Warbird Information Exchange

Does anybody know if any of the Aircraft, and especially the A-4s and F-14s that were flown in the movie "Top Gun" have been preserved?
It's hard to believe it's been so long since the movie came out but in that time so much has changed and relatively few F-14s have been preserved
I watched the opening sequence and had a moment of "where are they now?" nostalgia when I saw the F-14s
Museums or coke cans anybody know?

Great question....

Probably not many "current" military aircraft that appeared in films are still out there...stuff like the F-86s from "The Hunters" or F9Fs from "Bridges at Toko-Ri", etc.
The only ones that have a fair chance are the KC-135As in "A Gathering of Eagles". The best SAC film of them all, IMHO. Great MITO scene.
Also, the X-15s as seen in that film....2 out if three built survive. And in the immortal words of Meatloaf, two out of three ain't bad.

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Remember the vets, the wonderful planes they flew and their sacrifices for a future many of them did not live to see.

I can't remember where I read it, but I think there is at least one of the F-14's from Top Gun preserved and I think it was recently re-painted in Iceman's squadron markings that that particular F-14 it wore in the film. Not 100& sure though.

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"Always remember that, when you enter the ocean or the forest, you are no longer at the top of the food chain."

Actually quite a few US F-14's survive. There are around 60+ listed on wiki on display, and I know of other airframes at the boneyard and at testing places like the weapons testing lab at China Lake, Dahlgren, etc. Plus the Iranian examples. I would consider it well preserved. The actual number surviving is somewhat surprising given a very concerted effort to keep spare parts reaching Iran. Quite a few were cut up at Oceana, the final F-14 base.

It is my understanding that the F-14 at the Carolinas Aviation Museum was a "supporting actor" in Top Gun. Not a star, but visible in the background.

C2j

Maverick's aircraft is on either the Hornet or Midway Museums. I can't remember which. I don't believe it's painted as such. I think one was lost in an accident.

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Chris Henry
EAA Aviation Museum Manager