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Navy Jet eBayed - Some Assembly Required?

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the cash-on-delivery dept.

madmancarman writes "The world's only F/A-18 Hornet in private ownership, formerly a Navy Blue Angel Jet, is for sale on eBay. The initial asking price? $1 million unassembled, or $9 million assembled and certified airworthy 'with your choice of paint' - more info is available via a Yahoo News story. I wonder how much it would cost to fully arm it? The same person selling the F/A-18 is also selling a 1950's T-33, and claims they'll soon be auctioning off an F-16 and a Mig-29 as well. Build your own air force for fun and profit!"

40 of 704 comments (clear)

  1. Assembly AND Military Experience Required by andyrut · · Score: 5, Informative

    While owning a Blue Angel would be awesome, it's unlikely a civilian would actually get any flight time in such a vehicle. To fly it, you'd need a Letter of Authorization because there's no FAA type certification for this aircraft - and unless you're an ex-military pilot, you've basically got no chance of getting an LOA.

    Even if you were to get an LOA, to fly it you'd have to get permission from the FAA to put it in the air every time you take off. So add your own private island to the total cost if you actually want to fly it without hassle.

    So unless you're ex-military, you'd have yourself a $9 million lawn ornament.

    1. Re:Assembly AND Military Experience Required by B3ryllium · · Score: 5, Interesting

      You can acquire a private island for less than $9 million. A fair bit less.

    2. Re:Assembly AND Military Experience Required by EverlastGobstopp · · Score: 5, Funny

      If we can't get a LOA to fly it, can we drive it on the roads? The engines would certainly discourage tailgating

    3. Re:Assembly AND Military Experience Required by SiliconJesus101 · · Score: 5, Informative
      Uhmmm...no. It's classified "experimental" and could in fact be flown by a private individual. This is the same thing that is done with the old warbirds, Mig 21's and bombers that private parties fly. More info can be found here: http://www.utility-aircraft.com/catalog/certificat e/index.htm

      You do need an actual special reason for flying the plane, but aside from that it is quite possible for a private party to own and fly a military jet.

      --

      "The strong will do what they want, the weak will do what they must."
      -Thucydides

    4. Re:Assembly AND Military Experience Required by rogerwong · · Score: 5, Informative

      It's currently impossible to get a Letter of Authorization (LOA) from the FAA, because the FAA have phased out LOAs.

      Instead, you now get certified, by an authorized instructor, for certain classes of experimental aircraft. The DC-F18 is part of Group IX, along with the F-15 and Mig 29.

      See this FAA document for more details:
      http://www.warbirds-eaa.org/news/n_8700-24.pdf

    5. Re:Assembly AND Military Experience Required by flewp · · Score: 5, Informative

      If they sent out an F117 you'd be lucky. It has no air to air capabilities.

      --
      WWJD.... for a Klondike bar?
    6. Re:Assembly AND Military Experience Required by silconous · · Score: 5, Informative

      The Jet holds 10800 lbs of JP5 without External fuel tanks.

      I know I used to work on them in the Avionics shop VMFA-232

    7. Re:Assembly AND Military Experience Required by Alan+Partridge · · Score: 5, Funny

      Don't worry, now Concorde's gone the US govt. will miraculously repeal that particular edict just in time for Boeing to introduce a supersonic airliner.

      Betcha.

      --
      That was classic intercourse!
    8. Re:Assembly AND Military Experience Required by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

      I can think of one, but I reckon he got his flight status revoked in 1972 due to being AWOL.

    9. Re:Assembly AND Military Experience Required by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

      I think his current millitary rank might override that.

    10. Re:Assembly AND Military Experience Required by AhBeeDoi · · Score: 5, Informative

      I've watched too much Discovery Wings. The F117A was given an "F" designation despite no air-to-air capability was to mollify the hot-shot fighter jocks who were chosen to fly the plane.

    11. Re:Assembly AND Military Experience Required by the_mad_poster · · Score: 5, Informative

      A sonic boom is only a fixed boom for an individual observer, not a one time crack as the plane exceeds the speed of sound. Sonic booms are caused by shockwaves following along after the moving object. You'll only hear it once (unless you outrun the object and then wait for it to go by again), but it's a sustained shockwave for as long as the plane is flying fast enough.

