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    HomeMilitaryPilot Peril: Mark Vizcarra's Close Call in the Arkansas Skies

    Pilot Peril: Mark Vizcarra’s Close Call in the Arkansas Skies

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    The F-14s were equipped with variable swept wings that adapted to varying speeds. However, this innovation came with certain risks.

    F-14 Tomcat” by rwillia532 is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0

    In one potentially catastrophic event, F-14 pilot Mark Vizcarra found himself in a dire situation when the wings of his aircraft became stuck in the swept-back position during a training exercise over Arkansas.

    F-14 Tomcat” by hober is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0

    It was a scenario that Vizcarra had pondered during his time in flight school, but one that his instructors had dismissed as unlikely. Vizcarra described the situation.

    Grumman F-14 ‘Tomcat’” by aeroman3 is licensed under CC PDM 1.0

    “The Tomcat had a natural tendency to buffet under high-G with the wings back, but it would always diminish as the wings adjusted to their optimum position. I knew something was wrong when the buffeting never subsided. I quickly took my eyes off the Eagles to check my wings and sure enough, they were still swept back.

    Grumman F-14 A Tomcat” by Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum is licensed under CC BY 2.0

    “I immediately took manual control of the wings and maneuvered the wing lever into the proper position while staying in the fight and pulling the maximum Tomcat G. I knew I was in trouble when I glanced back and noticed the wings hadn’t moved. I hastily called ‘Knock it Off’ to stop the engagement and recovered the Tomcat to level flight.”

    F-14 Tomcat HDR” by smik67 is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

    The predicament forced Vizcarra and his Radar intercept officer, Rick “Rico” Jordan, to devise a rapid plan to land the aircraft safely.

    Grumman F-14 ‘Tomcat’” by aeroman3 is licensed under CC PDM 1.0

    The situation was especially dangerous because the airplane had no flaps and could not use wing spoilers to slow down once it hit the runway.

    Chantilly VA – Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center – Grumman F-14 Tomcat 03” by Daniel Mennerich is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

    Vizcarra calculated he would approach at a much higher speed than usual, and the runway was only 8,000 feet long.

    A-6 ‘Intruder’s’, F-14 ‘Tomcat’s’, A-7 ‘Corsair II’s’,A-6B ‘Prowler’s’ aboard the USS KITTY HAWK SH-3 ‘Sea King’, E-2C ‘Hawkeye’s’ and E CVW-15 (CV-63), 1980.” by aeroman3 is licensed under CC CC0 1.0

    Despite the risks, Vizcarra’s meticulous training and previous simulation exercises paid off.

    Grumman F-14 ‘Tomcat’s’” by aeroman3 is licensed under CC PDM 1.0

    He successfully landed the F-14 on an 8,000-foot runway with the help of arresting gear, a feature similar to that found on carriers.

    Grumman F-14 Tomcat” by aeroman3 is licensed under CC CC0 1.0

    The Tomcat’s engine troubles were also a significant factor throughout its service life.

    F-14 Tomcat” by RussianTrooper is licensed under CC BY 2.0

    The initial Pratt & Whitney TF30 engines, designed for the vastly different F-111B, were a constant source of trouble, leading to as many as 40 aircraft losses over the years.

    F-14 Tomcat escaping from home.” by Gary Danvers is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0

    Secretary of the Navy John F. Lehman Jr. called the engine “probably the worst engine-airplane mismatch we have had in many years,” The TF30 engine is just a terrible engine and has accounted for 28.2 percent of all F14 crashes.”

    F-14 Tomcat” by Michael McDonough is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

    Despite these challenges, the F-14 remained a beloved aircraft, achieving an almost legendary status through films like “Top Gun” and the tales of bravery from its pilots.

    F-14A VF-84” by iMensan is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

    It wasn’t until the introduction of the General Electric F110 engines that the Tomcat’s reliability significantly improved.

    Relevant articles: The F-14 Tomcat from Top Gun Had One Big Problem: Bad Engines, nationalinterest.org- The F-14 Tomcat’s biggest threat was its TF30 engines, sandboxx.us- Pilot Saved: How an F-14 Tomcat Somehow Landed with Stuck Wings, The National Interest, Dec 19, 2023- How an F-14 Tomcat Landed on An Aircraft Carrier After Its ‘Nose’ Fell Off, The National Interest, Jan 2, 2024

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