Air & Space Museum

Grumman F-14A Tomcat

Grumman F-14A Tomcat

The F-14 Tomcat played a leading role in the 1986 movie “Top Gun.” The Navy needed an airplane to protect its surface fleets from hostile aircraft and anti-ship missiles at long range. After a naval version of the Air Force’s F-111 fighter bomber proved was unsuitable for aircraft carrier operations, its radar and long-range AIM-54 Phoenix air intercept missile systems were transferred to an entirely new design, the F-14.

Grumman designed a twin-engine fighter with variable-sweep wings to enable it to fly at high speeds for interceptions, yet slow enough for carrier landings. The F-14’s advanced radar system could track 24 targets at once, and launch missiles at six of them. The Phoenix missile allowed the Tomcat to hit targets well over 100 miles away. The F-14 also carried short-range Sparrow and Sidewinder missiles, as well as a 20mm rotary cannon for close-in dogfights.

The US Navy retired the Tomcats from service in 2006 after they served in the first Gulf War and Operation Iraqi Freedom, where they served as bombers and reconnaissance aircraft. A handful of F-14s still fly with the Iranian Islamic Republic Air Force, which obtained them during the reign of Shah Mohammed Raza Pahlavi. Iranian F-14s shot down more than 55 Iraqi aircraft during the Iran-Iraq War.

This F-14A served most of its career with Navy test and evaluation squadrons before becoming a maintenance trainer with VF-211. It is on loan from the National Naval Aviation Museum.

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Air & Space Museum

Upcoming Events

Saturday Feb 8
9:30AM TO 12:30PM
Exploration of Flight (Centennial Airport)

Breakfast Fly-In

Breakfast Fly-In
Saturday, Feb 8, 2025 | 9:30AM to 12:30PM

Join Wings Over the Rockies Exploration of Flight for monthly fly-ins featuring planes, pilots, speakers and breakfast*!

On the second Saturday of every month, enjoy breakfast from a local food truck, watch aircraft fly in and explore interactive exhibits and simulators.

Get Tickets

Pilots – Fly in for free breakfast! For tie-down space, contact Flight@WingsMuseum.org or 303.360.5360 ext 160.

Food Truck: Cruz In & Eat

*Weather permitting. Aircraft on display are subject to change. 

Saturday Feb 8
10:00AM TO 2:00PM
Air & Space Museum

Cockpit Demo Day

Cockpit Demo Day
Saturday, Feb 8, 2025 | 10:00AM to 2:00PM

Get an up close look inside select aircraft at the museum and learn all about the history of the aircraft, instruments and controls!

Featured Aircraft in February*:

  • Steen Skybolt
  • Bell UH-1M Iroquois “Huey” (Wheelchair accessible)
  • Grumman EA-6B Prowler
  • Aeromarine Skyote
  • Vought A-7D Corsair II

Pre-Purchase Tickets

*Featured aircraft are subject to change. 

Saturday Feb 22
9:00AM TO 10:00AM
Air & Space Museum

Veterans Coffee Hour

Veterans Coffee Hour
Saturday, Feb 22, 2025 | 9:00AM to 10:00AM

Veterans and their support networks are invited to join us for a free coffee hour on Saturday, February 22 at 9:00 a.m. at the Air & Space Museum. Enjoy coffee, camaraderie and exclusive access to the museum before it opens to the public. Connect with other veterans and their families and learn about our iconic aircraft collection from our expert volunteers. Please pre-register at the link below – we can’t wait to see you!

Register Here

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