Luckily I've won the super-mega-ultra-lottery and plan on buying a fleet of Mig-15s and Sabres (and both a Soku Galeb and a Super Galeb, because I can).

Question: When it's impossible to find spare parts for the very rare types, can one legally make them? And how the heck do you make things like fuel controllers and (even worse) turbines for the engines?

Most of the components are really well made and can be rebuilt, often with common o-rings and stuff. There’s a surprising amount of parts out there once you are in that groove.

Also just make parts as needed or adapt more modern alternatives for hoses, fittings, and the like.

Plus a fair amount of commonality among certain geopolitical brands.

T

Can one legally "just make parts as needed"? What about turbines? I don't think one can refurbish turbines (especially after FOD ingestion or other disaster).

I have this horror scenario where the plane is ready to fly but for ONE part, that cannot be found for any amount of $$$.

Just look into the aero-derived industrial turbine service shops... (see Agent JayZ on youtube...)

Lots of jet engines out there turned into industrial turbines and surprisingly available inventory out there. 1950's era jet engines still exist in storage containers, waiting to be taken out of cosmoline.

The guy who used to be in the hangar across from me rebuilds warbirds. There's a whole culture out there on the Internet of warbird parts buyers and sellers.

My lab picked up 4 of 120 J-79 engines that were surplus to the AF. We just had to pay shipping. Granted, they were all in various states of repair. We loaned them to a contractor who sent it to a rebuilder S&S Turbines in Canada. So there are folks out there. Unfortunately, I believe the remainder of the lot were to be scrapped.

The vast majority of the jet warbirds are "experimental" and you have a lot of options.

Parts for many of the types is plentiful, especially aircraft like the L-39 and L-29. One exception on the L-39 is the original engine: they are becoming a hard-to-find item. Fortunately, an American-made Garrett engine is now an option... and though I haven't flown it, it is likely far better than the original Czech engine.

I've seen owners with some very slick cockpits that have been severely modified with top-shelf avionics.

In the case of the A-37B now flying, the owner has fabricated a lot of new parts to restore it. There are only 2 flyable A-37's in the US (with a 3rd probably getting airborne by 2023).
Finding parts for something this rare is more difficult (no, the T-37 parts don't work).

And even though A-37s are flying in Central America, there are no parts available to a private owner.

As with anything "experimental", if you can afford to make it, it is an option.

If not experimental and mfg’d before 1980(81?) it may be (legally) possible to use the Vintage Aircraft Maint AC to substitute non-aviation parts.

Any jet warbird is going to be Experimental so what you can make is between you and your financial advisor.In one case I'm familiar with they used original parts as patterns and had the turbines made from modern materials for greater longevity. I'm told it cost as much as a nice home in a very nice neighborhood.

Any jet warbird is going to be Experimental so what you can make is between you and your financial advisor.

Obviously not the best one.

Mike C.

Obviously not the best one.

Mike C.

I know a Fnancial guy there with a P-51 and T-6, but no L-39.

As with everything else in aviation the answer to your question is it depends. It depends on what sort of jet warbird you decide to purchase. If you decide on something esoteric and unique like a MIG fighter or something built in the 50’s or 60’s, your journey will be painful, time consuming and expensive. If you chose something like an L39, given the large fleet (2800 built, close to 300 civilian aircraft operating in the US), parts availability and support will be much easier and affordable.

There are a number of outfits specializing in the L39, with Code-1 Aviation (https://www.code1aviation.com/) IMHO being one of the best. The Ivechenko AI-25TL engine (it is not a Czech made - it is actually built in the Ukraine) is well supported, although the Garrett TFE-731-3 found in Lears and Falcons is a much better drop-in alternative (more powerful, reliable and fuel efficient).

The jet warbird options you mention on the OP are probably going to be a trip to the unknown. Besides, with less than 300 built and being knock-offs of the Czech variants, if you are going to buy a Yugoslav Soko Galeb or Super Galeb, why not just buy the more successful Aero L-29 or L-39?

Furthermore, I do know successful businessmen who own and operate L39’s - if you want to blow some cash on a toy, some people buy yachts, some people buy expensive cars, and others buy jet warbirds….