At what speed did the F-14's wing sweep change?

Short answer

It did not change at a single fixed speed: the Central Air Data Computer moved the sweep continuously between 20° and 68°, keeping it at the optimal lift-to-drag ratio as Mach number varied. What did have a fixed threshold were the glove vanes, which deployed above Mach 1.4.

Published: November 1, 2026 · Updated: November 1, 2026 · Edited by Above Ten Thousand · Editorial policy

At what speed did the F-14's wing sweep change?

F-14A Tomcat over Iraq during Southern Watch

Sweep was governed by Mach number

The sweep range the F-14 used in flight went from 20° to 68°. That sweep could be governed automatically by the Central Air Data Computer, which kept it at the optimal lift-to-drag ratio as Mach number varied. The aircraft could reach a top speed of Mach 2.34.

The glove vanes and Mach 1.4

Two retractable triangular surfaces, called glove vanes, were originally fitted to the front of the wing glove and could be extended automatically by the flight control system at high Mach numbers. They generated additional lift ahead of the aircraft's center of gravity, offsetting mach tuck at supersonic speeds. They deployed automatically above Mach 1.4, allowed the F-14 to pull 7.5 g at Mach 2, and could be extended manually with the wings fully swept back. They were later deactivated because of the weight and complexity they added.

On deck and in an emergency

When parked, the wing could be "overswept" to 75° to overlap with the horizontal stabilizers and save space on the carrier deck. In an emergency, the F-14 could land with its wings fully swept, at 68°.