Mig-21

Cal Goat said:
I get why the L-39 is so popular, but I don't think anyone here can honestly say that it packs the cool factor of a true cold war fighter. I don't want to talk down to your airplane as it's faster and cooler than anything I've ever flown, but when you put it next to the legends, it really looks like a Toyota Carolla. I say that as humbly as possible, because there's nothing bad about a Carolla, it's just not as interesting [to me] as a Dodge Viper.
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As has been mentioned, when you're paying the gas, maintenance, and insurance bill, "cool" is all in the eye of the beholder. An L-39 may not be a fire-breathing dragon of a fighter, but for most guys who will never fly a "real" fighter the L-39 scratches the itch.

While we're on the topic, let's just get one thing straight: nothing with a jet engine can match the cool factor of anything with a tailwheel and a radial (or V-12) up front.
 
ryan1234 said:
I thought those newer E/Fs were all RVSMd and stuff.

Do you just file "Negative RVSM"?
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I don't know about Supers (I think I have heard that they can accept RVSM), but the legacy Hornet doesn't meet the req's. I've flown above 280, but we do have to let ATC know on check in. Normally not a problem over a lot of the country at least. Heck, I've been up to 390 in a T-45 before as well...
 
Hacker15e said:
While we're on the topic, let's just get one thing straight: nothing with a jet engine can match the cool factor of anything with a tailwheel and a radial (or V-12) up front.
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I love those old warbirds too, but my heart resides with airplanes that shoot flames out the back when you push your right hand forward :)
 
ryan1234 said:
I thought those newer E/Fs were all RVSMd and stuff.

Do you just file "Negative RVSM"?
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Actually you just don't file that you are RVSM.

From fltplan.com:

codes.jpg


...see the final group of codes for RVSM.
 
Hacker15e said:
As has been mentioned, when you're paying the gas, maintenance, and insurance bill, "cool" is all in the eye of the beholder. An L-39 may not be a fire-breathing dragon of a fighter, but for most guys who will never fly a "real" fighter the L-39 scratches the itch.

While we're on the topic, let's just get one thing straight: nothing with a jet engine can match the cool factor of anything with a tailwheel and a radial (or V-12) up front.
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I'm just thinking that when you're talking about any warbird, jet or piston, factoring in the economics is a bit ridiculous. Someone writes checks to keep a couple of F-104s flying. Someone is flying an old Harrier at air shows now. I think there's still an old F-100 putting about. I can't say personally, but imagine the operating costs are just stupid. So working from that logic, I just hope some right rich bastard is looney enough to buy this thing and keep it flying. If I could, I would.
 
Cal Goat said:
I'm just thinking that when you're talking about any warbird, jet or piston, factoring in the economics is a bit ridiculous. Someone writes checks to keep a couple of F-104s flying. Someone is flying an old Harrier at air shows now. I think there's still an old F-100 putting about. I can't say personally, but imagine the operating costs are just stupid. So working from that logic, I just hope some right rich bastard is looney enough to buy this thing and keep it flying. If I could, I would.
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The F-104 operation is somewhat of a business... doing NASA type stuff. The Harrier is owned by a former USMC test pilot (who coincidentally holds the Guinness Record for building and riding the world's smallest bicycle) and has a pretty big crew of ex-mil volunteers to help maintain it. I assume you're also talking about the Collings Foundation F-100... which also has a very large group of volunteers to help make things happen.
 
ryan1234 said:
The F-104 operation is somewhat of a business... doing NASA type stuff.
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Would this be the operation you are talking about? http://www.incredible-adventures.com/starfighter/index.html

If I had the money, I'd definitely do something like this. Of course the cost of the training and flight program costs as much as my airplane did. This company also arranges MiG 29/31 flights in Russia for around the same amount of money.
 
I'll let you fly Non-RVSM in my airspace, but you're going to show me an unrestricted climb from FL200-FL500 :)
 
Hacker15e said:
As has been mentioned, when you're paying the gas, maintenance, and insurance bill, "cool" is all in the eye of the beholder. An L-39 may not be a fire-breathing dragon of a fighter, but for most guys who will never fly a "real" fighter the L-39 scratches the itch.

While we're on the topic, let's just get one thing straight: nothing with a jet engine can match the cool factor of anything with a tailwheel and a radial (or V-12) up front.
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Ya damn right!
 
///AMG said:
I love those old warbirds too, but my heart resides with airplanes that shoot flames out the back when you push your right hand forward :)
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Ignorant heathen.

Someday 'Mach 2 with your hair on fire' won't be new anymore.
 
Apophis said:
Would this be the operation you are talking about? http://www.incredible-adventures.com/starfighter/index.html

If I had the money, I'd definitely do something like this. Of course the cost of the training and flight program costs as much as my airplane did. This company also arranges MiG 29/31 flights in Russia for around the same amount of money.
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That's them... incredible adventures is ridiculously overpriced for nearly everything. $3500 for one skydive from 30,000'.... ygtbsm
 
Okie_Pilot said:
I've always liked watching Randy Ball perform in his Mig-17F. He puts on quite the show...
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Speaking of MiG-17s, I remember participating in a SAR when I was still in the Hog back in '04 for a MiG-17 that disappeared on a flight from ROW to DVT, and was eventually found near Truth or Consequences, NM. The pilot was a UPS pilot and former USMC pilot headed to the PHX area for an airshow and although equipped with a parachute, he never bailed out of the aircraft following reporting fuel transfer malfunctions to ATC while enroute. Aircraft was last seen on ZAB radar to have releasd its droptanks shortly following loss of radar contact. On a XC to KHMN, we swung through the area to see if we could spot anything in the area of interest; one of the last things I did in the Hog jet.
 
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