Warbird Information Exchange

Hello All

I have a friend that I have known for 16 years and has always been true to his word and has always delivered. (I know...... rare)

My friend (He wants to stay at arms length at the moment) Has the rights to sell 2 fresh overhauled Bears. More information will be forthcoming such as airframe time etc ... but they were built in the 80s. I will post photos as well, once i am cleared in hot.

QUESTION IS.... they will be flown out of a Friendly nation and he wanted to know the appetite for such an aircraft. The asking price is less than 10M USD for each aircraft.

Personally I think it would be cool but i dont have the spare change for that baby!

Serious feedback appreciated

I'll buy 'em, as soon as that nice lady from Nigeria tranfers her late husband's fortune to my checking account.

SN

IF (Not holding my breath) this is legit, I seriously the US govt. would allow them to be operated in the U.S. MAYBE flown in to a museum and put on static, but I doubt that would even happen. Not to mention the fact it would cost several million to operate for even a couple of years, and where the heck would you get parts? [BS meter] PEGGED [/BS meter]

If I were director at Dayton and this was indeed legit, I would sure as heck find a way to get one of those birds in my museum. Would make one heck of an addition to the Cold War Hangar.

Zack

_________________
Volunteer Coordinator/Curator - Military Aviation Museum - Virginia Beach, VA
"America's Flying Museum"
http://www.militaryaviationmuseum.org

Only three countries use the TU-95; Russia, Ukraine, and India.

It is not entirely out of the question for an example to be obtained from the Ukraine. And; if the aircraft in question is a TU-95U, then I don't see what the problem is.

Other than money........

The Govt won't even let our former birds into civilian hands much less a Soviet Nuclear capable bomber. That would be on par with civil ownership of F-14 parts

Yeah, the government tends to frown on private citizens owning intercontinental nuclear delivery systems.

Paging Mr. Paul Allen...

_________________
-Al Sauer
http://www.flickr.com/photos/spookythecat

Well I will not profess how legit it is or not .... What I know of my friend over the last 16 years is that he has brought in many odd things from the former USSR and has been doing so for years legit. I will be able to confirm more as he finishes translating the documentation.

As for FAA ..... I would assume that if the a/c is demilled, there should be no issues importing a non us manufactured aircraft no?


V

THere was talk of the NMUSAF getting a bear at one time. I don't remember all of the details, as I was never 100% in the conversation, but I do remember that it was to the point that they ahd serial numbers of the aircraft they wanted. This was about a year ago.

_________________
Chris Henry
EAA Aviation Museum Manager

Well the Bear is certainly on my "short list" of rare types I'd like to see/hear fly. Whew...near
10 million.. May be awhile before I get that experience.

The Ukraine isss having a rough time..head-butting with Putin trying to return
the fold to the 'glory days' has had its costs..

_________________
He bowls overhand...He is the most interesting man in the world.
"In Peace Japan Breeds War", Eckstein, Harper and Bros., 3rd ed. 1943(1927, 1928,1942)
"Leave it to ol' Slim. I got ideas...and they're all vile, baby." South Dakota Slim
"Ahh..."The Deuce", 28,000 pounds of motherly love." quote from some Mojave Grunt
DBF

It should be relatively easy to import. It may take a while to get a maintenance program approved but probably not impossible. I'm sure it would take a while to translate the manuals as you would have to prove to the FAA that you would be able to support it from a maintenance standpoint. On the other hand if it already has a civil airworthiness certificate from a country the US already has a recprocal agreement with it mat not have to have a US N number to operate here. Antonovs are operating in the US with regularity.

The sad situation is, that you would be able to import it mainly because it's not US built.

_________________
"You cannot invade the mainland United States. There would be a rifle behind each blade of grass..."
Admiral Isoruku Yamamoto

if this is allowed to happen the department of home land security will tell you that osama bin laden has his pen & check book ready!!

_________________
tom d. friedman - hey!!! those fokkers were messerschmitts!! * without ammunition, the usaf would be just another flying club!!! * better to have piece of mind than piece of tail!!

Just imagine if the situation was reveresed... A Ukrainian/Russian/Indian person was going to purchase a B-52...

Im all in favor of seeing a Bear here in the US.

_________________
Share your story: Rutgers Oral History Archive http://oralhistory.rutgers.edu/

Like Fifi

_________________
Don't touch my junk!!