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.

Air & Space Museum Air & Space Museum

Lowry - Denver

Air & Space Museum

Upcoming Events

Saturday Mar 30
9:30AM TO 5:15PM
Exploration of Flight (Centennial Airport)

Navy Showcase + “Top Gun: Maverick” Movie & Speaker

Navy Showcase + “Top Gun: Maverick” Movie & Speaker
Saturday, Mar 30, 2024 | 9:30AM to 5:15PM

This event is sold out. 

Join Wings Over the Rockies Exploration of Flight at Centennial Airport for a full day showcase of Navy aircraft, along with an afternoon showing of “Top Gun: Maverick”!

Scott Kartvedt, a combat-decorated Blue Angel and stunt pilot for “Maverick” will be giving a special talk prior to the movie along with a Q&A session after the movie concludes. Aircraft on display will include an F-18, SNJ, T-34, SGS2-32 Navy Glider and more!

Food Truck*: 2 Salty Sarges
*Food is not included with admission.

Limited seating available, pre-purchase tickets are required.

Ticket Pricing:
Adult: $20
Military/1st Responder/Senior: $15
Child: $10
Wings’ Member Adult: $15*
Wings’ Member Military/1st Responder/Senior: $10*
Wings’ Member Child: $5*
*Wings’ Members: Sign in to receive your discount. 

Photo above courtesy of Barbara Hoversten.

Saturday Mar 30
10:00AM TO 1:30PM
Exploration of Flight (Centennial Airport)

Private Pilot Ground School Begins

Saturday, Mar 30, 2024 | 10:00AM to 1:30PM

Saturdays 3/30/24 – 5/18/24
10:00 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.

This 8-week Ground School will cover the subject areas of the FAA Private Pilot Aeronautical Knowledge Exam. 

This course is taught by Certified Instructors, and materials are included! Classroom ground instruction offers a great way to start training as efficiently and economically as possible, providing a significant cost savings versus one-on-one lessons.

This session is full with a waitlist. To join the waitlist, please click here.

Topics include:

  • Aircraft Systems
  • Aerodynamics
  • Airports and Airspace
  • Flight Physiology
  • Performance Calculations
  • Navigation
  • And More!

Pricing:

Non-Member | $350.00 per registrant

Member | $300.00 per registrant

 

Please Note:

Students should bring a notebook and/or a personal device for notetaking.

Participants must be 14 years or older.

Monday Apr 1
2:00PM TO 5:00PM
Air & Space Museum

Sensory Friendly Hours

Sensory Friendly Hours
Monday, Apr 1, 2024 | 2:00PM to 5:00PM

Join us to experience the museum turned down and participate in sensory friendly activities including a scavenger hunt, discovery carts, STEAM and sensory activities and more!

We are pleased to offer a more comfortable museum experience for our friends who have sensory processing sensitivities and their families. We welcome families with children, teenagers and adults on the autism spectrum, with sensory processing disorders and other cognitive disabilities to experience our museum in a lower sensory environment.

Admission is FREE for children or adults with sensory processing sensitivities and their families. Please pre-register at the link below.

Register Here

Click here to learn more about accessibility, amenities and view a social narrative and map for your visit to the Air & Space Museum.

Get updates and special offers

Sign up for our newsletter, and stay up to date with all of the latest exhibits and events at Wings Over the Rockies.

Warbird Jet - Wings Museum