How the F 14 Tomcat Became an Icon of Air Combat

Added: 2026-05-16

[00:00:00]Here is why it matters. A straight wing maximizes lift at low speeds because nearly all air flow over the wing is cordwise flow air traveling from leading edge to trailing edge generating lift.

[00:00:14]But as speed increases, this air flow accelerates over the wing. At the critical Mach number, the air over the wing goes supersonic before the aircraft does. Shock waves form.

[00:00:25]The lift-to-drag ratio collapses.

[00:00:28]The aircraft becomes dangerous.

[00:00:30]Sweeping the wing back converts dangerous cordwise flow into harmless spanwise flow air running along the length of the wing that doesn't accelerate and doesn't threaten to go super.