I keep getting the bug to learn how to fly, but it’s way deep on a long list of “Things to do before I die”, and it’s also stubbornly stuck behind “Make enough money to justify owning a plane.” Anyway, this is an interesting one: a listing for what sounds like a whole fleet of transport planes no longer needed now that the business is defunct. There is a total of nine Rockwell Sabreliner T39A Cargo T39 planes, specifically set up for making air transport deliveries given the interiors have no seats beyond where the pilots sit. The listing indicates the plane shown here has gone just over 8,000 hours since its last overhaul. Find the listing here on eBay with a Buy-It-Now of $100,000.
The shipping company name on the side of the plane – Jett Paq – has no obvious connection to an existing business when you search for it on Google. There’s a company in Argentina that spells the name with one “T” on “Jet”, and the site hasn’t been updated since 2014, so that seems like a possible source for the origins behind this fleet of transport planes. Whatever the story is, you can’t help but wonder how things were going when the decision to buy nine aircraft likely valued at more than $100,000 when new, and then how quickly it changed so that the planes were offered up for sale at a discount. I don’t know much about cargo transport planes, but one has to wonder if these could easily be retrofitted into passenger aircraft.
My guess is no, as there’s no windows in addition to the lack of seats. Now, certainly, you could fly people in here with just seats and no daylight, but I don’t know how many people would want to fly that way (unless, of course, you’re escaping from God knows what or where, in which case windows and a shade likely don’t matter much to you.) The seller doesn’t specify whether there’s any cosmetic damage to sort out from being used as a cargo plane, but any potential buyers should be working with an independent inspection agency anyway before making a purchase. The Rockwell Sabreliner has a colorful history as an aircraft developed for military applications and used during the Vietnam War. They were commonly used as training aircraft for fine-tuning navigational abilities.
The Sabreliner also entered into the commercial sector for business and private aircraft use. Somewhat nefariously, Osama bin Laden owned a T39A that belonged to the U.S. Air Force and was acquired via a domestic broker that supposedly didn’t ask too many questions about the potential buyer. Regardless, it’s a proven aircraft that has been in production for quite some time, so there’s likely more life left in its wings. The description notes its last major rebuild happened in 1972, and while the hours on the engines is below the threshold for standard overhaul frequencies, there’s likely still plenty of refurb work to be done by the next owner. Do you think a cool $100,000 is a fair price for a T39A like this that’s been sitting for a few years?
DARN IT! – I just bought a used Learjet last week.
“Things to do before I die”…last words of the pilot at the bottom of his class.
Yea, me too….. Don’t you just hate when that happens.
Air cargo is just going to get busier and busier over the next few years. Brick and mortar stores are going the way of the buggy whip, dodo birds, and two-newspaper cities. And they ain’t coming back.
Jeff, If you want to learn to fly this ain’t the bird to train in for a host of reasons. But it’s a great cargo van with wings.
Not too hard to figure what the previous owner used these to transport.
It’s the Pause That Refreshes
Coca-Cola?
Good one,,,
These have outdated avionics that would cost as much to replace as the planes themselves will sell for. I’d say these are at best Cartel Specials but they buy better stuff than their military can afford!
The avionics aren’t the only issue. These are all equipped with old style “tube” jet engines not the current fan jets. They are very loud and would run afoul of noise restrictions at many airports.
A plane I’d like to have is a retired USAF jet, the Cessna T-37. There’s a two-seat trainer that’s not much bigger than an MGB with wings. You could fly the thing anywhere and it’s a jet!
I think all T37s were 2 seaters.
Yes, but if you get all the ballistic egress out of it, there is supposedly room for 4.
The J-69 engines were gas hogs. It would cost a fortune to go anywhere.
And my wife looks at me funny for buying a ’67 Newport….
Try bringing home an ‘17 Nieuport for a domestic conversion starter!
I’m pretty sure those engines are too noisy to operate in US airspace, not to mention extremely thirsty.
Yep – we had them on the ramp in the late 70’s and early 80’s – only thing worse is that made a 4 engine one – like in that James Bond movie with that “Galore” chick – oh and those damn MU-2’s !
Looks like the owner (Jet Paqueteria) has had some very serious accidents with his fleet. Here are some records:
https://www.baaa-acro.com/operator/jett-paqueteria
I’ll wager their maintenance and inspection records were also works of fiction.
