An example of the ‘swing-wing’ jet has been completed for display in Ohio

Staff at the MAPS Air Museum in North Canton Ohio have been adding the final touches to the restoration of Grumman F-14B Tomcat BuNo 162694. Most of the work was completed outside, but due to the seasonal challenges posed by weather, the jet has been brought indoors to add the paintwork.

Built as an F-14A-140-GR in 1986 it was delivered to the US Navy in July of that year. The airframe had a long list of deployments, including to the Gulf aboard USS John F Kennedy from August 1990 in support of Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm. After further stints in the Mediterranean and Caribbean, it returned to Grumman for upgrade to F-14B status.

After serving in 2003’s Operation Iraqi Freedom, it was withdrawn two years later and flown to the Ohio museum where it was officially decommissioned and prepared for conservation. With thanks to Tony Sacketos