The F-14 has demonstrated that fighter aircraft can be designed to have no lift curve break or angle-of-attack limitation. The maneuver flight envelope, therefore, has been expanded beyond what had traditionally been considered possible. The value of this high alpha capability in the dogfight arena has been convincingly demonstrated in flight. The importance of slats and an ARI system for enhancing this capability has also been demonstrated. The development from concept through flight test of this high alpha capability is presented by candidly reviewing the design philosophy, the background that dictated it, and the results of experimental and analytical studies.