operating a classic aircraft

Nick,

Did I see that you are selling the Kraguj, or is it another which I’ve seen? I’ve spent many hours walking around the one at Wickenby wishing I could fly it, but it’s too expensive for me! Just out of interest, why did it get a PFA permit, when all things being equal, it should have a CAA permit? Anyway, well done on getting her airworthy.

“Yes I have heard this before”:rolleyes:
However not every one has access to spitfires and similar aircraft at the weekend to compare it against. (I wish I could!!)
How many times has he flown the aircraft? it takes some time to know how to fly the Kraguj in the manner in which it should be flown to get the best out of it.
The original CAA test pilot, Bob Cole has written in the notes after the acceptence flight test that he found it to be responsive and great to fly.
The aircraft was never designed to be a high speed fighter, it was designed to be down low in the dirt.
Having spent many hours rebuilding my Kraguj, I now have great fun flying what is a rare and affordable warbird that is operated out of a farm strip.
With the Spitfire/Mustang in the 1.5m-2m price tag, I think I will continue to fly my Kraguj which is priced considerably lower .
Everyone has an opinion, this of course is based on their experience and types they have been lucky enough to have flown. The average PPL with Cessna experience in the Kraguj would have a great day out!!!!!!!!!:D

Nick, did you see that Bob Davy in the current issue of Loop has reiterated that the Soko Kraguj is the worst aircraft he has ever flown?

To echo the earlier answers, operating a rare vintage aircraft (and even some not so rare ones) is a lobour of love.

Some friends organize a biplane fly-in every other year.
When I made the suggestion that we inform the public of the event as a bit of “goodwill towards the masses” (it would NOT be an airshow, just take-offs and landings, and flybys…and a nice static display area) I was told that if that were to happen insurance for the event would more than double.

Regarding hull insurance for the aircraft, many friends don’t have it. They restored their airecraft so if it gets damaged, they’ll just fix it themselves.

Rebuilding and Operating Classic Aircraft

Having spent two years and to much money rebuilding a Soko Kraguj that had stood at Elstree for a good few years.
I must agree there does seem to be a lack of interest.
When I first came across the Soko Kraguj, I was suprised that such a rare aircraft had affectively been abandoned.
The Soko Kraguj is a rare aircraft not only in the UK but also Europe, having been operated by the Yugoslav Air force as a fighter and Coin aircraft the aircraft were not often seen outside Yugoslavia therefore there is little known about them.
There is only one aircraft currently airworthy in the UK, being operated on a PFA permit to fly (which keeps costs down a little)
The aircraft is outside the limits of the PFA permit scheme at 360hp with a supercharger however it was accepted.
There is also one airworthy in France, and one in its home land of Serbia
I have now acheived my goal of restoring her to airworthiness and getting her back in the air,but now have to plan for the future.
The problems that most operators have has is utilisation, if a rare aircraft is not flown often the standing charges for hangerage insurance etc do not differ the hourly operating rate just goes up.
May be the answer would be to group an aircraft to reduce all the costs however most restorers after spending so much time at the back of the hanger day and night would find it sole destroying if it was damaged and had to be repaired having just got it back in the air after so long.
Airshow work is another answer, but again many airshow organiser will only pay for fuel oil accomodation etc but apperance fees would be low or non which still does not help with standing charges .
The Soko Kraguj is no spitfire but it is rare, when I originaly restored the aircraft,I never thought of its worth,I just wanted to get it back in to the air.
If most people in restoration sat down and worked out how much it was all going to cost and the hours it would take, it would never happen.
On the up side to finish there are still a few people out there that put that all a side and carry on regardless in there workshops and give us all the sight and sound of some long forgotten classic aircraft after years of rebuilding .
For first flight after restoration click on link:

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=BEr4jJ11HNU

As one who intends to operate a historic aircraft one day, I follow these kinds of threads with great interest. There was a similar one on the WIX board recently.

Everybody says it’s getting harder. Higher prices, more costs, more regulations, more of all bad things. And I guess that’s true.

Still it astonishes me how many extinct or rare types that have been able to flourish over the last years. It may be that the actual numbers go down – but it sure feels like the variety increases (or is that just me and my relative youth?)

Isn’t this a bit contradicting?

I totally agree with what Bruce has mentioned above. It doesnt bode too well for the future. I have friends who have rebuilt aeroplanes at a cost far exceeding their market value – everything is just getting a little out of hand and pocket these days.

Martin

Its a difficult question to answer.

I believe we are already seeing a decline in the number of aircraft being restored, although things do seem to have picked up again in the past couple of years. The late 80’s to mid 90’s were the busiest years in terms of restorations.

There are a number of factors which will see an eventual reduction in the number of classic aircraft flying:

Cost of insurance

Availability of AVGAS

Cost of maintenance and parts (for lower valued aircraft)

Engine life directive (for jets)

With regard to jet aircraft, we are seeing a sharp decline in the number of aircraft such as Jet Provosts, Vampires and so on, as the parts get more expensive, and the hull value languishes in the low tens of thousands. With the engine life directive now in force, we are no likely to see a steady decline until there are very few classic jets left in UK skies.

Bruce

I’ll be interested in seeing the responses you get to this, I asked a similar question about more modern aircraft and ended up with a load of daft answers.

Bex

thanks for the warning, lets hope all the daft question posers are unavailable due to asylum commitments.
regards vic:cool: 😎

I’ll be interested in seeing the responses you get to this, I asked a similar question about more modern aircraft and ended up with a load of daft answers.

Bex