Warbird Information Exchange

I have a coworker whose sister wants to surprise her husband with a ride in a jet wardbird (fighter jet was the way she worded it). I showed him what the Collings Foundation has to offer but I couldn't think of any others off the top of my head. I see there are quite a few organizations that offer flights in an L-29 but I'm not sure that's what they have in mind. Are there any other options I should show them before they make a decision? Cost doesn't seem to be an issue and they're willing to travel to get it done.

Thanks in advance!

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Personally I wouldn't want to bother with a ride in an L-29 or an L-39 - those aren't what I think of as "jet warbirds" and they definitely are not jet fighters. The Collings TA-4F or F-4D are rides worth taking if one can afford or qualify to take one. Planes of Fame in Chino, CA was offering rides in their T-33 for members and that was a lot cheaper than the A-4 or F-4. The T-33 is a real classic vintage jet and is basically a two seat F-80 Shooting Star.

At one time you could purchase a VERY expensive ride in a two seat F-104 from The Starfighters in Florida ($30,000?). Don't know if that is an option at this time.

This link has info. on MiG-29 flights in Russia and the F-104 flights (not sure how current it is):

http://www.incredible-adventures.com/index.html

This is what the Living History Flight Experience meeting next week in Washington are all about.

Not to be an a$$ about this but the ONLY jets that you can legally pay for ride in, ARE the Collings Foundation F-4 and TA-4. No other jet offering a ride for hire has a letter of exemption. Letters of exemption are ONLY available to 501C3 organizations and the aircraft must meet the historical criteria. T

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

Thanks for the input guys.

Does the Collings F-100 have an exemption or is it stuck in moratorium limbo?

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It is stuck in moratorium limbo at this time. We are hoping to get it added once the current issues have been resolved.

So are you saying that any operator currently offering strictly 'rides' in a L-29/-39 is doing so illegally? Even the 501C3 ones?

If cost isn't an issue, then I'd say definitely have them check out the Collings jets. Not sure what the F-4 goes for, but they quoted me around $8k/hr for the TA-4.

have them contact international jets in alabama.

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All I did was press this red button here...

http://www.gauntletwarbirds.com/ in the Chicago area (Aurora).

Cost isn't an issue? This would be spectacular:
http://rusadventures.com/tour6.shtml

-Tim

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Keep 'em Flying.

Any operator charging for flights in an experimental jet must have an approved Training Program and a LODA for flight training. The trainee must have the prerequisites to gain the type rating. This is a Washington mandate, the FSDOs have no authority to change the LODA. You can't just pay for ride in an experimental jet and call it training to get around the regs.

If the flight is by a 501C not for profit and the jet doesn't have an exemption letter for the specific aircraft, then the flight for pay, is, well, you know ...

There are only two jets currently in the exemption program, F-4 N749CF, and TA-4 N524CF.

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