AIRPORT

F-14 "TOMCAT"

On May 16, 2007 the Willmar Municipal Airport became home to an F-14 "TOMCAT". The aircraft was previously located at the Minneapolis/St. Paul International Airport Naval Base for 10 years until the City was contacted by the National Museum of Naval Aviation located in Pensacola, Florida.

Through fundraising efforts of aviation supporters, enthusiasts, as well as  local businesses, the City was able to raise enough funds to transport the derelict aircraft to Willmar. A company from Virginia Beach, VA was hired to remove the engines and miscellaneous parts, disassemble, transport, and reassemble the F-14 in Willmar.

Today, the aircraft sits on three pads with wheels tethered to the concrete. It is on loan from the National Museum of Naval Aviation in Pensacola, FL for an initial period of five years. Future plans in the Spring of 2008 include a landscaping transformation to honor the role the Naval Aircraft played in history. A walkway placed around the aircraft will allow visitors a chance to see it up close.

While eventual budget cuts and the development of new aircraft necessitated the retirement of the F-14 from the Naval Fleet, it will be remembered for its versatility. It was able to achieve twice the speed of sound due to its unique swept wing design. Two Pratt & Whitney engines capable of producing approximately 21,000 lbs. of thrust propelled the jet through the air at record speed. With all machinery and parts installed, the aircraft weighed in at just over 74,000 lbs. It had a tactical range of 1,000 miles making it the perfect aircraft to fly combat missions over the Middle East during the Gulf War.