s On” depicts a dogfight, focusing on a close-range air-to-air combat scenario between the F-14 Tomcat and the F-16N Viper, which is arguably one of the best adversary fighters ever operated by the US Navy. The outcome is not as simple as it may seem. The story behind the artwork revolves around CDR Keith “Okie” Nance, who developed a Dissimilar Air Combat Training (DACT) method that enabled gun victories on F-16Ns from the significantly larger F-14.
‘The beautiful weather and pristine sea surrounding Naval Air Station Key West have been ideal for those seeking the sun and for DACT. By 1989, the penultimate Adversary Aircraft was the F-16N “Viper,” which had an amazing thrust-to-weight ratio and the ability to execute 9G turns. That made for a formidable adversary for Tomcat Aircrews as they learned out to fight their aircraft during the Fleet Readiness Squadron (FRS) Tactics Phase, typically conducted out of Key West to take advantage of the weather.
‘Experienced Tomcat pilots found that even the F-16N was not that invincible if the Tomcat was flown to its advantage and stayed out of the situations in which the F-16N could prevail. One of the masters of this type of encounter was CDR Keith “Okie” Nance who was not intimidated by the F-16N and routinely took it on in the so-called knife fight in a phone booth and prevailed.
‘In this depicted encounter, “Okie” has merged in a VF-101 F-14A+ with a VF-43 F-16N and entered a one-circle fight in which there can only be one victor. “Okie” has used the Tomcat’s ability to pitch and maintain energy as the F-16N is bleeding energy and will soon be at a disadvantage, as the Tomcat uses the altitude advantage to pull down in behind the F-16N for a guns solution with its M61 Vulcan Cannon.
‘Although experienced Tomcat pilots like “Okie” were able to take on nimble adversaries like an F-16N or A-4F Skyhawk known as the “Super Fox”, the tactics they used were imparted to the Replacement Aircrews under instruction at VF-101 so they could also perform similar feats.
‘LTGEN Adolf Galland, the famed WWII German Ace, once said, “Only in the spirit of attack, born in a brave heart, will bring success to any fighter aircraft, no matter how highly developed it may be.” This was certainly true over the skies of Key West.’
