Pot Stirrer...

[Old SAR pilot]

Hmmm...The French Navy recently retired their F-8s. Availability? Also, the Luftwaffe F-4Fs are being phased out. Then there's the Italian Air Force F-104S's. Hows about an F-101 Voodoo (Canada, mebbee?) Heard there was a RAF Tornado F3 for sale, as well...

[hueyfan]

What would the Board think is the most modern military jet in civilian hands?

my guess:

Art's Sea Harrier
Collins F-4 Phantom
the 3 or 4 restored and updated A4's flying.
the T-38s and F-5s flying
The 2 or 3 Mig 29's.

I think the list above contains aircraft that are currently in military inventories flying or have just recently been phased out.

[CAPFlyer]

Don't forget the Cold War Air Museum has 2x Mi-24D's (which the Bulgarians were flying until just before their sale and are still flying the Mi-24V and F) and 2x Mi-2's (which are still operational with many militaries). I don't remember the age on their MiG-23UB, but it might be newer than the Collings F-4D by a couple years. There's also 2 other MiG-23's flying in the US, of which one I know is a 80's model, so definitely newer.

None of the CWAM aircraft have operational radars as far as I'm aware and I don't think either of the flying MiG-23's have them either as they were trainers and the operators removed the radars even before they were sold into private hands.

[Old SAR pilot]

a couple of Su-27s were sold in the US in recent years and are (were) registered to Meridican, Inc. of Delaware..

[XL446]

Some good suggestions so far, with many types that I would love to see flying (again) some day.
I've often wondered why, with the dozens of F-84's preserved or stored around the world, no one seems to be trying to return one to flying condition. Marginal power and lots of magnesium/corrosion problems, I've been told.

For some really out-of-the-box hopes: when Romania retired its H-5's (Chinese Il-28 copies) about 10 years ago, I was sure some US enthusiast would buy the survivors and put one on the display circuit. Likewise when the PLAAF retired its J6's (MiG-19 copies) and Q5's. So... who is going to surprise us?

(To be slightly more realistic, I'm just hoping I will get the chance to see the Collings F-105, one of the El Paso, TX F-106's, or the Stennis, MS Lightning fly during my lifetime.)

Roger

[bdk]

Fouga or L-29 would be most inexpensive to buy and operate.

[flightsimer]

Fouga or L-29 would be most inexpensive to buy and operate.

The first part is correct... the second is not. we have 4 parked at our field that once made up a jet team and as soon as fuel started to go up in the mid 2000's, they became too expensive to operate.