Civilian operation of ex military fighter jets.

[Spooky 2]

Cannot speak to the F14 but one of my previous employeers operates a F5B along with an Alpha Jet. A couple of years ago the owner was working on the purchase of a MIG 29 and we did some preliminary work looking for a pilot with previous MIG 29 experience. Had little trouble finding just the right person should the deal have gone through. Former USAF instructor in the MIG while on exchange duty with the German Air Force.

As for the hot seat issue, the costs were high but not as high as the costs if you could not eject should the occasion require. Both aircraft have hot seats!

 

[AC560]

My only point was that the F-14 was a different animal from the old ROUND Engine planes from WWII.

I never suggested they were the same nor mentioned them. I mentioned the F-4 Phantom which they own which is somewhere in the league I would think of an F-14. It certainly doesn't have old ROUND engines.

 

[erj-145mech]

I never suggested they were the same nor mentioned them. I mentioned the F-4 Phantom which they own which is somewhere in the league I would think of an F-14. It certainly doesn't have old ROUND engines.

Are they square? They are about as round as they can get!

 

[JimNtexas]

There's a F-111 sitting on the field at Ontario, OR. It won't fly again; I was told it's the only F-111 in private hands.

There was a largely intact EF-111 airframe in a salvage yard at Mohave a while back. I suspect its beer cans now though.

 

[puck_11]

http://www.thorntonaircraft.com/body/body.cfm?page_name=mil