Hornet for sale, slightly used

[Hugh Jorgan]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3078059896&category=4672

 

[TonyC]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3078059896&category=4672

At the end of his posting:

On Feb-16-04 at 09:18:52 PST, seller added the following information:

Keep watching our Ebay store, we will have a Mig29, and a "never Demilled" F-16 Hornet.

Yea... I trust him.

 

[EagleRJ]

Good luck:
-getting a type rating/LOA
-finding an A&P who knows the plane
-getting spare parts
-paying the fuel bill
-convincing the DOD to let you keep it in airworthy condition

If this guy is legit, you can bet the FBI and DOD are on him like a rash right now. I doubt if the auction will be completed.

 

[TX_DFW]

LEGIT

I think it is for real, there is an article on avweb out today.

http://avweb.com/newswire/10_08a/briefs/186732-1.html

 

[Ty Webb]

Man, am I disappointed. I thought someone was selling their AMC Hornet . . . . .

 

[Hugh Jorgan]

Good luck:
-getting a type rating/LOA
-finding an A&P who knows the plane
-getting spare parts
-paying the fuel bill
-convincing the DOD to let you keep it in airworthy condition

-Why would the buyer need a type rating?
-There are thousands of A&Ps out there with extensive F-18 maintenance experience...where do you think all those navy mechanics go when they get out?
-If a person can afford the plane and the fuel bill, the spare parts will be easy...there are no shortage of them out there. Better yet, let me be the parts supplier, I promise I won't mark up the prices much.

I agree with Tonyc....F-16 Hornet?????

 

[skyking1976]

-Why would the buyer need a type rating?

Uhhh.... It's a jet. Remember? Unless it will say "Experimental" on the side...

 

[EagleRJ]

Pilots are usually rated to fly surplus high-performance jets with a Letter of Authorization from the FAA. Getting one means finding an examiner who is authorized to check a pilot out in that type. No one has that right now and the FAA likely won't do it for just one aircraft.

If the F/A-18 is licensed by the FAA, it would probably be in the Experimental for Exhibition category. That means no flights other than training, maintenance, and going to or from an airshow, and no flying over populated areas. So much for flying to MDW at M .98 for dinner.

The plane isn't an L-39 or T-33 with simple hydraulics and electronics. It's a fly-by-wire aircraft with proprietary and modular avionics and flight control computers. Maintaining it probably requires lots of specialty diagnostic computers and service manuals. If you were to approach Boeing and ask to buy a spare black box for your ride, I'm guessing they would laugh at you. The parts probably aren't available on the open market, except for simple fasteners and fittings. Any circuit boards or advanced parts that are surplused are probably damaged beyond repair. The engine is not found in the civilian world either.

Again, it's a nice thought, but it's not a practical personal aircraft. If you want your own personal fighter, I'd recommend the ViperJet http://www.viper-aircraft.com/

 

[Hugh Jorgan]

So your saying that someone who can afford the pricetag and the gas can't get around any other barriers in their way to operating the thing. The person with that kind of money can buy anything....ANYTHING. Let's see what happens...

Anyway, the thing's for sale, thought some folks might be interested, I doubt anyone will buy it anyway.

 

[SpiffAV8]

As odd as it may sound NASA has a program to train pilots of this type. I was told by a freind who has taken the class, that the idea is to train these guys so they are not such a hazard. I know what your thinking and I too thought it was a line of B.S. Turned out to be the truth and a very rich friend is now flying all kinds of jet warbirds.

 

[Weasil]

The Hornet seems to have disappeared from Ebay. It was there last night but not today. Somebody wasn't too happy about that I imagine.

 

[Vladimir Lenin]

you don't even have to register it in the states

 

[Hugh Jorgan]

The Hornet seems to have disappeared from Ebay. It was there last night but not today. Somebody wasn't too happy about that I imagine.

That's because I bought the godddammm thing just so I could fly over EagleRJs house at 3 am in full burner just to show him it could be done!

 

[EagleRJ]

LOL

 

[350DRIVER]

If this sale is allowed to proceed then you can count on the buyer being able to obtain the training, parts, etc, etc, to be able to fly it should he/she so desire. I think that will be the least of the buyer's concerns or worries. Someone with that kind of ca$h can usually get around most if not all hurdles/obstacles that may be present or stand in the way. CNN interviewed an ex fighter pilot and he pretty much agreed completely that this would be possible. I also think NASA is not the only one that provides the training. . . I think the problem is going to be the gov't/military's block of this sale. Should be interesting


3 5 0

 

[sky37d]

according to ANN, the sale was completed.

 

[logolight]

Did it say the aircraft was airworthy? I agree with a previous post, the DOD does not allow civilian ownership of a currently operational military fighter jet. They especially won't do it under the current terrorist threat. This had to have been a damaged beyond repair airplane.

 

[Swass]

Any idea what it went for, or even what the bidding started at? The link was invalid last time I tried. I could use one of those!

 

[sky37d]

According to ANN, it started at $1MM, plane was complete but in pieces. For $9MM, they would deliver assembled.
here's link
f-18

 

[Sphincter Boy]

You can buy anything off of ebay. How about that fart in a bag?

 

[j328driver]

As a follow-up, I was tracking this sale in My eBay and got a notification when the auction was over. No one ever bid on it!

Just FYI.