      --
      Alito: A vote for Alito is a punch in the eye to put that bitch back in her place!
    12. Re:Assembly AND Military Experience Required by AhBeeDoi · · Score: 5, Informative

      I've also heard that the F117 could be fitted for air-to-air capability but sidewinders seems unlikely. Sidewinders have an IR sensor on the nose to seek the hot tail exhaust of enemy jets and would need to be mounted outside of the internal bomb bays to be effective. If the sidewinders are mounted outside, the low radar profile of the F117A would be compromised and the jet would lose its best asset. Mounting the sidewinder in the internal bay would preserve the low radar profile while the sidewinders are in the compartment but the would also lose its ability to carry ground ordnance. Deploying the sidewinders from the internal bays would also adversely affect the aerodynamics of the F117A and create a higher radar profile, neither of which is desirable for a relatively slow jet that will be engaging in air-to-air combat.
      Theoretically, sidewinders can be mounted on this special purpose jet, but in doing so, the F117A loses its strengths and is forced into a role for which it is less suitable.

  2. Two weks from now... by American+AC+in+Paris · · Score: 5, Funny

    Positive Feedback: A+++++++++++++!!!! Bomb racks work great! Thanks!!!!!11

    --

    Obliteracy: Words with explosions

  3. Government oversight? by warlockgs · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Interesting. Are there any sort of government oversights as to how these can be sold and to whom? I would hate for some wack-job with money to get a hold of one of these, get some armament via the black market, and use it to do something regrettable.

    1. Re:Government oversight? by sfjoe · · Score: 5, Funny

      I would hate for some wack-job with money to get a hold of one of these, ...

      Too late - he's already got 'em. And I don't think you should be calling the President of the USA a "wack-job".

      --
      It's simple: I demand prosecution for torture.
  4. Yeah, right... by kemapa · · Score: 5, Funny

    I'll park it right in between the Bentley and the "In your dreams..."

  5. Flight Hours on Airframe by DaRat · · Score: 5, Insightful

    3700 odd flight hours, many of Blue Angels type maneuvers. Probably some significant stress and wear on that airframe due to the type of flying. There probably was a good reason that aircraft was retired.

    Also, the article should have read "F16 Fighting Falcon" for one of the upcoming aircraft, not "F16 Hornet"

    1. Re:Flight Hours on Airframe by Fulcrum+of+Evil · · Score: 5, Funny

      Most commercial planes have a 20,000 operating hour overhaul schedule.

      When was the last time your Delta pilot did a barrel roll?

      --
      "We returned the General to El Salvador, or maybe Guatemala, it's difficult to tell from 10,000 feet"
    2. Re:Flight Hours on Airframe by HardCase · · Score: 5, Informative
      3700 odd flight hours, many of Blue Angels type maneuvers. Probably some significant stress and wear on that airframe due to the type of flying. There probably was a good reason that aircraft was retired.


      Not at all - the maintenance schedule on military aviation is extraordinarily rigorous, because of the type of flying that is done and because much of the equipment (for its time) is cutting edge, at least mechanically speaking.


      The maneuvers that the Blue Angels and Thunderbirds do are the same maneuvers that all of the pilots of those aircraft perform. It's just that the demonstration teams perform them as a group. My old naval aviation buddies tell me that the Blue Angels' jets actually get easier use than the regular jets. They certainly don't have to make any arrested landings or catapault takeoffs!


      -h-

  6. I wonder how much it would cost to fully arm it? by baywulf · · Score: 5, Funny

    "I wonder how much it would cost to fully arm it?"

    I would guess it would cost about 5 years in camp X-ray.

  7. Kick Ass by barenaked · · Score: 5, Funny

    I wonder if they include a free tank of gas with the purchase....

  8. Sounds like fun by StuWho · · Score: 5, Funny

    I think I'll buy it... It's time the war against the RIAA, SCO, and Microsoft became more than just a metaphor! Warn Redmond air traffic control to expect me soon...

    --
    "If you think nobody cares if you're alive, try missing a couple of car payments." Earl Wilson
  9. If you have the cash...buy it assembled by SquierStrat · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Being a aviation mechanic for the Marine Corps, I'm going to tell you that you want hte thing flight worthy...the assembly isn't something you would want to tackle yourself. In short: it's a bitch.

    And to the person doubting you could get an LOA for it...that's crap. The question is would you want to fly it?

    --
    Derek Greene
    1. Re:If you have the cash...buy it assembled by paganizer · · Score: 5, Interesting

      Hmm.
      I'm an ex-navy fire control & Avionics tech for this bird (lot 12 being the last one I worked on).
      What say we see who buys it and offer ourselves as ground crew? I've got a friend who's a BB stacker, just need a power guy...
      Assuming, of course, that it has the AN/APG-65 radar/avionics package still onboard; thats what I can't see the Navy willing to let fall into private hands, but I also can't see the bird flying without it, it's fairly integrated.

