Can we buy old US fighters?

Question

Sometime back, I read that some rich and famous people buy old Soviet fighters for their own pleasure.

Will it be possible for us to buy old US fighter planes for our own use? Can we buy an old F15 or F16 fighter and fly it for our own reasons? If the US air force or navy refused to sell them, can we get them from other countries? After all, we are buying them to have our own fun.

Answer 1

Not F15s or 16s. Far too potent and a significant threat to the interests of the US in the wrong hands. Maintenance issues and costs are prohibitive too. I doubt the FAA or CAA will register them for private use.
If you want to own and fly private fighters like the English Electric Lightning or the F4 Phantom, go live in South Africa. They will allow you to do just that.

Answer 2

Many WW II era fighter and primary and advanced trainer aircraft have been surplussed out to private owners who fly and maintain them, almost any that you can think of with the exception of a few that have become extinct, this includes bomber type aircraft. Additionally many variations of Korean War era jet aircraft and more modern jet trainer are now available to the public. All these aircraft have been demilitarized as far as weapons and some avionics. There is an F-4 Phantom in private hands but anything beyond that is not available. Pick up a copy of Trade-A-Plane to see what types and the asking price. Training is available for anything the FAA will certify to fly, they used to issue an LOA letter of authorization to qualified pilots but many of the jet type now require a type rating. Take a walk around the flight line at any major airshow that has a war-bird presence and talk with the owners and pilots about what associated costs of ownership and operation are.

Answer 3

Most of these answers are correct. You can go to other countries and make a deal for the plane but 2 big obstacles:
1. Parts.
2. Air worthy certificate to fly in the US.
There was even a guy who sold an F14 on E-bay a while back but you would have to have 2 mechanics working for you, find parts, and like the others said only be legal to fly it in 3rd world countries.

There was a guy back in the 80's who bought a T-38 at auction (cut up in a box I think) and put it all back together. Got it certified and all. The whole project cost him over $30MM USD with all of the spares and legal fees. All so he could fly supersonic for 2.1 minutes. (Yes I am just jealous)

Answer 4

A while back f-14s were in a museum and sold to a buyer,
in what condition I don't know.The Navy found out about it and were confiscated .The can't be sold legally.It was sold buy somebody in the Navy but it wasn't legal.Russian Fighters?
Sure must be so because I have seen a few fighters.The
latest a Mig-21.After that Era I don't know.

Answer 5

I believe the "biggest" US fighter in civilian hand in USA, and airworthy is a F-100 Super Sabre...I think they will never let you fly a F-15 or a F-16...

Do you know how much fuel a F-16 use ? if I remember well, the F-16 burn 80 liters/minute of fuel with engine at idle, aircraft stopped on the ground.

Once in max AB...480 liters/minute...would be pretty expensive to fly dude..add the price of the various parts needed...it would be $$$.

To add to the fact they don't want you to have such a powerful aircraft I believe to remember USAF cut the wings of their birds before releasing them (for crap...).

The good old days, post WW-II, when you could get a P-51D, ready to fly, for 500USD are truly gone !

Answer 6

If you have experienced people working with him, then you may be ok. I'll just point out that the costs of buying a weanling usually outweigh buying an older horse.... 1st vaccinations are more expensive, getting him gelded wont be cheap, etc etc. Plus you wont be able to ride him for at least three years. While I agree that all want to get horses out of bad places, also consider the fact that by buying him, you are providing a market to these bad breeders. If no-one bought the foals, they would give up breeding....

Answer 7

F15E's and F16's are still frontline quality jets. No one who operates them will let them go for at least the next 20 years. If you want to buy a decent little fighter, look into Sea Harriers, much more fun to fly and you can park it on your driveway.

Answer 8

Old is the operative word, plus the former Soviets are hurting for money.

Considering that even trained pilots lose control and end up crashing these planes, something you rarely walk away from alive, the prospective owner would have to have some flight training before they could even think of flying one.

Answer 9

The US will sell them but only after they take just about every important part of the airplane out... for example, the avionics will be removed, the eject seat would be disabled... ect... so if you were to buy it, you would spend millions getting it air worthy... then good luck finding a place that will train you to fly it... other than the military, and if you were in the military, you probobly cant afford it.... Not to mention the incredible cost to operate those A/C... with the fuel and hourly maininance... it just wouldn't work out for a civilian to own an ex-fighter jet...

Answer 10

Hopefully this link will steer you in the right direction in the sale of Military Aircraft. A 1979 MiG 15 from Poland will set you back US $25,000 to a 1992 MiG 29M from Russia for US $10,000,000.