Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!usc!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!rpi!bu.edu!att!cbnews!cbnews!military From: newave!john@uunet.UU.NET (John A. Weeks III) Newsgroups: sci.military Subject: Re: Warbirds Message-ID: <1990Nov29.004127.20816@cbnews.att.com> Date: 29 Nov 90 00:41:27 GMT References: <1990Nov21.213602.16566@cbnews.att.com> Sender: military@cbnews.att.com (William B. Thacker) Organization: NeWave Communications Ltd, Eden Prairie, MN Lines: 77 Approved: military@att.att.com From: newave!john@uunet.UU.NET (John A. Weeks III) > From: mikes@ux1.cso.uiuc.edu (Mike Sheumaker) Based on talking with people at airshows and my neighbors at the Planes of Fame (Eden Prairie, MN)... > 1. If a person had the money, how much would it take to buy a WWII fighter? > (restored, airworthy). Bomber? For fighters, lets say, P-51, F8 Bearcat, > P-40, Corsair. Bombers, B-25, B-17, A-20, B-26. Unrestored fighters can cost $1-Million+. Planes of Fame recently bought (and unfortunately crashed) a nice P-51 for $825,000. A barely airworthy P-38 recently sold for over $1.5 million. A B-26 would be quite a find!!! (I believe that the CAF has the only flying B-26), but A-26 Invaders are still found fairly reasonable ($250,000 or so for a former fire-bomber). About the only inexpensive warbirds are the L-planes and AT-6's. > 2. If you could buy a fighter, how would you learn to fly it? There are instructors available for learning to fly warbirds provided you can already fly. Given the historic value of a warbird, specialized training is a must. For example, a Mustang is usually fairly well behaved, but it is very tricky flying at low speeds. And it would be nice to be able to handle a B-25 with one engine out rather than bailing out and watching it crash. > 3. What does it cost to maintain an ex military A/C for private use? According to the people at Combat Jets in Huston, about $1500 per hour to opeate a jet...provided everything goes right. They ate a bird on their Hawker Hunter flying back from Oshkosh which caused damage to the engine. It proved difficult to repair because of scarce parts and the fact that they could not find the right tools (and the British would not loan out their only remaining set). For warbirds, the Planes Of Fame generally budgets $10,000 per plane to make an apperance at an airshow (non-local, at least) including all of the fuel and maintenance. You have to sell a lot of T-Shirts to make up for the expenses. An engine overhaul for a B-17 can run $50,000 per engine. > 4. What is the availability of military jets? Is it legal to own an old > military jet? The USAF tries very hard to make it impossible to get a permit to fly ex-USAF planes. They often cut the main structural supports between the wings before selling planes. Most military jets that are in private hands in the USA are imported or are built from spare parts. Combat Jets built an A-4 from parts. > 5. Any warbird owners out there that need a good passenger? :-) I'm sure that you will find a long line to stand in. Your best be is to become a writer for a Magazine or work at a local museum. The National Warplane museum gave B-17 rides to everyone that donated 500 hours or more. The other alternative is to pay $50 for a Stearman ride at the Planes of Fame. > I'll post a list of Chanute A/C if anybody is interested. The base is > accessible by the public, and is not closed yet. Are you sure??? I have tried to call and reach anyone at the base to get in and take photos. The phones are disconnected, and several magazines have printed stories about the base closing. If it is open, I will drive down at a moments notice. I like photographing B-36's and they have a collection of planes that flew with the Thunderbirds. -john- -- =============================================================================== John A. Weeks III (612) 942-6969 john@newave.mn.org NeWave Communications ...uunet!rosevax!bungia!wd0gol!newave!john ===============================================================================