A bipartisan bill in the United States could pave the way for one of America’s most legendary fighter jets, the F-14 Tomcat, to fly again nearly two decades after its retirement. Known as the “Maverick Act,” the legislation is named after the famous character portrayed by Tom Cruise in the Top Gun films and seeks to preserve several historic aircraft for future generations.
Under the proposed legislation, three surviving F-14D Tomcats currently stored at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Arizona would be transferred to the US Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama. Two aircraft would be restored for museum display, while a third Tomcat would undergo restoration with the goal of returning it to flying condition.
The bill passed the U.S. Senate by unanimous consent on April 28, 2026. It was introduced by Senator Tim Sheehy, a former Navy SEAL and combat aviator, and co-sponsored by Senator Mark Kelly, a former Navy pilot and NASA astronaut. A companion measure introduced in the House of Representatives is currently awaiting a vote.
Among the three selected aircraft is F-14D BuNo 159437, a historically significant jet that participated in the 1989 Gulf of Sidra incident, during which U.S. Navy F-14s shot down two Libyan MiG-23 fighters. The F-14 Tomcat was retired from U.S. Navy service in 2006, with most airframes later destroyed to prevent spare parts from reaching Iran, the only other nation to operate the aircraft. If approved, the Maverick Act could help preserve one of the most iconic fighters in aviation history and potentially return a Tomcat to the skies once again.