F-5 jet for sale

Curious to what the acquisition and hourly cost on that bad boy would be. Still not sure one can top the two Su-27s that were for sale some years ago in Illinois for $5mm a pop.

 

Maybe Harrison Ford would be interested? Surely it could not be as bad as the maintenance on those two privately owned F-104 Starfighters...

 

Taz or somebody who really knows will probably jump in here, but I personally believe it wouldn't be bad at all. The engines are basically the same as those on a Learjet 20 series airplane, only with afterburners. Given the light weight of the airplane, it should burn less than a 24/25... assuming you can get high enough. Down low, playing around, it will still burn quite a bit.

Those engines are very reliable and parts are available, so that's not so bad. That leaves you with airframe parts, and I can't imagine those are that much of an issue either.

I've always heard that is why T-38s sell in the millions, while other military jets can be had for $100k or less-- because the T-38 (or F-5, basically the same) can actually be operated on a reasonable budget.

I do believe it requires air start, which limits where you can go, although maybe there is a mod to give it electric start.

 

It ain't the cost of the airplane



It is all the expenses.

An owner wrote to bring buckets of money.

 

IIRC at one time there was only one F5 in private hands. If this is that same plane it was built from two wrecks that were mistakenly surplussed. The AF was PO'd that the plane was put together and they supposedly had a miserable time getting a ticket for it. If all of the subsystems are the same as the T38 then the parts might be easy to get, but because there are folks owning these that the US does not want to have spares for, things could get dicey

 

If you look more closely at the T-38s, you'll see that the vast majority of those belong to NASA. Boeing has a couple as well.

 

Wow. Almost enough to get me into the long program that would have me flinging that thing around the open skies.

Plus, if it were eligible(I've not even looked at regs) , you might clean the clocks of some Foujets and L39s put at Stead field.

If I come into the realm where it could be a consideration, I would do it real fffaaaassssttttt.


Just one question. 20s are ok if registered right? Might have to fly a zig zagged flight path though. No fly in Cali and Mass. A lot of good airspace in Texas though.

And Texas to Reno ain't bad. How bout a liesure hop, Vegas - Reno, to go up and clean clock.

Oh please. Oh please.

 

Looking at the lines. The F5 is more attractive than the T38. And that's hard to do.


Sex sells.

 

the only F5 was the coke/pepsi plane in the intro to ''top gun'' 25+ years ago

 

That would be so cool to own. However, I think the sex appeal would go up immensely if it had a 2nd seat!

 

That's what I would think. Market for this is limited to those with access to either a T-38, or were typed for the F-5 when they were in service.

Super hot plane, though. Paint it black and give it Top-Gun markings FTW!!

 

That is why F-5s are worth so much less than T-38s.

The prudent thing to do would be to find a T-38 and get some dual in it first. Given that the F-5 was designed to be flown by third world air force pilots, I don't imagine it's too difficult if you've flown high performance jets before.

 

All my friends that flew F-5s said they were very easy to fly, like the T-38, only with improved maneuverability and power. Felt like an F-4 with all the mass taken out.

Those J-85s are plain old turbo-jets and still use a ton of fuel, and the F-5 has very short legs with realistic reserves. The Thunderbirds hated their T-38s for their short legs, among other things. Often had to make 2, or even 3 (flying west), stops between shows. Made for lots of arrival shows, but.... We saw them often at Cannon AFB, NM when they were flying T-38s in the 70s, because Cannon was about half way to many places.

 

I believe the F-5 had a 2 seat verient

 

Hey all. I am interested in buying a few GE Engine J-85-GE-21 for Northrop F5 E/F. Any leads you can provide would be appreciated. Let me know.

 

No not the same, one has a propellor and radial engine and one is a fighter jet. [emoji23]

I know what you meant to type but I couldn’t resist.

 

Can you convert a CJ610 for that application, or are there more differences than the tailpipe and afterburner?

There should be plenty of CJ610s available, although I don't know how the overhaul situation is these days.

 

I received an email this morning regarding two F-16’s for sale. Yes, F-16’s! I didn’t think that would ever be possible. I didn’t click on the link.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

can you post a screenshot/link? I've seen F4 Phantoms and a number of Migs for sale but never a plane still in the US arsenal for sale.

 

There are so many F-16s out there, we use them for targets now. This one is a QF-16A from 1983.


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