Hey if you get that L-39 Ill smoke you in my Vampire ! The L-39 was a good "trainer" thou like the L-29 it prepared you for the 23 and the 21 respectively neither jumping off the ground real quick until they get goin,,,,,like a real jet from that era. The L-39 "looks" is what gets everyone, nice and pointy not unlike a lawn dart.

Rick....

X Aussie Telstar Vampire A-79-646
Factory clip wing, big goblin motor, mark 3 B, 5,600 HP ! ok this a a key to the wing loading like a early C-310 times 3 !
510 kias vne try that in your lear ! Oh and you don't need 2 autopilots operational to fly ! Autopilot on a vampy ? surely you jest.
750 gallons of fuel 2 hr 45 min range , note most early jets per poh and engine manuals actually say kerosene,,,,K1,,, u wont find jet a or jp 1 ,2,3,4,5 listed, but it burns it, these things were invented before those fancy name fuels ! And here is a big key to the puzzle of operation.hummmmmmm
80 rotate, lift off 95, first segment climb 125, second segment 180, 250 till 10, 280-300 kias to .76 or out of 10 she will wind up over 400 kias.
Reverse the numbers for landing ! hey who said this was hard !
Maxaret hyd. anti skid brakes! same as viscount! humm lets see viscount 66,000 pound airplane vampy 6-11,000 lb. airplane depending on fuel load, ok ya the viscount has 4 main tires but do the math ! AWESOME BRAKES :0 x-aussie only country with hyd brakes all others air brake bladder.
Dive brakes fully deployed 25,000 fpm descent ! Yes thats not a type error ! also listed in the POH. but don't worry about shock cooling !
One of the most smoothest silky control airplanes out there!
Not bad for a plane that started its design in 1941 code name spider crab.
1st jet across north Atlantic, Vampire, ok with a few stops.
1st jet to land and tko from aircraft carrier, Vampire.
1st jet to go above 59,000 ft., Vampire.

I have had mine now for about 13 years since restoring.

Oh and the flame thrower is pretty much a normal start either internal battery soft start or cartridge start ! Regardless they come to life like a fire spitting dragon

Wow Rick, You really like your Vampire. How many are still flying in the US and what about parts if you even need them? I think for me one of the attractions to the L39 is the availability of parts and a world class maintenance facilities on the east and west coast.

You have a very nice aircraft.

How many people can you fit in that thing?

I'm looking onto something like the L39 to be able to get around. Not to go do loopty loops on Sunday. Well, maybe sometimes.

Reality Check here...

Essentially the only option for registration is experimental exhibition.... Personal transport is not a legal mission for exp exhibition.

The FAA is hard over that surplus jets not be used as personal chariots... There are several in DC who would like to shutdown the entire Jet Warbird fleet, if not all Warbird operations.... It is a continual fight by the alphabet groups with the FAA over operating limitations.

The short story is, they are not an option for personal transport. If you want a fun airplane to go to airshows with they are great....

What about safety? I keep the statistics for the Warbird Community. On average 10 people are killed annually in Warbirds. Terrible numbers. Flying Warbirds is more dangerous than Military active duty in combat. Last year there were 5 fatal accidents with 6 deaths. One accident was in a Jet with 2 killed. Typically the jets are between 1/4 and 1/2 of the Warbird Fatalities, even though they represent a very small percentage of the Warbird Fleet. The most dangerous subset of an incredibly dangerous business...

The airplanes themselves should be pretty reliable and safe, but the statistics do not bear that out. Flying surplus jets is an very dangerous game....

I have been flying Warbirds for over 20 years.... I'm a Piston guy, but I have flown the Fouga, Casa, & T-33. (and an hour in the F-16 Wow!!!) The jets are fun. My observation after 20 years in the Warbird Community is this, those doing it because the flying the planes is cool last about 5 years max. Those who do it because they use the airplane as a tool to tell a story are the ones in it for the long haul...

The problem with the Russian Jets is, it is pretty tough to wrap an interesting story that resonates with American Airshow crowds around Russian Jet.... Now an F-86... That airplane has lots of great stories to tell!!!

