hindsight2020
Yeah Buddy
- Joined
- Oct 14, 2004
- Posts
- 235
Hi folks,
Still doing some research and I started reading up on the Firefly. It is my understanding that they are common in the UK and that the USAF purchased a bunch of them for the IFT program (re-named it the T-3). I know a couple of them crashed in the mid-90's, eventually halting the program and having Big Blue contract out the IFT program to civilian FBOs. However, there was nothing in the reports that suggested anything was actually wrong with the airframe, so they still seem in my mind a very viable buy into the acro world, and dual-utility for some basic flight instruction/upset training/acro training.
So far I haven't heard of the Brits having any sort of problems with the T-67, and I was wondering if that aircraft is available in the US, or could be imported from Britain? (before they get priced-gouged like every other airplane in the "it used to be affordable until it got to the US" category). It is my understanding that the engine issues with the USAF's now defunked T-3 had to do with engine mods and auto-mixtures, circumstances which do not apply to the the stock T-67 flown abroad. (I think the USAF still has their Fireflies chained down and not open for auction, so that point is moot).
Anybody with experience or intel on the Fireflies currently flying would be appreciated. My research so far has turned a little dissapointing: The Scottish Aviation Bulldogs have an issue with the wing spar fatigue life, and once the RAF released them to the public you can't find one with anything less than a gazillion hours, let alone in the States. The Pitts S-2A/B/Cs are expensive in the big picture, particularly for somebody who would have to burn cash just building the tailwheel time before even being able to get a reasonable insurance quote. The Yak-52 WAS affordable but now they're all westernized and price-gouged (thank you doctors...), and not the most student-friendly platform to instruct in. The Zlin 242 is too expensive (for what it is as an acro platform anyways), and the 142 has been sold to me as a MX nightmare with the MK engine (not sure how true that is), plus it seems to be going for the price of a newer Pitts, which makes it a moot choice. Affordable Citabrias/Decathlons have the wood wing issue (and revisit the expense of tailwheel time build for insurance), the new 7/8KCABs have the metal spar but the price goes thru the roof.
I refuse to believe that the only affordable dual-purpose entry level acro platform which is not a shot-out duct-taped wing spar POS, is a stinkin' aerobat, I wouldn't even bother owning that.
The Firefly looks too good to be true, I'm sure something will come up with it (price or otherwise)...Lie to me!! LOL
Still doing some research and I started reading up on the Firefly. It is my understanding that they are common in the UK and that the USAF purchased a bunch of them for the IFT program (re-named it the T-3). I know a couple of them crashed in the mid-90's, eventually halting the program and having Big Blue contract out the IFT program to civilian FBOs. However, there was nothing in the reports that suggested anything was actually wrong with the airframe, so they still seem in my mind a very viable buy into the acro world, and dual-utility for some basic flight instruction/upset training/acro training.
So far I haven't heard of the Brits having any sort of problems with the T-67, and I was wondering if that aircraft is available in the US, or could be imported from Britain? (before they get priced-gouged like every other airplane in the "it used to be affordable until it got to the US" category). It is my understanding that the engine issues with the USAF's now defunked T-3 had to do with engine mods and auto-mixtures, circumstances which do not apply to the the stock T-67 flown abroad. (I think the USAF still has their Fireflies chained down and not open for auction, so that point is moot).
Anybody with experience or intel on the Fireflies currently flying would be appreciated. My research so far has turned a little dissapointing: The Scottish Aviation Bulldogs have an issue with the wing spar fatigue life, and once the RAF released them to the public you can't find one with anything less than a gazillion hours, let alone in the States. The Pitts S-2A/B/Cs are expensive in the big picture, particularly for somebody who would have to burn cash just building the tailwheel time before even being able to get a reasonable insurance quote. The Yak-52 WAS affordable but now they're all westernized and price-gouged (thank you doctors...), and not the most student-friendly platform to instruct in. The Zlin 242 is too expensive (for what it is as an acro platform anyways), and the 142 has been sold to me as a MX nightmare with the MK engine (not sure how true that is), plus it seems to be going for the price of a newer Pitts, which makes it a moot choice. Affordable Citabrias/Decathlons have the wood wing issue (and revisit the expense of tailwheel time build for insurance), the new 7/8KCABs have the metal spar but the price goes thru the roof.
I refuse to believe that the only affordable dual-purpose entry level acro platform which is not a shot-out duct-taped wing spar POS, is a stinkin' aerobat, I wouldn't even bother owning that.
The Firefly looks too good to be true, I'm sure something will come up with it (price or otherwise)...Lie to me!! LOL
