A bill passed by the U.S. Senate would transfer three retired F-14 fighter jets to the U.S. Space & Rocket Center for potential flying or public display.
The legislation, officially nicknamed the “Maverick Act,” would move the “surplus” aircraft from a U.S. Navy facility to the Huntsville, Alabama, museum, which showcases rockets, space vehicles, and other technology connected to the nation’s space program.
While the bill does not require the F-14s be returned to flying condition or put on display, it would allow the museum to enter into third-party agreements to have the jets restored. The Navy would also be asked to supply spare parts to make one of the aircraft flyable or ready for a static display, provided it has those parts on hand.
The three Tomcats are identified by their bureau numbers—164341, 164602, and 159437. If some or all of them are restored to flying condition, they could be flown at airshows or commemorative events.
The U.S. military officially retired the F-14 in 2006. The only other country to fly the aircraft is Iran, which received its F-14s before the 1979 Islamic Revolution badly damaged relations with Washington.
Numerous decommissioned F-14s are on display throughout the U.S., including at the Cradle of Aviation Museum in New York and the National Naval Aviation Museum in Florida.
The Maverick Act still faces a vote in the U.S. House of Representatives. It would also need the signature of President Donald Trump to become law.
