# Ordering a factory new Boeing F/A-18. **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 21, 2014, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ordering-a-factory-new-boeing-f-a-18/696109 "2014-08-21T17:34:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2014, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ordering-a-factory-new-boeing-f-a-18/696109/21 "2014-08-22T15:35:01Z")
> [@Disposable Hero](#): > > Pah, “performance”, they aren’t even supersonic, I may as well take my car. Bear in mind that supersonic capability isn’t of much use to civilians. A high-subsonic trainer is as fast as you’re able to fly. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2014, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ordering-a-factory-new-boeing-f-a-18/696109/22 "2014-08-22T15:51:59Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > Bear in mind that supersonic capability isn’t of much use to civilians. A high-subsonic trainer is as fast as you’re able to fly. Yes, the FAA frowns mightily upon civilians flying supersonically outside of narrowly defined limits. Me? I’d be ecstatic if I owned my own C-172. And if it had an O-360 under the cowl… Woohoo! Supposing I had enough money, my ultimate plane would be a T-38 (which I would fly supersonically only within the rules). I wouldn’t need anything faster or ‘badder’. ---
**Author:** ![Atomic\_Alex](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atomic_alex/32/175_2.png) [@Atomic\_Alex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atomic_Alex)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2014, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ordering-a-factory-new-boeing-f-a-18/696109/23 "2014-08-22T16:29:42Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > Bear in mind that supersonic capability isn’t of much use to civilians. A high-subsonic trainer is as fast as you’re able to fly. Well in that case I’ll take a Harrier, I’ve always wanted to casually rock up to work in a jump-jet. Anyway, I’m not not American, though I have no idea what rules cover private ownership of ex-military jets in the UK. ---
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2014, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ordering-a-factory-new-boeing-f-a-18/696109/24 "2014-08-22T17:14:09Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > more like a lawn dart. IIRC the German nickname for the F-104 was “Erdnagel” (earth-nail). ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2014, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ordering-a-factory-new-boeing-f-a-18/696109/25 "2014-08-24T12:57:43Z")
> [@Morgenstern](#): > > From\*\* Johnny’s\*\* cite above… > > - “It has been acquired legitimately,” said Landa, who said he was visited by the FBI on Tuesday, a day after he posted the jet on the popular Internet auction site. \* > And this… > > - Landa is also selling a new aircraft “that climbs straight up” for $10 million.\* > > Now, that totally has me curious. That must have some awesome thrust. Relative to weight, yeah… wasn’t the Fokker Triplane rumored to be able to fly straight up? ---
**Author:** ![pullin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c57346/32.png) [@pullin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pullin)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2014, 10:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ordering-a-factory-new-boeing-f-a-18/696109/26 "2014-08-25T10:26:51Z")
Short answer to the OP’s question: No you can’t order a military jet directly from Boeing (or any other manufacturer). When the gummint contracts for these, the manufacturer is forbidden from selling to anyone except Uncle Sam. Even foreign military deliveries are handled thru the government’s program office(s); Skipping a lot of details, but from the paperwork/ownership perspective, Boeing, Lockheed, et al are handing off their new jets to the US, who in turn either uses it, or passes it on as they see fit). [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ordering-a-factory-new-boeing-f-a-18/696109.md?page=1)