rickair7777

I know a guy who got one for about $20K. But then he spent $100K on a good ejection seat (hasn't used it yet).

Airhoss

That's good news! Those ejection seats are expensive to replace.

USMCFLYR

TW -

Mine isn't a L-39 type rating, but I have a type rating for the A-4L that I contracted with and it is on my certificate as you explained above:
Authorized Experimental Aircraft DC-A4. I trained in a two seat version TA-4 though so the examiner gave me an oral and rode along for the checkride.

I was also had the opportunity to train in a single seat jet that requires a type rating and as dustrpilot explained the oral was to be given by the examiner and then they watched you takeoff, fly around the pattern, land and taxi in (which was one of the hardest parts of the flight )

I have a friend who was recently trained in either the L-29 or -39 just north of Birmingham, Alabama. I'll have to ask him for the details.

USMCFLYR

UAL T38 Phlyer

The site north of Birmingham is a big L-39 operation. (Intenational Jets; http://www.internationaljets.com/com...formation.html). They have Russian and Czech pilots there for orientation rides and checkouts.

Check Trade-a-plane. There are usually about 20 for sale; 8 as I write this. As a guess, there are close to 200 operating in the US. Prices range from about $125,000 to nearly $300,000. (Look under Warbird and Aero, for Aerovodochy). The price range includes time until overhaul, paint, and how westernized the avionics are.

http://www.trade-a-plane.com/search?...ze=25&s-page=1

The L-39, made in Czechoslovakia, was the best Eastern-bloc trainer until the wall came down. Most of the Warsaw Pact countries used them, and even Russia I believe started using them.

The engine is a turbofan, about 3500 lbs thrust. Cost of operation would be roughly half of a Lear 35. From what I hear, they are nice airplanes to fly. They are not supersonic...they'll do about 275 straight and level (indicated), but I think they can hit about 400-ish in a dive. Considered fairly mechanically reliable, especially for a warbird (think similar to Lear 35 again).

There have been some high-profile crashes--including the owner of Atlas Air, and a United pilot on a demo team---but the Atlas was attributed to not closing the canopy properly, then looking back to see what was wrong (CFIT),; the UAL pilot is believed to be G-LOC.

Its younger, homlier sister, the L-29, can be had for about $25-30k.

And, if you really want to get your Walter Mitty going, there are usually a couple of MiG-21s for sale on trade-a-plane, too (4 right now). Similar prices as the L-39. But it would easily drink 1000 gallons an hour, and you would want to have some serious military jet time in a difficult airplane (like an F-4) before you would want to tackle a MiG.

http://www.trade-a-plane.com/search?...ze=25&s-page=1

USMCFLYR

I'm sure that is the place. I haven't talked to him since he went through the training. I'll have to get an update.

Through a friend of a friend type of thing, I toured a guy's hangar at Ellington Field who has two of the the nicely restored (meaning new paint and NICELY updated glass cockpits) L-39s. They certainly look like a fun airplane to take up for a short day flight and bend around for a little while. I could see them being used for those 'Be A fighter Pilot' for a day type of operations. Taking someone out for a guns weave, roller, flats, and tail chase, and a little parade formation to/from the working area on a daily basis wouldn't be a bad way to itch the flying bug

USMCFLYR

DrangonStar45

Would also be cool to take it for a $100 burger with a date

2StgTurbine

So that would mean you taxi it from the hangar to the restaurant already at the airport.

N9373M

Skywarriors at Charlie Brown Field in ATL did that in T34s in the 90s. They had 4 planes outfitted with lasers/smoke and cameras. Formation taxi and takeoff, on the way to the practice area they'd hand over the plane and we'd get to practice formation and then some flat gun shots. We flew 2 merges utilizing hi yo-yos and reversals. There was a little time for solo acro between merges. It was $600 for each of the 4 phase syllabus. At the end you'd debreif with your "opponent" with sync'd videos from each plane. I've got to get my video moved to DVD from VHS. Unfortunately one of the planes lost a wing during high-g maneuvering, killing both pilots in 1999.

USMCFLYR

I've heard of the places using T-34s before. I might have even heard of the mishap you reference. I would like to do that type of flying part-time.

USMCFLYR

DrangonStar45

If I was a Regional FO than that would happen.