The maverick act, one F14 in the US to fly again?

[markis10]

‘Maverick Act’ saves last 3 F-14 Tomcats from destruction

New legislation is keeping hope alive that the iconic swept-wing fighter could someday fly again.

www.navytimes.com

In late April, the U.S. Senate, led by sponsor Sen. Tim Sheehy, R-Mont., unanimously approved the “Maverick Act,” introduced by freshman U.S. Rep. Abraham Hamadeh, an Illinois Republican and Army Reserve officer. The bill, which has yet to become law, authorizes the secretary of the Navy to hand over the service’s three remaining F-14D Tomcats to the U.S. Space and Rocket Center Commission in Huntsville, Alabama.

It allows the commission to put the aircraft on display, but also permits them to be operated in “an airshow … or a commemorative event to preserve United States naval aviation heritage.”

 

[clifford]

I didn't know that Iran had F-14A's. Maybe now they don't....

 

[jastel]

Yes - they were mates back then....

The USA does generally keep aircraft flying via museums and private ownership....but since the 1980's nobody private can really afford to run combat jets, and really the government doesn't want them to either due to security concerns

It would be good to keep a couple flying..

 

[markis10]

but since the 1980's nobody private can really afford to run combat jets,

That’s definitely not the case. It’s not an issue with affordability, you can easily get a Mig 21 or a Mig 29 Fulcrum as seen at Oshkosh, and there are private Harriers and Mirages around. Private companies also operate old jets on government contracts like the Seahawks. Locally there are a few, noteably the CAAC Sabre rebuilt by Jeff Trappett at LTV, Jeff being a former QF/RAAF pilot. There is a couple of other Sabres being restored in Mildura and WA.

 

[jastel]

OK US Combat jets then.