American Accused Of Trying To Sell F-5 To Iran

**StoleIt** · 12-17-10, 05:26 PM

American Accused Of Trying To Sell F-5 To Iran

By John Shiffman, Inquirer Staff Writer

When a certain F-5 Tiger fighter jet outlived its military use years ago, it was sold for surplus, and the plane became the toy of a rich Californian. He leased it as a big prop for Hollywood movies.

This year, the fighter jet became the star of a real-life sting - against an American accused of trying to sell it to Iran.

The F-5 is the centerpiece of an undercover Homeland Security investigation that stretched from Philadelphia to Los Angeles to Budapest, Hungary. has been charged with trying to sell the jet for $3.6 million......

More at Source: Man Accused of Trying to Sell F-5 to Iran[/quote]

I like how it's justified.
-It won't be flown out the US...so that makes it okay.
-It will probably be shot down in seconds...so that makes it okay.
-The flight suits are bad quality...so that makes it okay.

Sure, the F-5 isn't much of a threat, but it still is a threat and still helps Iranian pilots become proficient aviators.

**MacLean** · 12-17-10, 05:48 PM

Tigers were the aggressor planes at Top Gun for a long time.

**Captain America** · 12-17-10, 06:29 PM

Originally Posted by MacLean

Tigers were the aggressor planes at Top Gun for a long time.

Yep. They were when I was stationed there in the late 80's. We also used A-4s and F-16Ns.

**StoleIt** · 12-18-10, 03:26 PM

The USAF uses T-38's for cheap aggressor training also (and then we also have F-15 and -16's at Nellis, Alaska, and Korea too).

**MacLean** · 12-18-10, 04:30 PM

I'd love to be able to own a fighter jet - that would be an expensive hobby.

**cajunguy** · 12-18-10, 05:31 PM

We have a pilot at our airport who owns an F5. It is based here. Awesome looking bird.

There is also an old WWII P40 Warhawk here that has been completely restored. I heard they spent somewhere in the neighborhood of $1-Mil and 20 years restoring it.

It was assigned to and flown by the 5th Air Force during the war.

The owner flies it every few weeks. Not sure if this one has the Allison or the Rolls-Royce/Merlin engine in it (both were used), but I love hearing that big-azz motor come to life. You can hear it all over the airport when he powers up for takeoff.

This was the type that the Flying Tigers flew in China.

(Not the actual aircraft, but one just like it.)

(Now back to your regularly scheduled thread. Sorry 'bout the hijack.)
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