09/22/2026
History Takes Flight✈️📜
✈️ On This Day: September 22, 2006
On this day 20 years ago, the U.S. Navy officially retired the legendary F-14 Tomcat after 36 years of service.
Designed by Grumman during the Cold War, the Tomcat was built to defend aircraft carriers from long-range Soviet bombers. Its iconic variable-sweep wings, twin engines, two-person crew, powerful radar, and AIM-54 Phoenix missiles made it one of the most capable carrier-based fighters of its time.
The F-14 entered service in the 1970s and went on to see combat over the Gulf of Sidra, during the Gulf War, and in operations over Iraq and Afghanistan.
The Tomcat became an icon not only in military aviation, but in popular culture as well, most famously appearing in Top Gun. But its legacy was built on much more than Hollywood—it represented decades of innovation, carrier aviation, and the skill of the pilots, radar intercept officers, maintainers, and crews who kept it flying.
After 36 years, the Navy retired the F-14 as newer aircraft took over its missions. We are fortunate enough to have our very own F-14 on display at the Florida Air Museum on the SUN 'n FUN Expo Campus!
This particular F-14 is located at the Florida Air Museum on the SUN 'n FUN Expo Campus. It served honorably from 1975 as an F-14A. Later the aircraft was returned to the factory in 1991, where it was refitted to become a F-14D. Having accomplished 1,762 catapult launches, 1,769 carrier landings, and fired 6,041 bullets, this aircraft is truly a veteran of combat. It was retired after its–and all F-14s–last combat mission over Iraq on February 7, 2006.
A legend then. A legend forever. 🐈⬛✈️
We will have the F-14 displayed at the SUN 'n FUN Aerospace Expo in Lakeland, FL from April 6-11, 2027
🎟️ Tickets - https://loom.ly/V2kbOKI
