I read that article this morning… first they will have to get an airframe into flyable condition… 
That’s gonna be a tall order since most of the surviving airframes were ordered destroyed to ensure none of the parts would end up in the black market and bought by Iran to keep their Cats flying.
There are a few dozen in museums all over the country, but I don’t know of any of them are still airworthy.
Pima Air & Space, the Intrepid, Ronald Reagan Library, Udvar-Hazy, National Museum of Naval Aviation; just to name a few.
Maybe Iran will sell us some parts 
Fort Worth Aviatkion Museum has one, but it suffered a major structural failure and was stricken. Could it be repaired? Maybe. But it’s better off where it is, with no engines, and plenty of people posing next to the “Top Gun” plane. By the way, the museum has the actual F-5 “Mig” used in the opening scene.
I believe they are referring to the donation of the last 3 remaining F14Ds still at AMRC with manuals and spares. I would assume rightly or wrongly that at least one of those airframes is in a state good enough to be returned to the air?
If you read the article, there are 3 D models (and five A/B models) in storage at Davis-Monthan AFB (aka The Bone Yard). One of them would be the one restored to flying condition. The USN is supposed to give them any and all existing parts and spares as well as part of the deal.
EDIT: Yeah, like he said ^^
Load bombs onto the $400 Million jet that dude got from Qatar.
The bill tells NAVAIR to move those three tail numbers to to the Space & Rocket Commission in Alabama. It also tells them to give the commission all the manuals and any spare parts left at AMARG - not necessarily the parts needed.
More importantly, it does not provide any funding to do anything with the birds.
I believe a load of parts were stripped off F14s in storage to stop them being stolen before the majority of F14s could be scrapped., so hopefully there maybe enough to get one airframe flying?
I know there a few unofficial channels for parts. I don’t what they are, but importantly, those who need to know do.
Natuarally I"m not alluding to the black market. NHowever, regarding that statment - Iran’s F-14 fleet is significantly reduced as far as how many are. However, they are able to produc etheir own replacement parts, and do so - about 300 different components. Avionics is where they’re not so lucky, but nothing says you have to copy the aging system. Avionics get upgraded all the time in existing airframes.
Avionics is where they’re not so lucky, but nothing says you have to copy the aging system. Avionics get upgraded all the time in existing airframes.
Yes, I wonder if Hollywood is going to “digitize” the electronics.
The F-14D instrument panels aren’t bad…there are multifunction displays, but that is if Hollywood wants to show a clip of the actual F-14D instrument panels. Nonetheless, the actual F-14D front pilot instrument panel has to give out accurate flight data to keep the crew safe because I sure bet Tom Cruise actually wants to fly the F-14D in the upcoming “Top Gun” movie…and the ejection seats better work.
The F-14D can also drop bombs, hence “The Bobcat,” and it’s top speed is Mach 2.34 with armament, or even Mach 2.5 “clean” with no ordnance. The U.S. Navy’s F-18F and F-35C can reach top speeds of Mach 1.6-1.8 (F-18F) and Mach 1.6 (F-35C), respectively. So I think Hollywood might really play into the F-14D’s Mach 2+ feature in the script and less so on the AIM-54 Phoenix missile.
It’s a Navy publicity stunt, basically, and by doing so, the hope is that recruitment rises, which in 2025 the U.S. Navy exceeded their recruitment goal. Considering that a Navy DDG-51 destroyer has 300-325 sailors in it, that roughly 4,000 extra 2025 recruited sailors is enough the man 12 extra Navy destroyers.
Yes, the U.S. Navy surpassed its 2025 recruiting goal for the second consecutive year
, hitting its target for enlisted personnel by June 18, 2025, three months ahead of schedule. By the end of the fiscal year, the Navy brought in 44,096 enlisted sailors, exceeding its initial goal of 40,600 by roughly 4,000. –Google AI
Yes, it’s an eBay decal, but I assume that it’s pretty accurate…and the screens appear in color too.
Here are photos of the actual F-14D instrument panels…
By the way, I’m still looking for a trashed F-14. If yours took a header, and will “never fly” again. I’d like to buy just the cockpit area from you.
