An F-14D may be restored to flying status as part of a deal with a Huntsville museum if Congress goes along with the plan. The Senate has already passed The Maverick Act by unanimous consent and it’s now in front of the House. Under the bill, the Navy would transfer three of the aircraft, once the frontline Navy fighter, to the U.S. Space and Rocket Center Commission and, if it has the necessary parts already in stock, supply what’s necessary to light those photogenic afterburners again. If flying status is too ambitious then it would be shined up for static display.
The big swing wing fighter was made popular in the original Top Gun movie in the 1980s and helped save the day in the sequel a couple of years ago (thanks to CGI enhancement) but the Navy hasn’t flown one since 2006. Most of the retired airframes have been sitting in storage at Davis Monthan Air Force Base in Arizona for the 20 years. The transfer will be made at no cost to the Navy and any parts supplied for the restoration have to come from existing inventory.
*Top Gun movie.
Hopefully Jared Isaacman has a hand in this and a pair can join the airshow circuit!
The Space + Rocket Center already has a static display F-14 at their “Aviation Challenge” facility. They’ve got lots of space for more aircraft, though.
Jared Isaacman’s posts on X seem to indicate that he has had a hand in this (which I believe, given his existing close connection to the museum). He’s also having a Tornado restored to flyable condition for his personal fleet, so he definitely knows some things about restoring vintage warbirds like this. I hope this is a success, but even if the Tomcats don’t get to flying status, as a Huntsville resident I’ll be glad to see them on display.
Kind of Ironic there are most likely more WWII fighter planes flying then any retired modern fighter like the F14. Is it a factor of capability to fly?
Remove cost for a moment, it is just that more intrinsically hard to fly say a F4, F14, F104, et al or are the costs just that more enormous.