It's interesting how things changed from that generation to the next.
The introduction of sophisticated computers seems to be part of the issue.
The F14's electronics, BTW, were pretty primitive. This episode of the Fighter Pilot Podcast F14 is amazing. The ways people had to keep the systems going were dramatic. In the 1990s the back seater in the F14 would sometimes carry their own tools to fix things in the plane.
> The introduction of sophisticated computers seems to be part of the issue.
Sophisticated technology was always part of the issue no matter how far back in time you go. What changed is the mentality. 50 years ago you had to deliver because the enemy was at your door. Today companies realized that they can make far more money by just dragging it out for decades through the magic of a cost-plus contract and subcontracting. The kind of arrangement that keeps entire subcontracting companies going forever even if they only tread water and never deliver anything.
If anything, sophisticated computers and software just made it easier to drag your feet because unlike building the actual plane, coding is not that capital intensive. You just need your coders constantly writing code and picking up a paycheck while shipping eternal pre-alpha builds.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grumman_F-14_Tomcat#VFX
It's interesting how things changed from that generation to the next.
The introduction of sophisticated computers seems to be part of the issue.
The F14's electronics, BTW, were pretty primitive. This episode of the Fighter Pilot Podcast F14 is amazing. The ways people had to keep the systems going were dramatic. In the 1990s the back seater in the F14 would sometimes carry their own tools to fix things in the plane.
https://www.fighterpilotpodcast.com/episodes/042-f-14-tomcat...