At some point in our lives, there's that dream of flying a fighter jet — especially if you're a gearhead with a need for speed. Performance-wise, it really doesn't get much better than one of these incredible aircraft, which could be why several sports car interiors are usually inspired by fighter jets. Ever since they first emerged after WWII, they have inspired and shocked the world, even giving rise to dreams of power, freedom, and fun.
However, in reality, it's harder to become a fighter pilot than a professional athlete. A lot of the criteria are the same, such as the need for peak physical fitness, lightning-fast reflexes, and reaction times, as well as dedicating a lifetime to training. Add to this the IQ and eyesight requirements, and it's easy to see most people were never cut out to become military fighter pilots. Now, there is a loophole. These criteria would mostly apply to flying the latest fighter jets in official military service. Seeing as fighter jets have been around for about 75 years, there are some retired and outdated fighter jets that get sold off as surplus.
In all fairness, owning one of these planes means you'll still need the appropriate licenses, a storage hangar, jet fuel supply, and dedicated mechanics, but plenty of old-school fighter jets are available for purchase to civilians, and while not exactly cheap, especially when factoring in maintenance and fuel, it's possible to fly one of these awesome planes for a lot less money than you'd think.
A brand-new Ferrari SF90 Stradale comes with a starting price of $367,000, and we've found 11 fighter jets that can be yours for less money, and are way faster than any road-going vehicle could ever dream of being.
Updated June 2023: Whether you're just an aviation fan or actually looking to purchase a used fighter jet, you'll be happy to know we've updated the content of this list with more information and prices to provide you with the most accurate data possible.
11 North American F-86 Sabre
The F-86 Sabre is, without a doubt, one of the most influential and historically significant fighter jets the world has seen. This is the plane that introduced fighter jets to swept-wing performance, helping them achieve an impressive top speed of 650 mph, which certainly was a factor in helping the plane achieve a 10:1 kill/loss ratio in the Korean War. For a mere $125,000, it's possible to become the owner of one of these historic planes in flight-worthy condition and painted in the awesome USAF Skyblazers airshow team livery. For the price, you're getting a piece of history and a terrific jet with enhanced handling characteristics, relatively powerful turbojet engines with up to 9,000 lbs of thrust, and robust armament. The F-86 can fly at 50,000 feet.
10 Mikoyan Gurevich MiG-21
For a while, the MiG-21 was the backbone jet fighter of the Eastern Bloc during the Cold War. The plane is actually a relatively simple fighter jet, but it does pack a serious supersonic punch! As a Russian saying goes, quantity is quality in itself, and Mikoyan built the MiG-21 to be affordable, which means there are many of them left as surplus from the Cold War.
Those willing to restore a model that's sitting in a museum and is in need of some work can get their hands on this plane for a shockingly cheap $40,000, or it's possible to purchase one in flying condition for just $185,000. But before you sniff at the price, it's important to consider the fact that the Mikoyan Gurevich MiG-21 is one of the best second-generation fighter jets and a specialist interceptor capable of sustained Mach 2 flight, making it one of the fastest fighter jets in its day.
9 Mikoyan Gurevich MiG-15
The MiG-15 was the F-86 Sabre's contemporary as well as its main enemy. This fighter jet was the Soviet Union's entry into the modern jet age, and it offered a similar performance to that of the American Sabre. This is the first Soviet plane to feature a pressurized cockpit, swept wing, and ejection seat. Compared to the Sabre, the MiG-15 is just as historic, and just as thrilling of a plane, however plenty of them are sitting in surplus, and thanks to the cheap construction, an airworthy MiG-15 is available for just $85,000. This one even comes with a spare engine to help keep it going for a while. The Mikoyan Gurevich MiG-15 is capable of speeds of up to 668 mph, thanks in part to an aerodynamic efficiency ensured by a combination of tail fine, swept wing, and horizontal stabilizers.
8 Lockheed F-104 Starfighter
The F-104 Starfighter was affectionately known as "the missile with a man in it," – it also had some less-flattering nicknames. The plane was a Cold War interceptor, capable of going twice the speed of sound. Since it retired, F-104s have occasionally come up for sale.
