Heatblur provides DCS: F-14A early update

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We’ve got a new update from Heatblur Simulations one of the planned variants of the F-14 still remaining in the pipeline. This early variant of the F-14A offers a few unique features together with some overall module updates for all F-14s.

Early A update

Heatblur are working away on updates for the DCS: F-14 with the A early variant getting the bulk of today’s attention. The early model will come with a ALR-45 RWR and add some new visual options including the bullet fairing and non-TCS chin pod.

This version has some cockpit differences as a result with the removal of the ALR-67 RWR display that you may be used to seeing on the later variants. The right side of the RIO station is also changed to an earlier configuration.

Other features coming include inert AIM-7s, ALQ-167 visual model, and expanded chaff adapter.

Heatblur also say that some other updates such as new visual effects, ported features from the Phantom and other “fun” Tomcat announcements are coming through 2025. Sounds like a good year to be a Tomcat fan!

Other Heatblur updates

A few other tidbits to cover. In the same update, we’ve learned that 2025 is going to be a year to check off some long standing features and content for Heatblur. The A-6E AI and Draken AI units are reportedly nearing completion together with the F-14A Early. It’ll be interesting to see both.

Keep an eye on the Heatblur Facebook page for more.

19 responses to “Heatblur provides DCS: F-14A early update”

  1. theoligopolist Avatar
    theoligopolist

    I wonder if it has the little leading edge pop-out thingies on the wing shoulders or not. Maybe those were disabled before any variant saw service.

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    1. ShamrockOneFive Avatar
      ShamrockOneFive

      It’s been a while since I knew the details of that factoid but I seem to remember them being eliminated or welded shut almost immediately.

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      1. Jer Stryker Avatar
        Jer Stryker

        The glove vanes! There was very recent footage of an Iranian F-14 doing a fly-by, and they were sticking out in all their superfluous glory. I would love it for HB to put them in. But yeah, they didn’t last long over here.

        Liked by 1 person

      2. ShamrockOneFive Avatar
        ShamrockOneFive

        Oh I will have to check that out. I’ve only ever seen a photo or two of them.

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      3. oesau Avatar
        oesau

        There’s a couple of threads over at ED forums about the glove vanes (back in 2020 there’s one that’s a few pages long and has one of the SME’s [Victory] saying how sick he is about talking about them but they worked on a lot of aircraft into the 90’s)

        HB’s view at that point was that they weren’t going to do them as there are other things to focus on but let’s see what happens.

        Liked by 1 person

  2. Canada One Avatar
    Canada One

    I really like the F-14, but I’ve never flown the A model even once. I haven’t bound a single key to it. Always the B model.

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    1. ShamrockOneFive Avatar
      ShamrockOneFive

      It’s good fun. The sound of the engines as they move through several afterburner stages over several seconds is both awesome and slightly disconcerting.

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      1. Jer Stryker Avatar
        Jer Stryker

        The TF-30s just sound so much more “Top Gun” in general.

        Liked by 1 person

      2. ShamrockOneFive Avatar
        ShamrockOneFive

        You’ve got that right. Heatblur really captured the sound in the right way there. I love the audio mix.

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    2. boxcarleader Avatar
      boxcarleader

      I don’t know what it is but i find the A model F-14 to be more snappy in a fight though the engine lag and compressor stalls are something to watch out for .

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      1. Blue 5 Avatar
        Blue 5

        OK, we get it! 😛

        Liked by 1 person

    3. Dimitri Avatar
      Dimitri

      Is there any point to these early, borderline prototype models? Didn’t the A barely see any service and have weaker engines?

      Don’t get me wrong, more aircraft is always good. I just don’t see any reason for one to choose the A when there is a B.

      It’s like when people ask for the F16A. Why? Worse avionics, worse everything in the same airframe.

      The D, however, would have made a phenomenal addition.

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      1. ShamrockOneFive Avatar
        ShamrockOneFive

        It was certainly in US Navy service but the other aspect to this is that the IRIAF order is made up by these early models. So there’s quite a bit of interest in the community it seems to use this in that capacity.

        The F-16A has some interest because its a lighter weight aircraft and the hottest of the F-16s from a flying perspective. I think people are interested to experience that, as impressive as the Block 50 is!

        The F-14D is apparently still much more difficult to do (and Heatblur don’t tend to want to make a lot of guesses) but we know that they are doing the F-14B improved with the Sparrowhawk HUD and some other enhancements. We saw it during 2025 and Beyond. Next best thing to the D model in my mind.

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      2. oesau Avatar
        oesau

        The A model was around for a long time before the B came along but the early A model variations had a shorter timeframe (until modified with the TCS which I believe really hit the fleet in the mid 80s – remember the tomcat was on its first cruise in 1975 and supported the evac from Saigon).

        Like a lot of the community – people just like to have the option to play scenarios and this will help the earlier Iran or “made up” cold war stuff before the mid 80s.

        It’ll be interesting to see the sparrowhawk (a modern HUD fitted to the F-14B) as a lot of people have asked for it. I’m personally not so fussed with it – in fact I turn down the F-14’s symbiology for landings and use the gauges.

        Who knows if we’ll ever see a D, I doubt it to be honest

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      3. Merlin Avatar
        Merlin

        Plenty of reason to fly the A rather than the B, the main one being that it’s significantly faster at all altitudes, but it’s also more challenging to fly at the edge of the envelope (carrier recovery, dogfighting, etc.) which makes it much more interesting to fly IMO. It’s also the version that was in service the longest, from introduction right through to retirement, the A fits any Tomcat scenario.

        You’re mistaken about it being basically a prototype by the way; although the TF30 was always a stopgap engine, the A variant makes up the vast majority of the Tomcat fleet, with 558 of the 712 produced being As, with the reminder being Bs and Ds. This means that the A variant is THE definitive Tomcat, and that makes it cool.

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  3. boxcarleader Avatar
    boxcarleader

    lol sorry about the double post 🙂

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  4. boxcarleader Avatar
    boxcarleader

    ok wow triple haha was posting through my phone

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    1. ShamrockOneFive Avatar
      ShamrockOneFive

      No worries!

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  5. Blue 5 Avatar
    Blue 5

    Not sure it is vital, but if it is low work level then why not. Mind you, would rather have a USN Phantom C model

    Just a point of information for Mr. Shamrock: the ‘hottest’ F-16 was the N version used by the USN for DACT. Apparently it was SH, but not worth modelling for DCS except maybe the could give the current F-16 an option to remove the gun and other small tweaks.

    https://www.f-16.net/f-16_users_article24.html

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