Was just going to say, we bought a plane from a South American country a few years ago, and found out the same (works of fiction and not even good works of fiction at that).
Very interesting reading.
Sounds like they don’t hire very good pilots and/or overwork them. Perhaps there were maintenance issues too.
I fly when I can but not as easy as starting it up and and going for a ride. Getting the license is a project all by itself which involves medical certification, learning physics, calculus, flight planning among a host of other factors. If you have time and patience, do it, go for it. It’s a fantastic hobby and pass time.
You forgot to mention the $$$$$$$$ for flight lessons.
Hola, Trabajo en shipping en Argentina.
Jet Paq trabaja exclusivamente cabotaje y con los aviones de Aerolineas Argentinas.
saludos
Based on the tail numbers the plane is registered in Mexico.
My Uncle Tom was an Air Force pilot. As he neared the end of his career, they had him flying VIPs around in a Sabreliner.
Mexican tail number
Sabreliner 65 direct operating cost is around $2,600 per flight hour. This price includes items such as fuel burn, maintenance, and a variety of others.
At this point, these are junk. Good in their day, there is nothing even in the way of parts worth peddling. Scrap em.
Buy it and charter flights from Afghanistan. I’m sure the sky is the limit on ticket prices, and sans seats and windows would not be an issue at all.
Jett Paquetería
No cup holders i am out. Located in Texas, has over 1,600 items listed.
Learning to fly is not necessarily dependent on having the money to Buy a plane. You can co-own a plane or join a club that owns a plane for much less than sole ownership.
Registration is Mexico… Plane might have an interesting history.
But how would I convert it to be a low rider?
I think all T37s were 2 seaters.
I doubt this would fit in a barn.
Depends on the barn. We (I’m part of the architectural approval committee) just got a proposal from a guy that wants to build a 70×100 hangar on his lot. You could fit (barely) two of these in that hangar. Unfortunately for him, on his lot that would violate setbacks.
I think the speedometer and tachometer gauges are a little crooked.
Haven’t read the comment “LS1 swap” yet…so far :)
Great for touch and goes at KBL (Kabul Intl). In the words of Curly Fine woo, woo, woo, woo, woo, woo, woo.
I used to grit my teeth buying avgas for a Cessna 150 that burned 6 gallons/hour.
Far more trouble than they will ever be worth. The average person sadly doesn’t have a clue what it would take to bring these back to a flyable condition (even one). Previously mentioned avionics, engines, AD’s to be complied with, a thorough corrosion inspection. The only real value in these now is for scrap or maybe an outdoor static display of some sort.
Pull the engines and put on a playground for the kids.
Why pull the engines? Fire em up to get rid of mosquitos
“Ice is forming, on the tips of my wings,,,I heeded warnings, I thought I thought of everything”,,,oddly enough, that song was written by David Gilmour who was terrified of flying,,,oh, the plane? Sure, why not?
T-39A-1-NO. Ex USAF 61-0683.
You wish your gas gauge isn’t working. Remember that supercar commercial where the gas gauge went down after hitting the pedal several times.. I can say that this plane will make your V8 look like a economy car.
These aircraft are very old and outdated. The cost to have them imported to the US and put through inspection would be astronomical. Not to mention they are non RVSM compliant and there are noise abatement procedures for these old jets. The only thing you could do is sell them as scrap, they literally are worth Nothing..
Previously owned by Pablo Escobar.
5 July 2007: a CT-39A cargo aircraft operated by Mexican carrier Jett Paqueteria, XA-TFL, overruns Runway 02 at Culiacán International Airport after the pilots are unable to lift off and initiate a rejected takeoff. The aircraft crashes into vehicles on a nearby highway, killing all three crew members on the Sabreliner and seven persons on the ground. The accident is attributed to possible horizontal stabilizer failure, poor aircrew training and crew resource management, a failure to follow proper procedures, and crew pressure to depart before the airfield was to be temporarily closed for a presidential visit.[28]
Ended:
Aug 20, 2021
Price:
US $100,000.00
Located in:
Laredo, Texas
Items have been relisted:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/174901445170?ViewItem=&item=174901445170&vxp=mtr