Grumman F-14

Zivile Kampfjetflüge – ein Ausblick

von | Jan 28, 2014 | Kampfflüge, Kampfjets, Im Inneren von MiGFlug, Militärische Luftfahrt | 1 Kommentar

The future of tourist fighter jet flying

Tourist flights in 5th-generation jets? Never.

Tourist flights in 5th generation jets? Never.

We recently published an article about the history of tourist fighter jet rides on this blog (see link resources at the end of the article). It was a brief summary of how these jet flights became available, and the political and historical background of it. We'd now like to continue with the opposite - we would like to predict the future of these flights in fighter jets. In short, the trend we observe: Fighter jet flights like the ones sold Hier will very likely become harder and more expensive to organize in the future. Why?

Fuel costs, maintenance, development...

The dramatic rise of crude oil cost in US$

The dramatic rise of crude oil cost in US$

Obvious reasons why costs have been increasing again and again since fighter jet flights became available for civilians are factors like rising fuel prices. Even though we show a really dramatic period here - it didn't go on that way as we all know - this has a strong effect. Luckily, MiGFlug has been able to keep US and European fighter jet flight prices flat. As we always believed that prices we saw in 2008 were not sustainable we decided not to increase prices. An exception was the MiG-29 with clearly higher prices. We couldn't do anything against that Russian policy. At the same time costs for maintenance are rising, mainly due to the increased scarcity of spare parts. And here costs will further rise, probably at increased speed. There are less and less spare parts on the market, engine replacements will have to be done one day etc. The Swiss Hawker Hunter for example already needs custom-tailored wheels as they are not produced anymore. Also, by the time the know how to maintain these jets and keep them airworthy will fade. That's not an immediate problem, and many operators have fantastic crews with young mechanics who get a very good training. But on top of that, there is another threat: The regulatory constraints for the aviation in general and those civilian fighter jet flights in particular.

Newer fighter jets less suitable for flights

The increasing complexity of fighter jets of the 4th generation makes it unlikely that new jets could become available for flights. The MiG-29 in Russia (and before 2006 the Su-27 and MiG-31, see this article) will probably be exceptions. Operations of supersonic fighter jets like the English Electric Lightning by Thundercity in Cape Town, or the Mirage III operations in Switzerland are very expensive and probably not sustainable - Thundercity already stopped the operations with the Lightnings and Buccaneers.

The End of History?

In 1989, the famous political scientist and economist Francis Fukuyama published the essay "The End of History?"
What we may be witnessing is not just the end of the Cold War, or the passing of a particular period of post-war history, but the end of history as such: that is, the end point of mankind's ideological evolution and the universalization of Western liberal democracy as the final form of human government.
IRIAF F-14A Tomcat -Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force

IRIAF F-14A Tomcat -Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force

Today we know that Fukuyama was wrong with that assumption. This is another reason why advanced military technology will not reach the civilian market. The US Navy F-14 Tomcats for example were destroyed as the arch enemy Iran is still operating the F-14s ordered under Shah Reza Pahlavi in 1974. At that time, Iran was pro-Western and received the latest American technology. Today, Iran could benefit from spare parts and upgrades developed in the US since then. In general, countries are now far more cautious about releasing defence technology, particularly given the rise of asymmetric threats. To sum up the above: The long-term outlook for fighter jet flights is not bright. However, there may be positive developments in the near term: MiG-21 supersonic flights could become available soon. MiGFlug is involved in no fewer than 3 projects. And this might even break the monopolistic MiG-29 pricing in Russia, or at least stop prices increases there. Additional articles and resources

Verwandte Fragen

Are civilian fighter jet flights becoming harder to get?

Yes. Civilian fighter jet flights are expected to grow rarer and more expensive over time. Rising fuel prices, increasingly scarce spare parts, ageing airframes and tightening aviation rules all push costs up. Modern fourth- and fifth-generation jets are too complex and tightly controlled to reach the civilian market, so the pool of flyable aircraft is slowly shrinking.

Why are spare parts a problem for old fighter jets?

Many Cold War-era fighter jets are no longer in production, so spare parts grow scarcer every year. Operators sometimes custom-manufacture components — the Swiss Hawker Hunter, for example, needs custom-made wheels because the originals are no longer made. Engines eventually need replacing too, and the specialist know-how to maintain these jets is gradually fading as mechanics retire.

Which fighter jet can civilians still fly supersonic?

The MiG-29 Fulcrum is the main fighter jet still offered for civilian supersonic and Edge of Space flights, operating in Russia. Most other supersonic types have been withdrawn from civilian use as they aged or grew too costly to maintain. The MiG-29 remains prized for its raw power and its climb to the edge of space.

Why don't modern fighter jets become available for civilian flights?

Modern fourth- and fifth-generation fighters are extremely complex, costly and tightly export-controlled, making them unsuitable and unavailable for civilian rides. Governments restrict access to advanced avionics, radar and weapons. US Navy F-14 Tomcats, for instance, were scrapped partly to keep parts away from Iran, which still flies its 1970s-era Tomcats — a rare surviving fleet.

How much does a fighter jet flight cost?

Prices vary enormously by aircraft, location and flight length. Entry-level jet trainer rides are far cheaper than a supersonic sortie in a frontline fighter like the MiG-29, which can run into many thousands of euros for an Edge of Space flight. Fuel, maintenance and spare-part scarcity all feed into the price. See a detailed cost breakdown.

Why did the US destroy its F-14 Tomcats?

The US Navy retired the F-14 Tomcat in 2006 and shredded most airframes to stop spare parts reaching Iran, the only other Tomcat operator. Iran had received the jets in the 1970s when it was a Western ally under the Shah. Destroying the airframes denied Iran a supply of components and upgrades for its fleet.

Is the future of civilian jet flights toward more or fewer options?

The long-term trend points to fewer and more expensive civilian jet flight options. As classic jets age, spare parts dwindle, experienced mechanics retire and regulations tighten, the number of airworthy aircraft available for rides falls. That makes today's remaining experiences, especially supersonic ones, increasingly rare opportunities to seize.

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1 Kommentar

  1. Игор
    Игор am 9. September 2014 um 18:19

    Мы поддерживаем вас и люблю вас, Победа над НАВСЕГДА WEST MNOSTRUM