Community Corner

Exploring the History of the Grumman F-14 Tomcat

The Cradle of Aviation Museum hosts the oldest surviving edition, which was the third one ever built.


Who knew that one of the world's best fighter planes is located in Nassau County?

The Cradle of Aviation Museum, located in Garden City's Museum Row, offers a variety of aircrafts and memorabilia that capture moments from history.

Patch has taken flight on an adventure, exploring some of the museum's most popular exhibits, starting with a 1939 Grumman Goose.

This week, we take a closer look at the Grumman F-14 Tomcat, which in the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s was "really the best jet fighter in the world," according to Museum Curator Joshua Stoff.

"It can fly faster than the speed of sound, it carried a lot of missiles and they were used on aircraft carriers, taking off and landing at sea, so they can go anywhere in the world," Stoff added. 

Got little kids obsessed with planes? Check out Propwash Junction Patch. It's a sponsored, fictional and completely fun site. No one paid us to mention this, we just thought it might buy you a few minutes of me-time. (And that, we know, is more precious than any antique airplane.)


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