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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Lowry - Denver

Air & Space Museum

Upcoming Events

Saturday Dec 2
9:30AM TO 12:30PM
Exploration of Flight

Breakfast Fly-In

Breakfast Fly-In
Saturday, Dec 2 | 9:30AM to 12:30PM

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

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

Purchase Tickets

Food Truck: Cruz In & Eat
Please note: Food purchases are not included in admission.

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

Tuesday Dec 5

Colorado Gives Day

Colorado Gives Day
Tuesday, Dec 5

Help Wings reach new heights this Colorado Gives Day!

Your gift will support our educational programming and student learners, engaging exhibits, aircraft restoration and more!

Donate now! All gifts received between November 1st – December 5th count toward our Colorado Gives Day campaign. Not only will your donation supply Wings with critical funds, but your support could also qualify us for additional funding. Make your donation fly further! Visit our Colorado Gives Day page or donate below.

Saturday Dec 9
10:00AM TO 2:00PM
Air & Space Museum

Santa in the Hangar at the Museum

Santa in the Hangar at the Museum
Saturday, Dec 9 | 10:00AM to 2:00PM

Join us for a day of family fun and celebrate the holiday season at Wings Over the Rockies™ Air & Space Museum. Arrive early to see Santa arrive in a helicopter at 10:00 a.m.!

Join us for various holiday-themed activities including:

  • Meet Santa & Mrs. Claus
  • Games and holiday crafts
  • Candy cane scavenger hunt
  • Select Open Cockpits
    • Paser-Bushby Mustang II
    • Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-23
    • Flight for Life AS316/318 Alouette III (Wheelchair accessible)
    • Convair F-102 Delta Dagger
    • LTV A-7D Corsair II
  • Pedal Planes
  • Discovery Carts
  • Magic show from Chad Wonder Magic
  • Photo Booth from Mihi Entertainment
  • Balloon Twisting from Clownin’ Around For Fun
  • And much more!

Pre-Purchase Tickets

You can also celebrate with us on December 10th at our second location, Exploration of Flight at Centennial Airport. Click here to learn more!

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