Long Island is known as the cradle of aviation for a multitude of reasons not the least of which is the airplanes and spacecraft designed and built by Grumman in the 20th century. Some of the most important moments in American aviation history had their roots right here on Long Island.

 

Click to read our story Five Times Long Island Made Aviation History.

 

The Cradle of Aviation museum is making plans to get the last American F-14 to ever fly the great blue yonder. The transfer was set to take place this summer but the plans were pushed back, according to Joshua Stoff, Curator of the museum. He said that the museum is also constructing a concrete platform and security chains for the fighter jet but that was delayed as well.

 

READ: Crazy Facts About the F-14 Tomcat

 

They still hope that the move can be done this fall. Stoff said that Northrop Grumman was handling all the logistics of the F-14’s transfer to the museum.

 

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the aircraft. The first test flight of the F-14 was here on Long Island at Grumman’s flight test center in Calverton. (It also crashed in the test flight.)

 

This particular F-14 made its final flight on October 4, 2006, according to The Aviation Geek Club website.

 

The F-14 Tomcat is described at one of the finest fighter jets ever developed and probably one of the most famous due to its star turn in the 1980s classic Top Gun. Over 700 of the fighters were built in the Grumman plant in Calverton. A complex and effective fighter jet, the F-14 was in service for the U.S. Navy from the early 1970s until 2006 when it was retired. Before the F-14, Grumman’s superiority in U.S. military airpower had long been established with its Hellcat and Wildcat, both contributing to the Pacific theater during WWII.