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Above: Grumman F-14A Tomcat #1, 157980, photographed on the plant floor. It took to the air for the first time on December 21, 1970. During its second flight, December 30, 1970, it suffered a catastrophic hydraulic failure. The crew attempted to crew Mr. Robert "Bob" Smyth and Mr. William "Bill" Miller successfully ejected. It’s place in the test regime was taken by F-14A 157991 which was designated #1X. (Grumman)
Below: NAS Point Mugu, CA, early 1970s with three Full Scale Development (FSD) Tomcats. F-14A 157988, #9 utilized for evaluating the AN/AWG-9 radar and AIM-54 Phoenix missile. F-14A 157985, #6 utilized for the testing of Missile and Weapons Separation. This Tomcat was lost on September 20, 1973 when a AIM-7 pitched up and punctured a fuel cell. The crew, Mr. Samuel “Pete” Purvis and Mr. Bill “Tank” Sherman, ejected successfully. F-14A 157984 #5, which was used as a Systems Compatibility Demonstrator. (Grumman/Craig Kaston)