How about the Viper Jet.

http://viper-aircraft.com/home_f.html

Seats 2.

350-400k TAS.

1400 NM range

Rotate at 85k.

Take off 12-1500'.

Land 2500'

Minimum climb rate: 5000 FPM.

P & W Engine

Good advice Doug. Thanks. Wish you posted that 3 pages ago. This thread could've just died back then.

The ViperJet is what got me looking at the L39. They look similar and I can buy an L39 now for a fraction of the price.

Vipers website is pretty sparse on information.

If you can afford to burn 44,000 gallons of jetfuel per year for a personal transport, there are plenty of other aircraft to get the job done with less headaches and more comfort.

Warbirds are a fun way to make noise and impress the neighbours.

(I also suspect it will be difficult to get that plane past your accountant, unless you are in the airshow business, owning a warbird is hardly a usual and customary business expense)

44,000 gallons going 500 knots is different than 44,000 gallons going 250 knots.

and going 500 knots sitting on a parachute with minimal space for bags and only 1 passenger is very different from 320 knots with leather seats, ac, 5 friends and a G1000 in the panel

and going 500 knots sitting on a parachute with minimal space for bags and only 1 passenger is very different from 320 knots with leather seats, ac, 5 friends and a G1000 in the panel

I have been flying Warbirds for over 20 years, served on the board of Dir of the CAF, Chief of Stand-Eval at CAF, Safety Committee at the Airshow Council....
My certificate is 2 cards and includes type ratings and authorizations in the following Vintage airplanes. DC-3, B-25 PBY, P-51, F-4U, F-6F,T-28, All makes & Models of S/E & M/E Piston Powered Aircraft.

The airshow business is best characterized as Hot Tar, Flat Beer, and Rare Bratwurst.... 6-8 hours standing on the asphalt in front of an airplane answering the same seemingly stupid questions, followed by the performers party with the flat beer and rare bratwurst... It is not as glamorous as it appears on the calendar or magazine cover.....

I eat, sleep, and drink Warbirds.... I don't play golf, I don't watch football, I fly warbirds.... I do transition training in most of them, I am a DPE in the B-25... So with that background, let me say, If the objective is to impress the neighbors, buy a boat. If you want to fly Warbirds, buy a P-51, a T-6 or whatever, and paint it in the colors of a local WWII hero.. Put their story on a board, then go to airshows VFW meetings, Schools and anywhere else where people will listen to the amazing story of how we won WWII and why we continue to live free... That is rewarding work...

You will be hooked for life... The flying is fun, but frankly an RV-8 or my F-1 Rocket will give you 90% of the Wow factor with 1% of the problems and the price of a P-51....

I flew a B-25 over Doolittle's Burial and met his family. I was asked by his family to speak at Col. Charles McGee's surprise 90th Birthday. Nearly all of my really close friends are Warbird people.... I am not a well rounded individual, but I have enjoyed some incredible experiences in my life, and most of them are as a result of involvement with Warbirds... Very few of them occurred in the airplane......

Tailwinds,
Doug Rozendaal

I believe you Doug.

You've changed my mind.

I didn't realize an L39 was technically classified as a "Warbird". Not sure why I felt that way. After your explanation it makes sense..

Great post Doug. My friend swears by his Rocket and the amount of thrills he gets out of it.

Doug, I by no means did I intend to put down anyone with a genuine interest in warbirds.

I just don't think they are an option for anyone doing serious business flying. As pointed out, they carry an increased risk of death, certification hassles and limited access to maintenance and emergency repairs. They are for display, to demonstrate history and to make noise and smoke.

I'm pretty sure the 'all-in' expenses of a L39 to replace Jasons 300hrs of annual Bo flying would be more than running a Mu2 or C90 for the same job. At some point, the plane could be given to you for free and it would still not make sense.

Florian,

I took no offense and agree wholeheartedly with your assessment.... However, I saw Jack Roush this weekend and he flies his Mustang IFR on business trips all the time... Most Mustangs carry a Limited Type Certificate which allows this, unlike the Jets.