Cheapest jet warbird?

[Stephan Wilkinson]

Am I correct in assuming that the CASA Saeta is the least expensive way to get into true jet warbirding? Or is the Delfin or Magister even cheaper? (I never knew, by the way, that the Saeta was designed by Willy Messerschmitt...)

[The Inspector]

Could be, there was a guy around Everett/Arlington WA who had one years ago. It was in love with cement, accelerated like a crazed garden snail, took an hour to make pattern altitude, and was so noisy that dogs in it's path became queasy and if you left on a long cross country carrying a damp packet of seeds you were likely to arrive with a small forest .

[Stephan Wilkinson]

And worst of all, it looks like a catfish.

[The Inspector]

And worst of all, it looks like a catfish.

Spanish built FIATS (SEAT) aren't terribly attractive either

[b17engineer]

I think it goes back to the old adage, If you have to ask, you can't afford it. Meaning, buying the plane can be realively cheap. Paying for parts, insurance, maintenance and fuel it what'll kill you.

[Stephan Wilkinson]

Yes, I understand that, but assumedly it's all relative. What I'm looking for is the answer to the question, "Which is the least expensive true jet warbird type on the used-aircraft market?" (Let's assume "in good airworthy condition," so we're not talking about junk F-104 going for $50,000, say...)

My reason for asking: I'm doing a cover story on Willy Messerschmitt for Aviation History Magazine. Messerschmitt designed the CASA Saeta (originally designated HA 200). I would like to be able to write that "Saetas are still flying, in the hands of U. S. and European enthusiasts in search of the cheapest way to get involved in true jet warbirding."

If it's true, that is...

Obviously I can do a search of Delfin, Saeta and Magister going prices, but I thought I'd ask here first.

[Mike]

Are there many Saetas still in airworthy condition? I know a bunch of cheap ones flooded into the US in the 1980s, but they all seem to have vanished into the back corners of hangars nowadays.

[Kyleb]

Iskra?

[Fouga23]

Fouga Or some Soviet jet like an Iskra, yes

[Mike]

Or some Soviet jet like an Iskra, yes

And there was me thinking they were Polish!

[Elwyn]

And worst of all, it looks like a catfish.

I always thought the Handley Page Victor had a nose that reminded my of a crawdad.

[Hunterfan]

Jet Provost?

[kscessnadriver]

And worst of all, it looks like a catfish.

Spanish built FIATS (SEAT) aren't terribly attractive either

SEAT is actually a VW product.

That said, the Saeta is one ugly plane. If someone gave me one, I wouldn't complain.

[The Inspector]

And worst of all, it looks like a catfish.

Spanish built FIATS (SEAT) aren't terribly attractive either

SEAT is actually a VW product.

That said, the Saeta is one ugly plane. If someone gave me one, I wouldn't complain.

Up until 1981 when the Spanish government basically abandoned all native auto manufacturers, they got most of their engineering and most of their parts from FIAT. In 1982 VW stepped in and today they are Spanish VW's.
Same with SKODA which used to be the european version of 'Oh, I see you bought a DeSoto' but now is part of VW too.

[mlenoch]

The Inspector wrote: " accelerated like a crazed garden snail "

You mean a slug!

Did you ever try lawn surfing with slugs? OR- Pour salt on them & they will scream!! Ha!

VL