1.2M views · 6.9K reactions | #OTD in 1970, the F-14 flew for the first time. The plane crashed on its second test flight on December 30 when it suffered a hydraulic failure. The crew ejected safely less than 100 feet above the ground. The Tomcat would go on to operate aboard U.S. carriers from 1974 to 2006. | U.S. Naval Institute | Facebook

225K views · 4.9K reactions | 51 years ago today, the Grumman F-14 Tomcat (Prototype #1 | BuNo. 157980) took its maiden flight for the first time in Calverton, NY on December 21, 1970. Test Pilot: Bob Smythe Test RIO: Bill Miller Follow us on other platforms: Instagram https://www.instagram.com/grumman.f14.tomcat Patreon https://www.patreon.com/F14Tomcat Twitter https://twitter.com/_F14Tomcat YouTube https://www.youtube.com/c/GrummanF14Tomcat | Grumman F-14 Tomcat | Facebook