There are around 1,000 private owned classic military jets in the United States and even more throughout the rest of the world. There are more and more people looking into buying a fighter jet of their very own. While most of us will never have enough money to make this a reality, it is possible. As new models of fighter jets are released, the older ones get decommissioned, allowing them to be sold off to the general public. [...]
Are you flying high again? No, we’re not talking about Ozzy Osbourne’s 1981 hit. Today, we are going to look at the world’s most expensive aircraft. We’re talking about genuinely amazing airplanes that push aviation to higher heights and, of course, come with ludicrous price tags. After reading this article, you might think twice before bragging about flying first class on Spirit Airlines (if that is even a thing). Check out this list of the five airplanes with [...]
The Grumman XF5F-1 Skyrocket was a one-off prototype built for the US Navy with an unusual configuration. The wing’s leading edge extended forward of the fuselage nose giving it a distinctive look. It was the first twin-engine fighter intended for carrier use. The story of the Skyrocket began in 1935 when the US Navy Bureau of Aeronautics (BuAer) first contemplated a twin-engine carrier fighter. By 1937, they didn’t believe that single-engine airplanes would not be much faster than [...]
So you want to purchase a private plane? Did you recently catch the flying bug? If the answer is yes, then read on. There are a lot of reasons to purchase a plane, but there is also a lot that goes into buying a plane. We want to teach you about some common mistakes the first time, and even seasoned aircraft owners make. Read on to learn about seven common mistakes and how to avoid them when buying [...]
If you want to be an antique aircraft collector, you're going to have to spend a fair bit of time at auctions or reviewing the sales from them. Whether you're in the market for an antique aircraft to add to your collection or even build the supply of some parts, the auction is a positive place for aviation enthusiasts. For beginners, the auction can be equal parts confusing and intimidating. In this post, we're going to give you [...]
There are around 1,000 private owned warbird jets in the United States and even more throughout the rest of the world. There are more and more people looking into buying a fighter jet of their very own. While most of us will never have enough money to make this a reality, it is possible. As new models of fighter jets come out, the older ones get decommissioned, and sometimes purchased by the public. Before making such a big [...]
The general aviation market is outperforming our forecasts. Honeywell International expects to deliver nearly 8000 planes over the next decade and VREF has been completeing more appraisals then ever. The economy is booming, and net income is up for the majority of Americans. Also, the United States government reduced the corporate tax rate, and with bonus depreciation getting ready to expire in a couple of weeks, there is no better time to buy then now. This means corporations have [...]
Chances are, you've at least heard of podcasts. This fun and educational information medium are sweeping the nation. There are over 700,000 active podcasts and over 29 million episodes right now. Why are podcasts so popular? Because there is something for everyone. Did you know they even have pilot podcasts? If you're an aviation enthusiast, a pilot in training, flight student, or an industry pro, there's a podcast out there for you. There's always more to learn, and [...]
It's the end of 2019, and this is our last newsletter of the year. Snow has fallen on the upper Midwest, and both winter and the holiday season is upon us. It is a time for reflection and giving thanks, and at VREF, we want to extend a thank you to all of our loyal clients. As you all know by now, the new platform is here. It has been a complex project from the start, and it [...]
A private jet can cost anywhere from 500k an up depending on age, avionics, and condition. Unfortunately, most of us don't have that much money, nor do we have the skills to fly one ourself. However, for those who have been blessed with disposable income and a passion for aviation, private planes are quite popular. Perhaps you're among the lucky few who are already pilots, or maybe you want to live a life of excitement and see the [...]