Legality of owning ex-military intercontinental aircraft.

Don't forget about the congressional bill that would have allowed
the government to seize all ex-military aircraft. It was beaten back the
last time in the hopes the sponsers would rewrite it, but I understand it is
going to be resubmitted again with the original language. Hope they don't
find out, I still have my old P38 can opener (anybody else still have
theirs?).

"The demilitarization language re-emerged in 2003 despite understandings
that it would not be part of future legislation after it was removed from
similar bills in 2001 and 2002. The language would have given the Department
of Defense authority to have military surplus items, including historic
warbird aircraft, destroyed as potential threats even after the government
had sold them to private individuals. There would be no expiration to that
authority, so even aircraft sold as surplus after World War II, for
instance, would be impacted and could potentially be destroyed."

"Stephen D. Poe" wrote in message
...
Bill Silvey wrote:
Hiya group.

I can't recall if I've asked this before, but does anyone know what the
legal status of a privately purchased airframe like, say, a B47 or B36
(or,
heaven forbid, a B52 or Tu-95) would be presuming the owner could
refurbish
the aircraft to operational capability?

I think at least the FAA if not the USAF and more than a few other
parties
would kinda have a few reservations about someone owning an operational
bird
like that.

The B-36 restoration ran into problems with that.

To quote:
"At the conclusion of the ceremony, title to the plane was transferred
to the Air Force Museum and its custody was assigned to the city of Fort
Worth.
...
All six piston engines were started before the project was halted. One
engine was allowed to run for 15 minutes and operated flawlessly after
sitting idle for nearly 12 years.

Alarmed by the possibility of the plane becoming airworthy, the Air
Force decreed that work cease on the flyout effort. They explained that
the plane would be a threat to national security and would be a huge
safety hazard if allowed to operate under civilian control. Their
announced plan to repossess the bomber launched a long series of
negotiations with the City of Fort Worth who came under intense local
pressure to save the plane."
- http://www.b-36peacemakermuseum.org/History/part1.htm