WIX Archives

More opinion...

Posted by bdk on Wed Nov 26, 2003 01:16:56 PM

In reply top Re: As their value rises...? posted by Rob Mears on Wed Nov 26, 2003 11:30:06 AM

Historical significance notwithstanding, I think the main problem is that the swept wing (or supersonic) jets require a greater level of skill and training to fly SAFELY than do most of the other types. Not many can afford the fuel burn to maintain currency.

I think that owning and flying an F-104 is ridiculous, but I don't deny anyone the right to do it, and I would like to see it. In fact, I saw the first civilian owned F-104 (discounting Darryl Greenameyer's effort) assembled and test flown at Chino, as well as the first T-38 fly that was built for Chuck Thornton.

When complete Mig-15 projects are advertised for under $30k, I don't think that we will run out of them anytime soon. It certainly would not pay to repair a seriously damaged one for a long time.

I guess that this is your chance to become the next Walter Soplata. Just buy up all these jets when they are cheap and hang onto them for a few (maybe 40) years! :-)

: You have to admit that in the relative spectrum of general
: public opinion the Mig-15 is considered slightly more his
: torically significant than say a PV-2 Harpoon, and definit
: ely the Fouga.
:
: I think it might be just a little short sighted to resign
: the Mig-15 to the "throw away" pile just because it doesn'
: t have a propeller on its nose :) Availability and attrit
: ion are the only two factors standing in the way of the fu
: ture increase in the Mig-15's perceived value, or that of
: any warbird or collectible for that matter.
:
: Your post is scarily reminiscent of the attitude shared by
: the general majority during the 1950s/60s - just before t
: he critical mass of the warbird movement really began to i
: lluminate the true value of the WWII-era combat aircraft.
: I can also remember the days when the reality of a T-38 T
: alon, F-4 Phantom, or even an F-104 Starfighter ending up
: operating in the private sector was ridiculous to even con
: template.
:
: IMO the initial flash of curiosity over the Mig was based
: on the simple fact that their nonexistence in the Western
: market was replaced by a deluge of airframes over a short
: period of time. It was the "cheap new toy" for anyone wil
: ling to pass up buying a new Corvette to acquire an inexpe
: nsive fighter import. The newness of their intrigue dulle
: d because of the relatively large amount of surplus airfra
: mes imported over a short period of time and the "entry le
: vel jet" status they inherited because of the low cost of
: acquiring one.
:
: As with any warbird, supply and demand will ultimately dic
: tate how hot an item they will become. My understanding a
: s related in my original post is that there are effectivel
: y no more early Migs available for export to Western count
: ries. If that's the case, even the blind would be hesitan
: t to place a glass ceiling over the Mig's potential value
: given its historical significance.
:
: Of course that's just my opinion ;)

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