Owning a warbird

[randombeaner]

Just in case I get filthy rich one of these days... (hey I can always wish), and I find myself finally having the money to buy myself a MiG-15 and/or a P-47 (with invasion stripes of course) what are all the legal stuff on doing this.

First of all is it legal to own a warbird?

Do you have to get some type of special approval, or some way to get the gov to know you won't buy ammo for this thing?

Who can buy a warbird, do I have to be in the airforce and/or own a museum to buy one?

Is there any chance I will find someone to buy it from maybe a museum or something?

Will I have to get a special licence/training to fly one?

Thanks in advance.Im always curious about stuff like that. If I ever do buy one, I'll make shure to post some pictures.

[Felix/FFDS]

Just in case I get filthy rich one of these days... (hey I can always wish), and I find myself finally having the money to buy myself a MiG-15 and/or a P-47 (with invasion stripes of course) what are all the legal stuff on doing this.

First of all is it legal to own a warbird?

Yes.

Do you have to get some type of special approval, or some way to get the gov to know you won't buy ammo for this thing?

These days, yes.  Especially the more modern types need import licensing and verification.

Who can buy a warbird, do I have to be in the airforce and/or own a museum to buy one?

How much money do you have?  Kermit Weeks' Spitfire is worth about US1.4Million ...

e any chance I will find someone to buy it from maybe a museum or something?

How much money do you have?  What do you want to trade that would interest the buyer ...  for that matter, why don't you build a replica?  (caveat emptor)

have to get a special licence/training to fly one?

In the US, I don't think you need a "special" license; I believe that you do in the UK,  At any rate, don't expect to get your PPL and jump into a P-51 Mustang without proper training and type certification.

Thanks in advance.Im always curious about stuff like that. If I ever do buy one, I'll make shure to post some pictures.

If you're serious about it, consider starting off with one of the many kitplane warbird replicas.  A few are full size, some are 3/4 size.

Mig-17s are relatively cheap (all things considered).  There's a fellow that has a DH Vampire parked in Kissimmee, FL, and flys it about once or twice a year... at $500/hr, overall, it's not cheap to fly (not that it can fly the full hour anyway)

You could go into a partnership and restore a warbird

[randombeaner]

thanks for the response good Idea, I've always wanted to have my own aircraft company, I could rebuild and make aircraft.. first things first I got to finish my high school, and play the lottery !

hmm the MiG-17 sounds nice, I'll take it!

[Craig.]

speak to ozzy he is in the process of buillding his own

[Hagar]

Some companies specialise in warbird restoration. In some cases these are complete rebuilds, virtually brand-new aircraft. The late Charles Church once told me if I could find a genuine Spitfire ident plate he could build me a Spitfire to attach it to. Of course, I would also have to part with lots of cash to make it worth his while.

If you have enough money you could buy a warbird, jump straight in it & fly it (or try to). This would obviously not be a good idea unless you were already familiar with the type. Many companies specialise in conversion training. Check out the Aircraft Restoration Company. http://www.arc-duxford.co.uk/
This is owned & run by the well-known restorer & display pilot John Romain. When the Spitfire Tr.9 trainer is ready he will be able to offer proper conversion courses on the Spitfire. Most owners of these warbirds are not only wealthy but also experienced pilots. I know some who own more than one. They like to display them & have display licences themselves.

PS. As the regulations stand, privately owned jets with afterburners are not allowed to fly in the UK. This is the reason for a beautiful MiG 21 being tucked away in a shed at Coventry Airport instead of part of the UK warbird display scene.

[ozzy72]

Replicas are definately an option, and you can get the performance and looks for a lot less money, and also cheaper insurance and running costs. Also if you've built it yourself you'll know how to fix it if things go wrong
I'm working on a Marcel Jurca MJ100 (although its on hold at the moment due to a baby, so I spend time working with father-in-law on his Cub replica which we're just starting).
As for second hand Soviet jets, yes you can buy them, but running them is terrifyingly expensive, not to mention the problems of parts and people to maintain them, as a jet is a horribly complex machine, even the early ones. There is an excellent article on this in the Sept. issue of Aeroplane.
Really to run a jet you need wads of cash!!!

Mark

Ps. I spent over a year researching my options before making a decision... I still haven't sussed which engine to go for yet

[randombeaner]

I would love to rebuild them and fly them at airshows... good stuff.

Just out of curiosity, how did you begin to build/rebuild Ac.
Did you start with a family bussiness, find a job at a restoration plant, or get some special training?

Im going to get a degree in aerospace Engineering, but any pointers on how to get started with this type of work?

[ozzy72]

I got started literally by accident, I was looking around to get flying again in an affordable way, but viewed microlights as death traps, and you won't get me in a glider either!
So by accident I discovered replica Spitfires, and eventually decided that I had to be realistic, I'm a big chap so I needed a full-sized model (and hell it would look much better ). So I started to learn all I could about home-building, got books, read websites etc.
Then forked out the dough, then father-in-law got interested and decided he'd really like a Cub, he is a retired engineer, and amazing at making things, so thats how it all begun. Now we're both in trouble with the womenfolk

[Felix/FFDS]

Ps. I spent over a year researching my options before making a decision... I still haven't sussed which engine to go for yet

There must be a few thousand Trabant engines around in Germany from which you can cobble out a complete engine...

[ozzy72]

I'd be better off with an elastic band Felix

[C]

I'd be better off with an elastic band Felix

Or a hamster wheel...  ;)

Charlie

[C]

Just out of curiosity, how did you begin to build/rebuild Ac.
Did you start with a family bussiness, find a job at a restoration plant, or get some special training?

Many people involved in this business start out as "hangar rats" - helping out at weekends at their local clubs etc. After that it can often be down to who you know - particularly in the warbird arena - being invited to fly someone's aeroplane somewhere down the line - of course if you own it this is easier...

Im going to get a degree in aerospace Engineering, but any pointers on how to get started with this type of work?

Good luck with a degree - it's a good place to start - if you have somewhere local go and ask if there is anything you can do for them - even if its menial to start with you can only work upwards...

Charlie

[Hagar]

I got started literally by accident, I was looking around to get flying again in an affordable way, but viewed microlights as death traps, and you won't get me in a glider either!
So by accident I discovered replica Spitfires, and eventually decided that I had to be realistic, I'm a big chap so I needed a full-sized model (and hell it would look much better ). So I started to learn all I could about home-building, got books, read websites etc.

Sounds dodgy to me. Think I'd go for the microlight.

[Woodlouse2002]

Just out of curiosity, how did you begin to build/rebuild Ac.
Did you start with a family bussiness, find a job at a restoration plant, or get some special training?

Find yourself an aircraft that needs rebuilding and start rebuilding it learning as you go. Once you've done one then you can start up a business.

[Hagar]

Many people involved in this business start out as "hangar rats" - helping out at weekends at their local clubs etc.

I started out as a "hangar rat" only I was called the "oily rag" in my day. Did everything from clean the aircraft, strap pupils in (nice job when the pupil was a young female) swing the props - to lighting the fire in the clubhouse & cleaning out the bog. You can't buy that sort of experience. Look at me now, a legend in my own lunchtime.

Seriously, Charlie is right. A degree might be useful (in fact it seems you can't do much without one these days ) but it's often a matter of who you know combined with a little luck.