Starting your own Air Force? Two fighter jets headed to Auction

Later this month, Silverstone Auctions will play host to the sale of not one, but two, fighter jets. Both of them are ex-Royal Air Force aircraft, and both of them are becoming increasingly rare. For anyone contemplating staring their own mini air force, now’s your chance to snap up a couple of potentially rather dangerous flying machines.

Perhaps the more interesting of the two is the 1976 Hawker Siddeley Harrier GR3, an iconic aircraft, and a close relation to the AV-8B Harrier II still used by the US Marines to this day. This particular example has seen service in Germany during the cold war, later it was stationed in Belize, and it also took part in the brief conflict in the Falklands against Argentina. The Harrier is described as being in “time capsule condition”, and it even includes the original Martin Baker ejector seat. Although it is not described as being airworthy, the outstanding condition of the aircraft means that a return to flight would not be out of the question.

The second fighter jet offered for sale is a 1988 Panavia Tornado F3. Up until 2011 the Tornado F3 was still operated by the Royal Air Force as a long-range interceptor – until it was replaced by the more modern Eurofighter Typhoon. However both the Italian Air Force and Royal Saudi Air Force still operate the F3 in a front-line role. To put it bluntly, in the right hands, this is still a very dangerous aircraft. The example offered for sale is extremely rare. It’s the only privately owned Panavia Tornado in the world, and as almost all other examples – except a few museum exhibits – have been scrapped, it’s only going to get more valuable. The last time it flew was in 2003 and it is said to be in good condition with a particularly outstanding cockpit – with both the Pilot and Navigator’s ejector seats still fitted. Interestingly it’s also a rare “twin stick” example with full controls for both the pilot and rear-seat navigator. Unfortunatley it’s missing its engines. So yeah… That’s gonna be a problem.

The two aircraft will go on sale the weekend of 26th/27th July at the Silverstone Auction held at the Silverstone Circuit in England.