Accident-wise, the plane compares very favorably to its predecessor, the Sabre, and those who want an F-104 with a working engine and parts will need to hand over $325,000. However, for those satisfied with an awesome decoration piece, an engine-less example got listed for around $30,000 back in 2016.
7 Northrop T-38 Talon
The world's first jet trainer capable of supersonic flight, T-38 Talons have been training new US Air Force pilots to fly fighter jets since 1961. While many T-38s remain in active service, they're getting phased out as they age, and restoration-ready T-38s come up for sale occasionally. If you want your own, $250,000 can buy a 75% complete restoration project, or spend $800,000 and get one with everything included. The jet features swept wings, a tricycle-type landing gear with a nose wheel steering system, as well as two General Electric J85-GE-5 turbojet engines with afterburners and up to 2,900 lbs of thrust.
6 Canadair CT-133 Silver Star
Introduced at the end of WWII, the Lockheed F-80 Shooting Star was a revolutionary fighter jet. Produced under license in Canada by Canadair, the Silver Star is a more refined two-seat version of that early jet. While its top speed and acceleration can't touch swept-wing fighters like the F-86 Sabre, for $159,000 you can own a piece of aviation history and a plane that will still be a thrill ride to fly.
5 Folland Gnat
A simple and nimble little jet, the Folland Gnat was a British jet trainer designed and built in the 1950s. While they served faithfully, training new pilots to fly fighter jets, they also gained prominence for being the Red Arrows display team's jet of choice until 1979. Currently, for sale, a Folland Gnat is attainable for $359,000, with just an annual inspection needed to start flying it. The Folland Gnat got adopted for operations in the U.K., Finland, India, and Yugoslavia. Notably, several Gnats survived until now, and you can catch a glimpse of these on public displays while some also remain airworthy.
4 Fouga Magister
Similar to the Folland Gnat, the Fouga Magister is a simple and lightweight vintage jet intended to train new fighter pilots. Like the Gnat as well, the Magister served double duty as the jet flown by its home nation's air display team – the "Patrouille de France." Offering some funky looks, you can buy your own Magister for as low as $95,750, and this example is in flying and outstanding condition according to the listing. Although mainly a training jet, the Fouga Magister also tasted battle in the Six Day War in 1967 as it got deployed for ground attack missions.
3 Aero L-39 Albatross
A successful Soviet jet trainer, the L-39 Albatross, entered service in 1971 and also carried out ground attack roles. The manufacturer built the L-39s by the thousands, and plenty are for sale, both from Eastern Europe surplus and from North America, where they are one of the most popular ex-military jets for civilians to own. If you want to join the club, a flying condition L-39 can be yours for $325,000. The Aero L-39 Albatross gets its power from a single engine and can seat two pilots, with a top speed of about 470 mph.
2 Aero L-29 Delfin
The predecessor to the L-39 Albatross, the L-29 Delfin, entered service in 1963 in the same trainer role. Over 3,600 L-29s were masterfully crafted in Czechoslovakia throughout its life, helping new fighter pilots master the skies. Just like the L-39, the plentiful production, and cheap costs make this a popular choice for private ownership. A flying condition L-29 can be yours for just $45,000. Notably, in NATO's lingo, the L-29 jet is 'Maya' and it was the first-ever locally designed jet plane from Czechoslovakia. Its production spanned from 1963 to 1974.
1 Focke-Wulf Fw 190
One of the backbones of German aerial warfare during WWII, the Focke-Wulf Fw 190, along with its quite popular counterpart, the Messerschmitt Bf 109, wreaked serious havoc during the war. The Fw 190 gets it power from the BMW 801, a potent 4.2-liter air-cooled twin-row 14-cylinder-radial engine which helped it excel as a fighter-bomber, ground-attack aircraft, and a potent day fighter. On other occasions, it could also get deployed as a night fighter, but this really isn’t its forte. Notably, the Fw 190 had its first taste of battle in 1941, and it was eventually retired in 1949. A restored example of the Fw 190 is available for about $650,000. Definitely, an unrestored Focke-Wulf Fw 190 will cost much less.