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Tomcat engine nozzles - A daft question


Harry_the_Spider

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On the F-14A the two nozzles were one open and one closed any time the aircraft was parked. This was due to the engine shut-down procedure and generally resulted in the left nozzle closed while the right remained open. This was the most common but there are pictures showing the opposite.

In the B and D variant generally the aircraft are parked with both nozzles open but it's possibile to see pictures showing one nozzle open and the other closed

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11 hours ago, Giorgio N said:

On the F-14A the two nozzles were one open and one closed any time the aircraft was parked. This was due to the engine shut-down procedure and generally resulted in the left nozzle closed while the right remained open. This was the most common but there are pictures showing the opposite.

In the B and D variant generally the aircraft are parked with both nozzles open but it's possibile to see pictures showing one nozzle open and the other closed

 

Not in every instance.  It seems that in early F-14A operations in the 1970s, both nozzles could frequently be seen equally ‘open’.

 

XdoLYh.jpg

Edited by Lusitanian
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G'day Harry,

 

The explanation in the linked MATS article provided by Hook is an excellent explanation as to why the common situation for TF-30 engined (F-14A) jets have the open closed config on shut-down, it is a big explanation but very worthwhile reading.

 

Later engined F-14s still had the same shut down process but when shut down and hyd pressure was removed, these defaulted to both VENs open.

As with most things there were exceptions and you can go and try to find evidence to the contrary but this was the typical practice. 

 

cheers,

 

Pappy

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On 9/23/2022 at 12:01 AM, scotthldr said:

It might be my eye sight but in the above photo the left hand exhaust petals appear to be at a different angle than the right exhaust.

 

Very slightly, yes.  But models tend to be supplied with either fully ‘open’ or fully ‘close’ nozzles.  


Best wishes!

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