Exhibition is one of the several possible "experimental" classifications and AFaIK the one that virtually all warbirds are registered with. It used to be that this came with an area restriction the size of which depended on the aircraft involved and flight beyond the restriction (several hundred mile radius) required "authorization" from the FAA but from what I've heard, this restriction was routinely ignored by many. And IIRC by the latest rules there are no more area restrictions on experimental exhibition aircraft.

Well that's good news.

I'll keep researching

You can buy an L39 built in the 1990's for a couple hundred K$$

P51's are several million $$$$

The annual maintenance bill on a P-51 will buy you an L-39.

I think I recall some type of restriction that prohibits experimental aircraft from operating over congested areas. Not sure whether this would have implications for the L39 and how this would affect its utility

It means that with good (aerodynamic braking) technique one can land on a strip that is too short to take off from. As 'fighter jets' go, the L39 doesn't carry a lot of power and different from the landing, there is not much you can do to shorten your takeoff roll.

I browsed around a bit on the L39 forum maybe a year ago after I saw one on the ramp at our little airport and couldn't stop

When looking into the L39 phenomenon I noticed a couple of interesting/odd/disturbing things:

- they gulp a lot of fuel relative to their utility. probably one of the reasons why people tend not to keep them very long. Unless you are ready to spend the purchase price in operating cost over the first 2 years or so, it's probably not right for you.
- a good number of the people in the L39 business seem to be out to screw each other over.
- parts are readily available but there seem to be serious issues with traceability and counterfeit components.
- as I understand it, all you need is 1000hrs and a sign-off from one of the sign-off eligible instructors. Not a formal type rating. The same instructor often also participate in the proceeds of the sale and as such have incentive to get people passed.

If it costs $150K a year to run a TBM then an L39 can't be far off that number.

As for parts and the character of those in the business you're probably right. I can't imagine a lot of competition out there on L39 parts keeping everyone honest.

Has anyone heard of an Iskra jet? Not as fast as an L39 but cheaper and less fuel. It is Polish. There are a few in Controller.

Also there is the L29 as well as some other interesting trainer types of military jets. Someone told me about some Canadian T33 that could be had really cheap ($25k). They were taken apart and in crates and would need to be assembled. Also 400GPH. I thought about it and passed.

Right now I am going to trade my Baron plus some cash for and Aerostar 700 so I don't need to be thinking about these jets. Maybe in the future.

Iskra is funny looking, but otherwise probably ok.
L39 is reliable and easy to operate, parts everywhere.
Same for the L29, except they are probably less expensive to buy.

An L29 with the big motor will cause an L39 to blush.
See Reno results for the last few years.

Insurance wants 1000hrs & IFR rating for any (experimental) jet.
For Liability only figure $3300 to $4574 ($1m / $100k).
Hull coverage is expensive (3% to 5% of value range).
Deductibles are 10% of the insured value each and every loss.
Requires Initial school and ETR, then recurrent training each and every year.

Do not pull the brake handle prior to nosewheel getting planted (WOW switch) or you have no Anti-Lock if I remember correctly. Tires are expensive.

Tj

If I was buying an experimental jet I might have to consider:

* Folland Gnat (Mach 1+ airplane).
* Temco Super Pinto (http://www.airbum.com/pireps/PirepTemcoPinto.html)
* Marchetti jet (expensive and slow, but American engine)

Well outside of my "fun" budget, all of them...

Tj

Todd had an Iskra, I think.

There's a nice L29 up here,
http://www.brantaero.com/C-GXZX/

and there's also a nice V tail jet, but I can't recall the name right now

Fouga Magister

No offense fellas. I love all of you but every other jet mentioned here that isn't an L39 looks silly.

A Bonanza is a worst looking airplane I will own. In other words, I won't buy a plane uglier than my Bo.

The L39 looks sweet. The Dornier Alphajet looks sweet.

I agree, though the Marchetti is attractive as well. All the others look like they could be in an Austin Powers movie...

They even come with hard-points and a 27mm gun. And it's a twin !!

You'll need to build quite a runway on your property to operate an Alpha. The L39 is built for grass-field operations