And here I was, just making all this BS up. Guess it was just statistically probable that something would end up being true, no?

I got a full tour of the Collings Foundation's B-24 and B-17 a few months back when they came up to Orange County Airport...I bribed them with some Supreme Brand Solid Balsa models of the B-17 and B-24, new old stock from 1944, they went nuts. They gave me a B-17 T-shirt for my little daughter, too. First time I had ever been in a B-24, one of my favorite planes. They offered me a ride, but it would be at the cost of them losing a paying customer($300, I think), so I declined. I was very, very surprised that they had a full ride schedule booked up for their entire stay. 10 passengers, $300 each, don't know how many rides per hour, but there were lots of people wanting to take that ride.

I think there may be ANOTHER Phantom being restored to fly, maybe in California?

Per the FAA the only privatly owned F4 is by Houston aviation alliance. (NBAA) Texas Its in Gen Ritchie colors
Semper Fi
Joe

It may be the only one, yes...
But the FAA, does that cover only registrations? If something is off-register, not ready to fly, would it appear?

Anything for T-38s? I would assume the Jordanian dude has overseas registration, but I'd guess there must be SOMEBODY else trying to get one of those airborne...

The T-38 is a very range limited acft. All fuel is carried in the fus. and nothing in the wing. The B-52's that I worked with while in the airforce were low time compared to commercial or airlift airframes. They were great aircraft, but were experiencing corrosion problems from all the years we had them in Thialand and Guam. The H models have TF-33 engines on them, and even though they are not modern by todays standards, they are effecient compared to the earlier models with J-57's. I remember when they were doing some testing with the newer super engines, but the problems out weighed the advantages. The H can carry 322000 lbs of fuel if I remeber right, so range is still very good. Course when I entered the airforce fuel was .17 a gallon, and we know what it is now. Bob

Controller has a couple of T-38s for sale [link=http://www.controller.com/listings/forsale/list.asp?catid=72&man=NORTHROP&guid=634608358CA144 848C838C8FBEB8B025]here[/link] along with two F-5s. Several other military jets too, including a [link=http://www.controller.com/listings/forsale/detail.asp?OHID=1097347&guid=634608358CA144848C838 C8FBEB8B025]SAAB Draken[/link]. Interesting website.

Guess I was making THAT one up, too, Uncle?
There, in the pic, you can see THREE T-38s, all in civillian N-numbers. No price listed.
The Draken seems like a pretty good deal. $699k, 10% down, 6.9% financing for 20 years. I always considers Saab vehicles to be pretty girly, though, myself.

I can get you JetA for 32 cents a gallon tomorrow from drums in Russia, but you need to buy 10 million gallons to get that price

Actually, the lead plane in that picture is an F-5. Also, the two seater in the background may be an F-5B.

[quote]ORIGINAL: EASYTIGER

I heard of one owned by a guy from the Middle East, he flies it over the Atlantic, it's a commuter plane for him!

ET this is your statement I took Exception to.
Semper Fi
Joe

Cruel or not I just have to take that tour about once a month. Hey I work across the Street from Davis Monthan.

Turbulence

Mark,

Just in case it makes you feel better, here are a couple of pics I took at Fairford yesterday - US built heavy metal still flies over here!

Cheers,

Dick
England

Dunno if they were Mig 15's or Mig 17's, but I've seen a few flying in the last 4 or 5 years. There were privately owned Mig 15's / 17's and an f86 flying at Reno a few years ago, and I'm pretty sure that a friend of a friend who owned a Mig 15 had been flying it before he sold it.

Smirnoff owned a team of Migs that flew at various locations in the US as well, but I think those were almost certainly 17's.

This link may be of interest to some BTW : http://aeroweb.lucia.it/rap/Features/PrivateMiGs.html

Gordon

Actually, it does! Thanks!

Mark

Speaking of heartbreakers,
Guess which one of these migs is still flying!
Picture was taken 4-5 years ago at the Stuart airshow.
[img][/img]

Hint:Not the one you think...

Jetboy

Flying on C-5s, i can tell you that those old A models are invaluable to the parts supply for this pig. If it werent for those mothballed jets, we may never make it off the ground, or should we just inner-cann parts from active jets until the fleet dwindles down to one great airplane, and the rest striiped down. Im sorry if i sound sarcastic but my P.O.S that i am on right now has been broken for 10 days. I WANNNNNNNNNTTTTT TTTTTOOOOOOOOOO GEEEEEEEEETTTTTTTTTT HOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!NICK

NICK

I know its the US Navy's but in your case... it's not just a job... it's an adventure....... or what was once said by Harley drivers, the reason they had their wallet on a chain & a wrench in the rear pocket... It would brake down soon and you needed both to get back on the road again......
GUess thats why you get the BIG Bucks
Semper Fi
Joe
PS give me a call when you get state side

Hey joe, good to hear from you. i got back off this same mission and 4 days later, was out on another. Its been non-stop. will give you a ring when i am back. later boss. BTW- your panther looks great!

I heard two pretty interesting things about that boneyard.

1. It is the only government owned military facility that makes a profit.

2. It represents the third largest airforce in the world.

Wether those things are true or not is beyond me, but both are plausable and interesting.