HiTechs next airplane

[VWE]

http://www.usedaircraft.com/boardview.cfm?BBSID=6472&GroupID=13&CatCode=NOR

This aircraft was originally rebuilt to airworthy standards by Sierra Hotel at Addison airport, I saw her fly a few times out but never knew where she dissapeared to. I've even go a video of her taking off with the airbrake deployed!

[Gunslinger]

The only problem with buying a jet like that, as I see it, is the fact that it has ejection seats.  Per the FAA if it has seats they need to be maintained per mil standard.  The explosives in those seatsneed to be changed out regularly as they expire.  A simple thing such as a drogue chute cart. can run as much as $5k a piece.

Pretty cool otherwise.  I allways liked the F100

[VWE]

Those seats are de-activated... makes you fly extra careful knowing you gotta get 'er down in order to get out. That's partly why you see so many L29/39 accidents that kill the occupants, dissabled ejection seats.

P.S. Part of the registration process into experimental catagory is the de-activation of most militairy gear. Things like drop tanks can be usable but not dropable. The only ex-militairy jets I know of that still have ejection seats that work are the ones that are on contract flying as aggressor aircraft.

[Chairboy]

The real killer is operating costs.  4,000 to 5,000lbs of fuel an hour at 90 percent RPM, and that's not w/ afterburner.

[Bodhi]

Originally posted by VWE
Those seats are de-activated... makes you fly extra careful knowing you gotta get 'er down in order to get out. That's partly why you see so many L29/39 accidents that kill the occupants, dissabled ejection seats.

P.S. Part of the registration process into experimental catagory is the de-activation of most militairy gear. Things like drop tanks can be usable but not dropable. The only ex-militairy jets I know of that still have ejection seats that work are the ones that are on contract flying as aggressor aircraft.

Seats are not required to be deacticated, but getting the charges is near impossible to ensure workability.   Plus, if you eject and that aircraft hurts persons or property, your arse is going to get sued into bankruptcy plus some. Drop Tanks can be droppable, but only in an emergency, or if "proper precautions are taken to ensure no damage to person(s) or property on the ground".   Add to that the fact that most of these drop tanks are getting harder to find, and dropping them is just not an option.

[Guppy35]

Kinda makes you wish the USAF had a heritage flight of their own.

They could maintain and fly that thing I'm sure.

Maybe Collings Foundation could add it to their jet stable to go with the F4D and TA4 they fly.

[Odee]

Originally posted by Guppy35
Kinda makes you wish the USAF had a heritage flight of their own.

They could maintain and fly that thing I'm sure.

Maybe Collings Foundation could add it to their jet stable to go with the F4D and TA4 they fly.

You mean you never heard of the CAF?  Formerly Confederate Air Force... recently renamed the Commemorative Air Force to be PC to the NAACP who must think there are a bunch of Rebel flag laden WW2 planes flying the Battl of Bull Run.

Here's a link to the National Capital Museum I frequent.  And here are the guys that started it all with  The GHOST SQUADRON out of Texas.

[moot]

Originally posted by Odee
recently renamed the Commemorative Air Force to be PC to the NAACP who must think there are a bunch of Rebel flag laden WW2 planes flying the Battl of Bull Run.

[Odee]

Originally posted by moot

Yeah...