In your opinion .....

What's the highest valued (complete airframe) warbird in existance today? What would you think would be the absolute most valuable warbird that exists today?
1. Currently flying?
2. Currently static?

Mine:

P-38 Glacier Girl
B-29 Enola Gay

[tulsaboy]

1. Fifi or the Collings B-24 (on an open market)- other than the operating costs, they're probably the aircraft that would be the most expensive to restore from scratch.

2. The B-70 would have to be the most valuable, along with the B-2 in the NMUSAF. Far more valuable than the Enola Gay, IMHO. Historical significance is greater for the Enola Gay than those two, but in terms of valuable aircraft the B-70 and the B-2 are pretty expensive.

kevin

[A2C]

As fanatical as collectors are in Japan, I would think a flying J2M Jack or an almost original Kate would go for a lot.

[CAPFlyer]

I would think that the fact that Ol'927 is older and much, much rarer since there are no known early model B-24's even on static display would make it worth much more than the Collings B-24J of which there are quite a few other static airframes available, including several that are potentially flyable.

However, I would say that the most valuable static aircraft would be a run between the Spruce Goose and the XB-70. The most valuable flying aircraft would be whichever large warbird was most recently restored.

[tom d. friedman]

As fanatical as collectors are in Japan, I would think a flying J2M Jack or an almost original Kate would go for a lot.

i agree, otherwise glacier girl.

As fanatical as collectors are in Japan, I would think a flying J2M Jack or an almost original Kate would go for a lot.

Interesting, explain ... Are there any warbirds flying in Japan today?

[tom d. friedman]

no clue as to flyers in japan, but the japanese are rabid collectors of ww 2 aviation memorabilia. prices they pay are crazy!!!

[Ken]

Value can be subjective since these are essentially priceless artifacts. For what it's worth, I'll say:

1- Upupa Epops
2- Enola Gay