aspanrt
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Post by aspanrt on May 3, 2015 22:59:37 GMT 9
this may sound like a dumb question but i was wondering why someone doesn't keep flyable versions of the 106 for air shows & things like the yankee air museum. Is it because of the mach plus perf. ? Just think it would be soo cool to have a 106,105, f8 ect. do a fly over at racing events instead of the wwII trainers they use now..
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Jim Scanlon (deceased)
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Commander South Texas outpost of the County Sligo Squadron
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Post by Jim Scanlon (deceased) on May 4, 2015 9:35:35 GMT 9
aspanrt, your question is one that is not "dumb", as others have asked the same question.
I suspect there are a couple of possible answers.
One would be the DeMil of the airplanes.
Government regulations have something to do with that, as they don't want modern weapons getting in to the hands of people who would use them wrongly.
I know, we have and continue to sell Military Aircraft and other Military Weapons to our enemies, some of whom have used them against us.
When a plane is DeMiled, it makes the plane unflyable, as the main spars are cut.
Also all sensitive equipment is removed.
There are a few flyable Military Aircraft in Private Hands, but most of them are quite old, like T-Birds, Sabers and some other trainers and transport planes, and I suspect DoD keeps close tabs on them, as they are likely on loan.
Planes we have sold or given to other countries may be a different situation.
I don't know if any of them have been sold to private companies or individuals, but could be.
The other big factor would probably be cost.
It is very expensive to maintain any War Bird, and jets are even more expensive than the older ones.
Just the cost of JP for a couple hours of flying would be very high, let alone all the maintenance.
There would also be the cost factor of having to build replacement parts, as they are not readily available at Autozone, or the aircraft equivalent.
There are a handful of more recent fighters in private or non-military operations.
The Collings Foundation has an F-4C, and NASA may still have some chase planes.
I agree with you that it would be great to see some Jet Fighters overfly some event.
Maybe a flight of every Century Series Fighter.
Wouldn't that be a grand thing to see, and hear?
I wonder how many Soviet/Russian fighters are in "private" hands?
Red Bull owns some jets, but I think they are all trainers.
Jets are not good for racing, as their turn around a pylon is much larger than the War Birds that race.
But, they could put on shows like the Thunderbirds and Blue Angels.
I can't imagine the cost for those JP burners for the time it would take to put on a show.
So, I guess all we can do is dream.
Jim Too
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Post by ma1marv on May 4, 2015 11:06:33 GMT 9
I can share your desire to see these aircraft still flying!!! The closest "6" to be flyable - in private hands -was the "SWAMP BIRDS" that were acquired by a private individual and hauled to El Paso, Texas. As of a couple of months ago - they were up for sale! I guess that IF I could ever win a 400 mill lottery on PowerBall I would consider taking up where that person left off. Check out the PATS WOrLD site for a look at those birds! Yes - I would dare say that there is not one person on this site who would NOT help to get even one back into the air! I would love to help out and go for another single engine speed record!!! So - keep buying those powerball tickets and keep hoping! MArv
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aspanrt
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Post by aspanrt on May 15, 2015 9:07:13 GMT 9
lol. i just bought my tickets so if i hit ill need some help getting her in the air.. The money the gov. wastes it just seems like they could find the funds to keep a few century series flyable. Think of the draw to an air show to see some cold war birds in the sky..
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