WT Forums

<font face='Verdana'>Hey Guys. I know this will fall under the dumb-question category, but is there such a thing? Assuming one could cover the purchase and ongoing maintenance, of course (hey, some guys spend a fortune on a yacht and 25% of the purchase cost per year on maintenance).

Someone told me Tom Cruise bought his own F/A-18, but that's probably BS. Would have to be a tandem-seat.

The thing is - I really can't see why people call A-10s ugly. To me it is fiercely beautiful, and getting down and dirty a few hundred feet AGL and helping the boots on the ground would be the ultimate. Is there any hope for civilian wannabes? Qualifying would be interesting with no past military-pilot training, but what are dreams for?!
</font id='Verdana'>

Not likely anytime soon. The Tom Cruise thing.....well how much do you trust your source? Again, not likely. Hopes for civilian wannabes, well there is always hope. For now that'll have to hold you.

_________________
Just give me some ammo, a little water.....and some chips if you got 'em

There is a Civilian company hoping to buy a few hogs to be converted to tankers for fighting forest fires. From what I know about the hog though, without the gun, the entire gun bay will have to be ballast plates. If they try filling the space with a water tank, the balance of the AC would be drastically changed when they dump their load.

The plan is for a large flat tank to be hung under the CL points, 4 thru 8, that will carry the water or red stuff.

Check out Firehogs.com

"Slow is Fast - Fast is Slow"

_________________
Slow is Fast, Fast is Slow
Violence may not be the best option, but it IS an option

I thought current military aircraft was restricted to sale for civilians.

Or does money really talk

TG out

<img src="http://www.x-plane.org/home/topgun/sigs/A10logo.jpg" border=0>

http://topgunphotography.milavia.net/index.htm

_________________
If it Flys, shoot it

The Firehogs was a proposal originally thought up when the Air Force was considering decomissioning them in the late 80's. It was an interesting idea, but to make it really viable, a mid-air tanking of retardant would be needed to make the proposed "system" most efficient. Doing that would defeat the premise because the tanker would have to be large and expensive and would take too long to refill once they landed. Surprised the idea is still being kicked around.

_________________
Just give me some ammo, a little water.....and some chips if you got 'em

It was my understanding also that current military aircraft could not be sold to the public. I think a guy owns a T-38 trainer, but I had heard that was an accidental slip-through.
But heck, if they ever start selling the hawgs, what do you all say to going in on one and time-sharing it for each of us?? <img src=newicons/anim_lol.gif border=0 align=middle>

Hokey religions and ancient weapons are no match for a GAU-8A at your side, kid...--Hawg Solo

_________________
\"Hokey religions and ancient weapons are no match for a GAU-8/A at your side, kid.\"--Hawg Solo

There are jet warbirds for sale all over the net! Controller.com has F-86, T-37, T-38, F-5, A-7, Etc. listed right now. If you have the money and a LOA you can buy just about anything. I remember about a year ago seeing an F-16A for sale on the net but I can't find it listed now?
I still don't think you'll ever get your hands on an A-10 though!!

Its an interesting question, if the original plans from 1989 had gone ahead to phase out the Hog, I bet there would be a couple on the airshow circuit now.
An A-10 would be alot easier to fly and maintain than some of the ex-mil stuff flying privately now.......eg F-4, F-104 etc.
The main challenge would be replacing the gun mechanism with suitable ballast of similar weight.
In Peter Smith's book on the A-10, a pilot is quoted as saying 'If you can fly a Cessna 150, you can fly an A-10'.......it is worth stressing that he meant taking off, doing a circuit and landing again, employing the jet in combat is an entirely different thing best left to the experts with the warning.....'
<b>DO NOT TRY THIS AT HOME!'</b>

Wasnt there an F-18 / Ex Blue Angel sold about 2 yr's ago? I thought it was on E-Bay maybe?
Dont remember site for sure but I read a big article and listing for it. Showed it crated up and numerous pic's as well.

This whole "Firehog" thing comes up like once a year. It won't happen.
I as thinking the same thing about the F-18. I also remember seeing about it one the news. I think it was on E-bay.

They say that the only two things certain in life are death and taxes. I prefer them in that order.

I remember seeing it on eBay, but don't remember the circumstances. There have also been MiG-29's and others. Special circumstances not withstanding, I don't think the DoD allows for items in current inventory and active service to be owned and operated by the general public. Never saw the F-16.

_________________
Just give me some ammo, a little water.....and some chips if you got 'em

I remember a few years back a tenager sued Dr Pepper because they told him he could win a Harrier in some soda sweepstakes. When he won, he took them to court for the jet. I believe he won and the company was forced to pay an equal amount.

"By this time tomorrow I shall have gained either a peerage or Westminster Abbey !" Nelson the Immortal Memory

Edited by - Hawg166 on Feb 24 2006 06:33 AM

_________________
YGBSM !

Yeah, he won some $$, but the key is he still doesn't have the jet. I know the ones they have phased out are saleable, but I would be surprised if current fighters, even the ones for sale on the web, actually made it into civilian's hands. The gov't doesn't want us to have even close to the same fighting capability they have.....
But that could be another whole topic, best for the firearms section??

Hokey religions and ancient weapons are no match for a GAU-8A at your side, kid...--Hawg Solo

_________________
\"Hokey religions and ancient weapons are no match for a GAU-8/A at your side, kid.\"--Hawg Solo

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote><font size=1 face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>
I remember a few years back a tenager sued Dr Pepper because they told him he could win a Harrier in some soda sweepstakes. Qhen he won, he took them to court fpr the jet. I believe he won and the company was forced to pay an equal amount.

"By this time tomorrow I shall have gained either a peerage or Westminster Abbey !" Nelson the Immortal Memory
<hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote></font id=quote><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" size=2 id=quote>

It was Pepsi, but you are correct. As much as the lawyers pushed, he didn't get the jet.

_________________
Just give me some ammo, a little water.....and some chips if you got 'em

hello,
I am a french tracker pilot...Anybody knows something about the civilian compagny wishing to buy Firehogs for fire fighting ? I am quite interested in such an aircraft, and think that A-10 could be the best fire fighter in the world!!

best regards...

The whole Firehogs thing has hit the skids because it was based on available airframes in the boneyard. They aren't there anymore.

Coach

Bummer, Imagine how much trouble I Could get myself into with a Super Soaker HOG!

One of the funnest things is rolling in at 120 Knots and Dumping Water ballest on Cattle in a Field or an unsuspecting farm Vehcile before catching a thermal and Zoom Climbing back up to 13,000 Feet.

It was a woman who drove me to drink, and I never had the courtesy to thank her for it.
The cost of living has gone up another dollar a quart.Somebody left the cork out of my lunch.

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote><font size=1 face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>
The main challenge would be replacing the gun mechanism with suitable ballast of similar weight.
<hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote></font id=quote><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" size=2 id=quote>

Back in early flight test we replaced the gun with a steel structure that picked up the gun mount points, and supported ballast plates and flight test recording equipment. It was pretty easy to do, as I recall. I did the stress analysis for it. We used it for a long time on airplane number 1. I wonder where it is now?

Ninety percent of the game is half mental.

_________________
????