Navy Chief
Senior Member
The Maverick Act of 2026 is a bipartisan legislative measure designed to preserve the legacy of the F-14 Tomcat fighter jet by transferring three surplus airframes from the U.S. Navy to the U.S. Space and Rocket Center Commission in Huntsville, Alabama.
Key Details
- Legislative Status: The Senate companion bill (S.4161) was introduced by Senator Tim Sheehy (R-MT) and passed the Senate by unanimous consent on April 28, 2026. The House companion bill (H.R. 8331) was introduced by Congressman Abraham Hamadeh (R-AZ) and was held at the desk as of May 4, 2026, awaiting further action.
- Aircraft Transfer: The act authorizes the conveyance of three specific F-14D Tomcat aircraft (Bureau Numbers 164341, 164602, and 159437) at no cost to the federal government.
- Conditions: The transfer requires the aircraft to be demilitarized with no combat capability, prohibits foreign transfer, and places all restoration, maintenance, and operational costs on the recipient commission.
- Potential Restoration: The legislation allows the commission to receive excess spare parts from Navy stock to potentially make one of the aircraft flyable for public display and educational purposes, though this is subject to FAA certification and significant restoration challenges.
- Bipartisan Support: The House bill has original cosponsors from both parties, including Republicans from Arizona, Virginia, Georgia, Michigan, Texas, and Guam, as well as Democrat Don Davis from North Carolina.