QF-4N taxis back to the ramp after a morning flight.

QF-4N making a nice morning departure off runway 21

A permanent test Tomcat for the Naval Air Warfare Center-Weapons Division at its homebase Point Mugu. This F-14B (Block 150, FY 1987) was delivered to the US Navy in 1989 and served from the early 90s within the Test and Evaluation community. Since the mid 90s, BuNo 163223 was used as the F-14B Avionics Upgrade Prototype and was therefore specially wired and configured. It received an N in its type designation to make it clear that this aircraft was not suitable for regular carrier deployments as it deviates from normal standard F-14s. The NF-14B was scrapped at AMARG in July 2007.

Some Tomcats were specially configured as a test airframe for new avionics, weapons, wiring and so on. In the Naval designation system, test airframes receive the letter N in front of the basic type. The NF-14Ds were based at NAS point Mugu (CA) and assigned to the Naval Weapons Test Squadron Point Mugu (NWTSPM). This unit was redesignated to Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division (NAWCWD). This Tomcat shows the NAWCWD title on the leading edge, as well as the old Weapons Test Squadron on the tail.