Warbird Information Exchange

Ok this may have been posted on here before but I could not find anything on a search. So guys and gals, what and or which airplane do you think is the most affordable / under priced Warbird out there today? You should also consider operating cost in this equation.
Scott....

Grasshopper? L-39?

TBM. Can't speak for operating cost, but I think they lag the rest of the pack in terms of selling price.

I also think that some of the jet warbirds are an absolute steal. F-86s are a fraction of the cost of a Mustang, and have to be a complete blast to fly. Operating costs have to be pretty steep though.

If you want a "budget warbird", seek out an L-bird...otherwise, that's just an oxymoron.

Bang for the buck....(in my opinion)

Yak 3 or 9 Roughly $300,000.00- 500,000.00......Mustang performance (down low)

Sea Fury Roughly $395,000.00 (I think one just recently sold for that)-650,000.00 Nothing out there will outperform it (stock, anyway).

TBM $150,000.00- 300,000.00 Not the performance of the other two, but definitely a cool ride and you can carry a few of your newest friends in it.

The TBM and Yak will have similar operating costs. The Fury will be much higher. Obviously trainers, L-birds, etc. will be cheaper, but they can be a blast to fly as well.

I hope this at least gives you some ideas. There are surely plenty of other choices than what I've given, but that's just what popped into my head.

Gary

I like the replys, I'm just asking this question to get opinions, I am having a house built so the toys and Warbirds are on the waaaaay back burner! But Have seen some very interesting prices across the market in the last few years.
Scott....

Randy, I have it on pretty good authority that an F-86 handles better than an F-16. I don't know if he wants be quoted, though. Also, I once heard Hoover asked for his favorite plane. He said a Mustang when everything is working right, but since everything never is maybe a F-86. I wonder how practical it is to have a Sabre as your everyday warbird.

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Bill Greenwood
Spitfire N308WK

chinese nanchang, or the russian version, beech mentor, from what i see in trade a plane magazine. some warbirds are cheap to buy, but a money pit to maintain or restore. and with the gas price thing.........well, i guess nothing is a bargain.

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tom d. friedman - hey!!! those fokkers were messerschmitts!! * without ammunition, the usaf would be just another flying club!!! * better to have piece of mind than piece of tail!!

F-86? 500 gallons an hour? That's enough for 42 hours of flight in the
L-5. They do look cool.

I think the C-45/AT series are undervalued as warbirds. You can pick up one for less than 200K or so, in pretty good shape, and operational costs are not going to kill you. The C-47 market is pretty depressed nowadays, and there are a lot out there with real combat history. Both of those aircraft are well supportable.

As far as aircraft designed for combat, I don't think there are deals other than the TBM out there. I keep trying to convince my wife to buy the old FPS one in Canada, which is down to $95,000. But it is now competing with a restored one with prop AD and mid time engine for $165,000.

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REMEMBER THE SERGEANT PILOTS!

Well, the F-86 is a good choice but you simply can't put gas in it.

Next up, L-39 or Sea Fury, the L-39 is cheap and there are lot's of spare parts, ect. Sea Fury, awesome performance, I've heard they're fun to fly, but gas, man it always boils down to gas...

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"There are two types of people here; airshow whores and airshow prostitutes. The whores, like you and I, do airshow stuff for free, whereas the prostitutes are paid" - Reg Urschler

AS far as the L/O birds go, I'd say the O-2's are a great value. They are underpriced compared to the others ( esp the O-2/L-19, and even the T-34). Yes, there are 2 engines to feed, but the parts are off the shelf, the aircraft is unique in appearance. CLT is a huge safety factor, and most are combat vets with easily obtainable histories.

T-41! Mescalero

The jet warbirds are not cheap to operate. We recently traded the T-33 for a SNJ-4 and are very happy now.

On warbird cost.....for purchase price, maybe it should be classified in five, six or seven digit categories. We are after all in a whole new realm of 'the men and the boys and the price of their toys.'
Not being a pilot, I'm content to volunteer on other peoples' stuff. All that costs me is half a tank of gas in the truck.
Just some thoughts.
Canso42.

Propeller driven T-28 especially A model.
Jet L-29

That wouldn't surprise me at all, although it's an interesting choice of words, "handles". The Viper is completely digital and it doesn't really buffett when you play into a turn. Hell, you don't even have a switch to put the flaps down -- it happens automatically when you lower the gear.

Where the Sabre lags is thrust, meaning that it will not sustain a tight turn like the Viper will...

I'd love to fly one, and love to own one. Don't think it's going to happen on an Uncle Sam budget, though.

L-5 For sure!

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Taylor Stevenson