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10h ago

Senate-Passed Maverick Act Would Transfer Three F-14s to Alabama Museum

The House now weighs a no-cost transfer that could let one Tomcat fly using only existing Navy spare parts.

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An F-14 Tomcat in storage
An F-14D Tomcat of VF-31 flies by the USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72) in 2002. (Image credit: U.S. Navy Photo by Photographer's Mate First Class (AW) Willie Davis)

Overview

  • The Senate passed the bipartisan bill by unanimous consent and the measure now awaits action in the House and the President's signature.
  • The legislation would authorize the Navy to convey three retired F-14s to the U.S. Space & Rocket Center Commission in Huntsville, Alabama.
  • The bill names the aircraft by Bureau Number—164341, 164602, and 159437—which reporting lists in long-term storage at the AMARG “boneyard” in Arizona.
  • The Navy may supply existing spare parts to make one F-14D flyable or ready for static display, with no new parts procured for the museum.
  • The Commission must cover transport, restoration, and operations and may partner with qualified nonprofits, yet parts scarcity, deep inspections, and FAA certification mean any flight return would likely be slow and costly.