      --
      Why, yes, I AM a Pagan Libertarian.
  10. Lawn Ornament by EverlastGobstopp · · Score: 5, Funny

    "So unless you're ex-military, you'd have yourself a $9 million lawn ornament." I would love to have a F/A-18 sitting out on my lawn. In the fall I could use the afterburners to clear all the leaves from my yard. In the winter they could melt the snow on my driveway. I haven't thought of a use for spring and summer yet...

  11. Odd... by barryfandango · · Score: 5, Funny

    Listed in category: Consumer Electronics > Radios: CB, Ham & Shortwave > Ham Radio > Accessories > Antennas

    For a million bucks this better get good reception.

    --
    In all matters of opinion, our adversaries are insane. -Oscar Wilde
  12. How are they serious? by lostchicken · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Looking at the minimun bid of $1 mil, that means that there have, so far, been 7 people willing to fork over $1,000,000 for something. Now, looking at the feedback for these people, I can't possibly see how some of them could pay for this. wtmahan has bought repair manuals for a 1995 Nissan Protege. Anybody who drives one of those, and wants to fix it him/herself probably cannot afford an F/A-18. The current high bidder has bought a bunch of shirts and a $15,000 Porche, not cheap, but not a car for a person who can spend $1mil on an airplane kit.

    --
    -twb
  13. Re:And they wonder why... by MoonBuggy · · Score: 5, Funny

    I'm calling it an investment. I figure when the *IAA sees my hard drive it'll be cheaper to have a kitted up fighter jet to deal with the problem than it would be to pay what they ask.

  14. then again... by Jafafa+Hots · · Score: 5, Funny

    it could possibly cost LESS for a private citizen.

    I was able to buy a toilet seat for ten bucks instead of six grand.

    --
    This space available.
    1. Re:then again... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

      But were you able to fund a place like A51 with the $5,990 left over?

    2. Re:then again... by RetroGeek · · Score: 5, Funny

      I was able to buy a toilet seat for ten bucks instead of six grand.

      Well, ok, but with a toilet seat YOU supply the fuel.

      --

      - - - - - - - - - - -
      I am a programmer. I am paid to produce syntax not grammar. Deal with it.
    3. Re:then again... by AhBeeDoi · · Score: 5, Funny
      So the "pays for Area 51" comments are probably accurate, but anyone who tries to pay their income taxes by dragging a Mr. Coffee and a used toilet seat into the IRS office and asking for two hammers in change is an idiot.

      Well, that explains the looks I got.

  15. Re:And the top bidder is... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    His prior winning bids include a Porsche 911 for $14K, a copy of Windows Business Server, and a MCSE certification kit. I guess MCSE really does pay off after all...

  16. Re:Ellison? by the+melon · · Score: 5, Informative

    It is actually a doctor who owns it. I saw a program on Discovery Wings a year or two ago that had him and the plane in it. They gave his name but I cannot remember what it was.

    He said the only real restriction that was on the plane was one that is on all civilian aircraft: No supersonic flight over US airspace.

  17. 9 million seems expensive by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Interesting

    After the breakup of the Soviet bloc you could pick up migs for salvage or scrap from abandoned bases in Eastern Europe and East Germany. These went for thousands or mere hundreds of dollars rather than millions, and many were fully working units. Most were bought up for scap and stripped down for titanium and other resources. Many however just 'disappeared'.

    Look at some figures for the armaments in East Europe pre 1989, and then see if you can find any stories which account for what happened to all that military gear. You may be slightly worried.

  18. Wait, our choice of paint? by The+Human+Cow · · Score: 5, Funny

    Does that mean that I can finally have a flying Goatse?

    --
    The Human Cow - bringing you scrumtrelescence since 1995
  19. Current highest bidder... by mrmag00 · · Score: 5, Funny

    I have to wonder what this fellow is into that is the current high bidder.

    According to his feedback he purchased a 19" roulette wheel, later 2 microsoft t-shirts, a microsoft training guide, then microsoft small business server, and finally a 1979 Porche. He's now bidding on a 1-million dollar aircraft.

    It just makes me wonder what this fellow is up to... and if I should be doing it too!

  20. Current high bidder by phorm · · Score: 5, Funny

    It's neat to see whom actually bids on these things. Checking out the comments on the high bidder:

    Perfect Transaction, Fast payment, True Gentleman, Please enjoy your PORSCHEAAA+

    and another less happy:
    only 1 bid & insisted that I sell him a MichaelJordan/ XP Bus Server SW for 9.99
    $gt; A winning bid is a winning bid; my friend! Period! ! ! Now ship my product!!!


    Quite amusing... these people live in a different world than I. Enjoy your PORSCHEAAA+ indeed

  21. think it 's a scam by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Interesting

    I knew the rohntowers.com sounded familiar... The guy (Micheal Landa) has an alleged checkered past: http://www.bishoptower.com/landa/