U.S. Navy F-14D Tomcat Might Return to the Skies

ETA (since there appears to be some confusion): Three F14 airframes are being demilitarized and released from the government to the U.S. Space and Rocket Center Commission in Huntsville, Alabama. This will be at no cost to the taxpayer. Once Tomcat MAY be made airworthy. None of the Tomcats will be used by the military.

Original Post:

Thanks to Congress’ “Maverick Act”

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Three U.S. Navy F-14D Tomcats would be transferred to the U.S. Space and Rocket Center Commission in Huntsville, Alabama, and one might be made flyable again, following the approval of the “Maverick Act.”

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The bill passed Senate by Unanimous Consent on Apr. 28, 2026, and is now in line for voting at the House, with the latest update on May 4. Should the bill also pass the House, it would authorize the transfer by the Secretary of the Navy to the U.S. Space and Rocket Center Commission in Huntsville, Alabama, of three F-14D Tomcats.

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The U.S. has been historically extremely restrictive regarding the access to the retired F-14 airframes. In fact, access to spare parts was tightly controlled to avoid any possibility of smuggling toward Iran, which was the type’s only operator after the U.S. Navy retired its Tomcats in 2006.

Many parts were also destroyed, which would make difficult the procurement of the required components to make the aircraft flyable again. It should be noted that, upon retirement, many components were removed from the aircraft, before they were parked in the desert.

Before returning to flight, the F-14D would need deep inspections, both for the airframe’s structure and the systems. After that, work would be done in order to make the aircraft compliant with the requirements for the certification by the Federal Aviation Administration.

This process is expected to be highly expensive, mainly due to among of work after the aircraft sat in the desert for 20 years and the lack of supply chain. The Tomcat was also known for its high operating costs, which would make sustained airshow operations unlikely.

However, limited flight demonstrations and heritage events might be more likely. The timeline is another unknown aspect, and the possible return to flight might take years before materializing.

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theaviationist.com