Military planes on sale.....can you legally use them??

Question

http://www.controller.com/listings/aircraft-for-sale/AERO-L-39-ALBATROS/1983-AERO-L-39-ALBATROS/1110025.htm?guid=71F205CDC047455A82CE0ABDC8D362C2


This one and others are on sale, assuming you can afford it...can a civilian legally fly it? and at what restrictions? can you test it out at top speed and anywhere? or must it be over the ocean etc?

Answer 1

You've had many answers that combined are correct. You can purchase any military aircraft from the L-39 up to whatever is on the market (I've seen up to Mig 29's offered for sale) You buy them but they are stripped of their military hardware (sorry no guns or missles on them) You must be a pilot and rated in that aircraft to legally fly it. Heck many of the L-39's I've seen still have functional ejection seats. Maintaining the thing is the major cost though. Most of the people certified to work on them are in the former Soviet Union so a minor issue might mena having to fly someone over not to mention buying parts. For the L-39 the majority of the civilian parts supply was purchased by a company who bought out East Germany's stockpile after their re unification so that company (don't remember the name) holed a virtual monopoly.

An L-39 isn't supersonic so you can fly it at max speed above 10,000 feet excluding controlled airspace. Were it fast enough to break the sound barrier you'd need special ATC approval. Yes you could break the barrier over the ocean as long as you were beyond territorial waters. Lastly, to whoever said it, class A airspace starts at flight level 180 which during standard conditions is 18,000 feet, not 19,000 feet. I suggest researching that in the FAR / AIM.

Answer 2

There are 257 of this particular aircraft on the US registry. So they probably are the most popular. They are training planes and no armaments were ever installed. They are not supersonic, so they can be flown almost anywhere.
The FAA used to issue a letter of authorization to permit persons to fly warbirds, now it is added as a rating on your certificate.
You have to be turbo-jet rated with 1,000 hours and not less than 500 PIC time, and you have to attend an approved training course for the particular aircraft flown. Each type requires a separate authorization.
I might add the N number listed in the ad is wrong. I looked up 64XX and it came back not assigned. I then looked it up by serial number and it came back N995X.

Answer 3

As long as your license is endorsed for single engine jets you are good to go fly it wherever it is legal to fly..
This jet is a trainer from the Czech republic. It was the first Turbofan trainer produced there and is widely used around the world for basic flight training. There is a class just for them at the Reno Air Races too. They are not supersonic, they do not have a "wet" engine or afterburner.
As to other Military aircraft there are some that make it to the civilian market place but they have been "De-Miled" for sale.

Answer 4

There is a flying club in USA which imparts training on flying the military jets. Once you qualify, you can fly these aircraft legally. Testing can be done at top speeds in designated areas, and not necessarily over the sea.

Answer 5

here is what I do know (was in the service) we strip out electronics that are "sensitive" to national security and military codes and all that. They come with specs, prints and diagrams so whoever gets it can modify what they need.

as far as requirements for the buyer, not sure if they need to be a pilot, and if they are restricted from going anywhere over any particular airspace....could it be like a cop car that is auctioned but they still have the black/white but no lights/radio?

Answer 6

The L-39 is a pussy cat. For training contact http://www.redstaraviation.org/ It is a sub sonic trainer and can be flown anywhere by civilian pilots possessing the proper documentation and certificates. It is approved in the U.S. if you are in Canada you may not be able to legally fly it.

http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/13.10...

Answer 7

Yes you can own one but to fly it you must be certified to fly that particular plane. As to restrictions you may not fly super sonic over the continental US. Thus you must take it out to sea to really let her go. there are many military jets in private hands and flown by the owners regularly but they are millionaires the cost of such planes is enormous fuel parts registration/ licenses/ maintenance/ parking and storage all are enormously expensive.

Answer 8

The actor who played Worf on Star Trek TV series owns ex-soviet Mig.

So after getting the guns removed, they are legal to own and operate.


Good Luck. Just fly of my house.

Answer 9

yes, you can buy L-39's. you need specific training and ratings. they speed restrictions are 200 knots outside of class bravo but 250 knots inside. if you want to go full blast you need to file IFR and go into Class A airspace. that's where the airliners fly. 18,999 feet to 60,000 feet.