19 Jan 2017

Own Your Own Air Force

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Task and Purpose:

An outfit called Raptor Aviation based in Port St. Lucie, Florida, is unloading 20 light-strike aircraft, upgraded French Fouga CM.170 Magisters, custom built in the 1950s for the Israeli Air Force. Known as the Tzukit, this is the jet fighter the IAF trained its pilots on until 2010, and the model even played a role as close support aircraft in the Six-Day War. The plane has a “single midwing, two cockpits in tandem, three-point landing gear, and V-shaped tail assembly,” according to the listing. It also comes equipped with a liquid oxygen system and an anti-collision feature, which could really come in handy since you probably have no idea how to fly one.

But really, how hard can it be?

The whole lot can be yours for just $200,000.

Admittedly, these planes have seen better days. But the lot comes with a ton of spare parts. A little tune up and you’re good to go.

Think about it. No more sitting in traffic, dreaming of running down protesters. No more flying commercial with all those crying babies, obese seatmates, shoe bombers, crazy-flight attendants, and all the other rabble. Need a little vacay? Pop over to the Vineyard or the British Virgin Islands, and bring a friend (there’s two cockpits!). And for anyone thinking of seceding from the United States, a fleet of fighter jets is sort of a must.

So forget the fishing boat. This is your destiny. They call you “Maverick” — wild, dangerous, unpredictable, arrogant. You fly by the seat of your pants. There’s a bandit on your tail. You’re on a highway to the danger zone, and Kelly Mcgillis won’t leave you alone. As long as your ego isn’t writing checks your body can’t cash, you’ll have nothing but clear skies ahead.

Read the whole thing.

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2 Feedbacks on "Own Your Own Air Force"

D.

This plane was the jet fighter of the French Air Force between the late 50s and the 60s. Photos and videos of it may be easily deceptive because its size is much smaller than the average jet fighter we may have in mind. When getting close to it, one discovers that it is a surprisingly tiny plane, with a tiny front landing gear whose tire has a diameter smaller than a dinner plate. The cabin is as narrow as a glider’s. And, as a matter of fact, a glider or a small U2 replica, a toy, is a first idea that comes to your mind when you are are about to “climb” in it. It is very low on the ground too. With my 6′ 5″ I have been unable to slip in it, and closing the canopy would have been impossible anyways, even without a helmet. The two air intakes of the single jet engine (very small too) are the only features that remind you that it is not a glider. The Fouga Magister is probably the smallest or one of the smallest jet fighters ever built. The only other cockpit that made me a similar feeling of claustrophobia was this of the old German Messerschmidt Bf 109 (which looks much bigger than a Fouga otherwise), in which I have been able to seat however. But its canopy is still smaller to the point that it seemed to me barely larger than my head! Unsurprisingly, the Fouga Magister had a reputation of being sober on kerosene. Check whether you can slip in it before dreaming of buying one!



pigpen51

I am not a high roller, by any means, and I do know that the up keep of any air craft is expensive, whether flying it or not. However, the asking price of 200K$ doesn’t actually seem to be that bad for such a plane as one of these. If one were a collector and wanted to add to their stable, this might be a nice little bargain. You see how I was able to say that without cracking myself up? One can only do that on the internet. Seriously, though, this is a neat post, and I bet that they do sell.



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