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Date: 23 May 2007 11:30:52
From: DanKMTB@gmail.com
Subject: Re: Bill Baka -- Selected Quotes from a Genius
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> You missed your chance.There was a Saab Gripen that sold on Ebay a few
> months ago complete with dummy weaponry for short money. Upkeep and
> fuel costs were a little steep.
You know, I was thinking ownership costs as I wrote that. I decided
in my fantasy world where jets were being given away I'd save up and
fly the thing once a year and it'd be totally worth it. Save & plan
like a vacation, but burn it all in a few hours in the air. There's
an airfield fairly close to my house that's reasonable on a piece of
rented earth, and I think the runway would be enough. They've already
got 1 small jet engine craft there.
Alas, there are complications. That I don't know how to fly a jet is
a minor one, but one I'd overcome. I think the big one is that "short
money" for a fighter jet is still sure to be big money to me. That
house I just mentioned has been keeping remarkable tabs on my spending
money. Some con about getting it back later...
Oh, and I live real close to Pease International Tradeport, formerly
Pease Air Force Base. Those fake weapons would have to go!
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Date: 25 May 2007 02:51:57
From: Antti Salonen
Subject: Re: Bill Baka -- Selected Quotes from a Genius
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DanKMTB@gmail.com <DanKMTB@gmail.com > wrote:
> Alas, there are complications. That I don't know how to fly a jet is
> a minor one, but one I'd overcome. I think the big one is that "short
> money" for a fighter jet is still sure to be big money to me. That
> house I just mentioned has been keeping remarkable tabs on my spending
> money. Some con about getting it back later...
I remember reading a test drive of a Mig-29 in a local car mag in the
90's. This is in Finland. The guys drove across the Russian border to a
Red Army air force base and after a couple of thousand USD changed
pockets one of the journalists took off in a twin-seater Mig-29 with a
Russian pilot. He got the stick once they were safely in the air,
without any prior flying experience.
Summary was something like this:
Plus: Acceleration, top speed, looks
Minus: Fuel consumption, engine noise, seats only two
I guess somebody was ripped off because it was so cheap, and I'm pretty
sure it couldn't happen anymore.
Antti
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Date: 24 May 2007 22:21:51
From: Bill
Subject: Re: Bill Baka -- Selected Quotes from a Genius
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Antti Salonen wrote:
> DanKMTB@gmail.com <DanKMTB@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> Alas, there are complications. That I don't know how to fly a jet is
>> a minor one, but one I'd overcome. I think the big one is that "short
>> money" for a fighter jet is still sure to be big money to me. That
>> house I just mentioned has been keeping remarkable tabs on my spending
>> money. Some con about getting it back later...
>
> I remember reading a test drive of a Mig-29 in a local car mag in the
> 90's. This is in Finland. The guys drove across the Russian border to a
> Red Army air force base and after a couple of thousand USD changed
> pockets one of the journalists took off in a twin-seater Mig-29 with a
> Russian pilot. He got the stick once they were safely in the air,
> without any prior flying experience.
>
> Summary was something like this:
>
> Plus: Acceleration, top speed, looks
> Minus: Fuel consumption, engine noise, seats only two
>
> I guess somebody was ripped off because it was so cheap, and I'm pretty
> sure it couldn't happen anymore.
>
> Antti
If I remember that Mig-29 would top mach 3 even if only until the motor
burned out or the fuel ran out. It could almost touch an SR-71, but not
according to a few retired pilots I know.
Bill (living by the home of the SR-71, Beale AFB) Baka
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Date: 23 May 2007 12:11:04
From: Bill
Subject: Re: Bill Baka -- Selected Quotes from a Genius
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DanKMTB@gmail.com wrote:
>> You missed your chance.There was a Saab Gripen that sold on Ebay a few
>> months ago complete with dummy weaponry for short money. Upkeep and
>> fuel costs were a little steep.
>
> You know, I was thinking ownership costs as I wrote that. I decided
> in my fantasy world where jets were being given away I'd save up and
> fly the thing once a year and it'd be totally worth it. Save & plan
> like a vacation, but burn it all in a few hours in the air. There's
> an airfield fairly close to my house that's reasonable on a piece of
> rented earth, and I think the runway would be enough. They've already
> got 1 small jet engine craft there.
>
> Alas, there are complications. That I don't know how to fly a jet is
> a minor one, but one I'd overcome. I think the big one is that "short
> money" for a fighter jet is still sure to be big money to me. That
> house I just mentioned has been keeping remarkable tabs on my spending
> money. Some con about getting it back later...
>
> Oh, and I live real close to Pease International Tradeport, formerly
> Pease Air Force Base. Those fake weapons would have to go!
>
Yeah,
I live close to Beale AFB and they might not take kindly to anything
that looks like a real weapon. It would be a bitch to get shot down by
our own Air Force. The guy that owns that 1946 P-80 is real careful not
to fly anywhere near the base. I think that the once a month flights are
all he can afford. Next time I see him I might just pedal over to the
airport and see if I can catch him after landing.
I got nailed by base security on my bicycle for taking pictures of the
base from a 'PUBLIC' road. Those Homeland Security guys take themselves
way too seriously.
Bill Baka
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