Grumman F-14 Tomcat

High school (ages 12+)
Transportation

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/grumman-f-14-tomcat

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the aircraft designation?Grumman F-14 Tomcat
2. What is the manufacturer?Grumman Aerospace Corporation
3. Why can the F-14's wings change shape?The wings can sweep back for high‑speed flight and extend forward for better lift and turning when flying slower or landing on a carrier.
4. How fast can the F-14 fly?When its wings are swept back, the F‑14 can reach speeds of up to Mach 2.3, which is more than twice the speed of sound.

Supersonic: Exceeding the speed of sound, characterized by a Mach number greater than 1.
Variable-Sweep Wing: An aircraft wing design that can alter its sweep angle in flight to optimize aerodynamic performance.
Air Superiority: The degree of dominance in an air battle by one side over the other.
Fleet Defense Interceptor: An aircraft specifically designed to protect naval fleets from aerial attack.