Question about costs

I would have no idea what the DOC would be for an A-4, there are a couple companies that operate them under some government contracts though. One of the companies is based in Germany and one is in Arizona I think. I have heard (not proven) the two ex-Ukranian Sukhoi SU-27's that are being offered for sale in the US right now, would probably have about a $40,000.00 US DOC an hour. That is insane.

 

A jet warbird owner claimed the real expenses, are not the initial entry price required to purchase the airplane. The owner claimed you needed buckets of money.


You have a lot of overhead

jet fuel
obtaining a rating
parts
overseas parts
having parts fabricated
mechanic fees
insurance
storage fees
staying current by logging hours - $$$
additional overhead

 

DOC: Operational Costs

Rating: Qualification to fly that particular type of aircraft.
A guy with a Private Pilot's license for single engined piston airplane cannot legally fly a twin or a jet or a commercial aircraft.

 

I watched this stuff with great interest for a few years because it has long been an idea of mine to get type rated for a L-39, a relatively simple single engine Czechoslovakian-built jet warbird. In fact, a friend and I were talking about buying one as a business venture, the ultimate goal being jet fighter "thrill tides" at his flight school. Even with something that is reputedly simple (again, relatively) to maintain and find parts for, and even with the idea of charging silly money for rides, we've discovered that the government contracting thing looks like the only feasible way to come out without loosing your butt in a sea of gas bills and astronomical parts/maintenance prices. As mentioned above, the insurance is otherworldly.

Unless, of course, you are OBSCENELY wealthy and can just eat it. It seems to be, all things considered, even more cost prohibitive than biz jets. As was mentioned, the training itself is crazy -- most warbird schools require at least 1,000 hours flight experience, plus the cost of the program, which is insane. Gas, instructor fees, and the amount over the school's basic overhead that will allow them to turn a profit adds up to a pretty extreme amount.

I know what you mean, though...the cost of entry looks pretty reasonable!

 

$40K for the Su-27"s? That is absolutely crazy.

 

I'd also look into the safety record of the L-39 in civilian operations... Yes, they're mostly "pilot error" but still, draw your own conclusions.

 

We've looked at something pretty similar before, the deal killer with the L39 for us in our business model was the ridiculous fuel burn. Insurance wasn't too bad as I recall but we had all ex-military pilots (expect me of course).

From what we learned as we contemplated the purchase is the spool up time on an L39 is incredibly long...10-12 sec and bites pilots with regularity.

The OV1 Mohawk looks more like my kind of bird.

 

There's a couple of L-39s around here, and they don't fly a whole lot. Mostly I think they make the local air show tour in exchange for gas money.

I hear the T-33 is a relatively affordable bird, not quite the same experience but maybe it would work in your scenario. Still stupid money, somewhere between 'ouch' and 'boiiing'.

Amusingly, the jet birds are often very inexpensive to buy. If I were starting a static-only museum, they would be the beginning point.

Might want to talk to these guys: http://www.classicjets.org/index.html

 

Heh, yeah...then there's that.

One thing I forgot about the idea of using it for a business -- you can't. The certification doesn't allow "for hire" operation. IIRC, the laws concerning when and where you can actually operate the A/C are very restrictive. Plus, if you ever intend to fly somewhere for the weekend or whatever, you have to have the blessing of that field's controlling FSDO. I'm not sure how the government contractors get around the rule, but I know there is a company based at a local field that maintains a fleet of aggressors.