Fully Operational F-16 Fighter for Sale in Florida

Flying high-performance fighter jets usually requires years of training and successful navigation of military bureaucracy. Right now, it just requires about $8.5 million to buy a fully operational F-16 fighter that’s on sale in Florida. That’s maybe a bit simplistic — you’d also have to adhere to onerous government regulations that control access to military aircraft. In essence, it would cost more than the asking price to have your own fighter jet. But hey, opportunities like this don’t come along often.

Military vehicles and aircraft do occasionally hit the auction block, but these are almost always demilitarized. All the high-tech systems that play a role in modern war-fighting are removed, and engineers permanently disable any weapon platforms. The F-16 for sale via JetLease is still completely intact.

There are actually three similar jets for sale, which a buyer can get as a single lot if they want their own little air force. These are so-called F-16AM and BM Block 20 Mid-Life-Update (MLU) jets. They were most recently flown by Jordan, which purchased numerous second-hand fighters from NATO countries like Belgium and the Netherlands over the past few decades. These aircraft (built in the early 1980s) have been serviced to ensure they can fly for at least 8,000 more hours, and they have a maximum speed of Mach 2.05 (1,573 miles per hour).

The aircraft still have their advanced military systems intact. The buyer gets a Link16 wireless datalink system, which military units use to relay tactical data in almost real-time. The cockpits are also night vision-compatible and support the Joint Helmet Mounted Cueing System (JHMCS). That’s a heads-up display that uses magnetic trackers to synchronize the pilot’s head movements with aim sensors on the aircraft. The data-bus for modern guided weapons is still in place, as well.

It’s not unheard of for the ultra-rich to buy decommissioned military aircraft, but these jets will come with additional hurdles. Because they still have military capabilities, the buyer has to comply with the US government’s ITARS (International Traffic in Arms Regulations) rules. It’s unlikely a single wealthy individual would be able to get the necessary certifications. JetLEase is marketing the planes for contractor air service firms that work with the government.

The F-16 has been a workhorse of NATO air forces for the last 40 years, with more than 4,000 built. As governments increasingly move to more advanced 5th-generation fighters, fighters like these might pop up for sale with increasing regularity. You better start saving your pennies now.

Continue reading

Asteroid Mission Successfully Collected Samples, Japan Confirms

Japan's Hayabusa2 mission wrapped up last week when the sample container parachuted down in Australia. The mission certainly looked like a success at every step along the way, but the true test is whether or not it collected the sample it flew out there to get.

Intel’s Desktop TDPs No Longer Useful to Predict CPU Power Consumption

Intel's higher-end desktop CPU TDPs no longer communicate anything useful about the CPUs power consumption under load.

The UAE Probe ‘Hope’ Has Successfully Reached Mars

The UAE's first mission to Mars, named Hope, has successfully entered orbit around the Red Planet.

NASA’s Perseverance Rover Successfully Lands on Mars

NASA used Curiosity as a model for this new robot, but its instrument suite is upgraded to scour the red planet for signs of ancient life. This mission will also be the first leg in a three-part process to get bits of Mars back to Earth for more intense study. And it all starts today.