Warbird Information Exchange

http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article ... 02-05-2016

Built between 1950 and 1977, the 36 planes and four helicopters will be sold to interested museums or to private collectors keen on Cold-War military mementos.

Up for auction are several types of combat plane; six Yak-18s, three Mig-15s, three Uti-Migs, four Mig-17s, four Uti-Mig 17s, ten Mig-19s, six Mig-21s and four helicopter Mil Mi-4s.

With modest prices ranging from around 8,000 to 13,000 euros, the Ministry of Defence expects to raise around 435,000 euros in all.

However, selling off these ageing Cold War relics may be tricky. In 2012 and 2013, the Defence Ministry failed six times in a row to sell obsolete aircraft in auction. Officials hope not to not repeat this experience.


What happened? Why no bidders?

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Well if I can't rollerskate around my playpen while smoking and drinking a beer, I'm staying home..

I really can't see that there is any market at all for them(the jets). There's a huge surplus of unwanted experimental and civilian business jets in the U.S. now for sale. THey will probably go to the smelters unless someone can get a govt. contract to convert them into drones or a cheap type of guided missile to use against low tech targets like ISIS.
The Yak-18s have a limited appeal. Are they true Yak-18s with fabric covered wings and fuslegare or all metal CJ's? If a local shop buys them and restores them with fresh fabric and overhauled engines they might fetch $45, 000 USD. maybe, plus shipping. The Yak-18A's that were imported needing work really never caught on.

The auction was postponed... again. I first went there in 2005 trying to get these planes out, have been back several times. They are just sitting in the open not far from the ocean.. the Alb MoD needs to get with the program or they're all gonna be worth nothing before too long.
Problem is no one wants to take responsibility because they have had a lot of problems transitioning from communism to free market. Many have been sent to jail on corruption / bribery charges that when the deals were actually done it wasn't corruption but then later somebody cried foul. You don't want to go to prison in Albania. It's just not worth the risk for the civil servants.

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