Best "limited budget" warbird investment

[L. Thompson]

Let's say you had $200 to $600K and wanted to buy a couple of warbirds that needed restoration but were fairly sound structurally and relatively complete. For argument's sake travel and international transportation of the airframes not being a huge factor. What might be available and where, that likely will see the most increase in value and popularity over the next ten years? The thought being to sell one in ten years, to help fund the restoration of the second. Parts supply and restoration difficulty/complexity being a serious consideration.

I'm thinking maybe for starters (though maybe I'm way off):

F-86 Sabre variant (including foreign built)
A-26 retired fire bomber
???

Any food for thought?

[bdk]

Buy a plane already restored if you plan to make money on it. Except under unusual circumstances you will be upside down before it is all over.

[FlyingFortB17]

You can buy a restored, airworthy B-25 Mitchell with that cash.

[marine air]

An airshow promoter gave me his top three most desired/difficult to find.
1) B-26 Invader
2) T-33 aerobatic display
3) F-86 preferably aerobatic display

The B-26 is expensive to operate, few are restored to "warbirds" and he said you could line up all the paid events you want."
CHris Rounds in Red knight is the only T-33 act, I can think of and the T-Bird has beautiful lines, is really fast and was used by the USAF from the mid 1940's till almost 1990. Plus they are everywhere in parks and museums so a lot of people identify with the type.
F-86 basically the same reasons as above.
There is an Invader periodically listed with Courtesy Acft. for around $400K that has guns, etc. and is ready to go. If you could get a ride program set up with the FAA you would be the first, and might actually make a little money while attending the paid airshows. WIth your left over money , you would want to build up some spares, and maybe even get long range bombay fuel tanks, oxygen and relief tubes etc. For my money, I would want to "tanker" fuel from my home base and try to make as few fuel stops as possible. Makes more sense to burn that fuel at altitude at "high cruise" and minimizing wear and tear on the aircraft by eliminating enroute stops.
B-25, great aircraft but there are 50 or so airworthy and you won't get that many paid events.

[L. Thompson]

I suspected the best answer was "buy already restored" as advised above but was just making sure.

Understanding that this is just crystal ball stuff (with lots of unknown variables) and no one really knows for sure, let me re-phrase the question:

What do WIXers suppose will be the next "golden egg warbird" in 10-15 years that everybody will say: "I sure wish I'd have bought one or two of those when they were still some around, and still fairly cheap"

[mennie]

Maybe something like this:
http://www.courtesyaircraft.com/N11YK%20and%20Project%20Spec.htm


Restore in some ex-Russia country, do 1830 conversion. You can fly formation and take passengers.

[bdk]

Both an F-86 and a T-33 burn way more fuel than an A-26. T-33 about 360 GPH and F-86 about 500 GPH vs about 160 GPH for the A-26 (cruise numbers)? A-26 is supposed to be an awesome flier as well.

I will predict (since I'm wearing my foil hat right now) that in 10-15 years real estate will have gone up more than warbirds.

[mjanovec]

If I had $600k burning a hole in my pocket, I'd buy this Sabre for $295k.

http://www.courtesyaircraft.com/N8687D% ... 20Mk-5.htm

I'd then use the other $300k to get it flight ready, insure it, and buy tons and tons of fuel. I'd probably want to re-do the cockpit to make it stock, but that could always wait.

[CorsairFreak]

You could try and make these airworthy:
http://www.aircraftbargains.com/ad/ad1091.asp
http://www.aircraftbargains.com/ad/ad1092.asp

There are also several F-100s currently for sale
http://www.airplanemart.com/advertisers ... f87bb4978c

[CorsairFreak]

You could try and make these airworthy:
[/url]http://www.aircraftbargains.com/ad/ad1091.asp[/url]

[/url]http://www.aircraftbargains.com/ad/ad1092.asp[/url]

There are also several F-100s currently for sale
[/url]http://www.airplanemart.com/advertisers/preview_ad.php?opt1=30bb3825e8f631c24d6075c0f87bb4978c[url]

[marine air]

Okay so the rules are to sit on it for ten years? I thought you meant to fly and keep for ten years. Has to be a former military bird;
1) Beechcraft C-12F (King Air 300) The King Air is the Gold Standard for the civilian turbo prop market.
2) Cessna T-41 (C-172) Popular with warbirders, civvy's and with the big engine also a pick of the floatplane operators.
3) Beech T-42 ( BE-55 Baron)
All of these have international appeal in more than one commercial market, all of them have nosewheels, are fast, and have a civilian counterpart that is still in production!

More fun but more $ risk;
1) FLug Werks new build P-51 kit
2) FLug Werks FW-190 kit
3) The nicest Sea Fury you can get-pickle the engine and store it.
Parts appreciate 1.50 times the appreciation of the aircraft, so accumulate the stuff that always gets torn up in gear up landings, nose overs etc.

Can you tell I'm saving my pennies!!

[bdk]

Or just buy this:

YEAR:............... 1950
REGISTRATION:
AIRFRAME TOT
ENGINE TIME(S)

LOCATION AZ


REMARKS:

HARVARD IV PROJECT FOR SALE I'm selling my Harvard IV project for $40000. It is complete except for the R-1340 engine, and propeller. It's a great project that I'd like to keep, but don't have the time to restore it. Contact Chris Miller located Tucson AZ USA. Telephone: (520) 751-1850. -- Posted 15 November 2001

PRICE: $ 40000

CONTACT
INFORMATION: Please mention Aircraftbargains

Chris S. Miller
7501 E Pima St

Tucson 85715
AZ
Phone1: (520)751-1850

[Eric Friedebach]

To some extent I think this depends on how the airshow industry evolves.

[frankspeaks]

go get an FM-2 and be done with it.....

[oscardeuce]

What about an O or L-bird/ Relatively cheap and easy.