[Kevin]

... brains?

LINK

MOSCOW (Reuters) - A wealthy Russian tried to buy a U.S. B-52 bomber from a group of shocked American pilots at an airshow near Moscow, a Russian newspaper reported Friday.

The unidentified Russian, wearing sunglasses and surrounded by bodyguards, approached the U.S. delegation and asked to buy the bomber, the Komsomolskaya Pravda newspaper said.

An astounded member of the U.S. delegation said the bomber was not for sale but that it would cost at least $500 million if it were to be sold on the spot.

"That is no problem. It is such a cool machine," the Russian was quoted as saying by the newspaper, which said its reporter overheard the conversation. The bomber was not sold.

Russia's new rich, who built fantastic fortunes trading commodities and contacts after the fall of the Soviet Union, have made a name for themselves as ostentatious purchasers of everything from British football clubs to Faberge eggs.

I couldn't help but laugh. I don't begrudge any who works hard to come by their fortune, but honestly... what made this man think that the US Air Force would happily sell off an active airframe? Looking to test the old axiom "everything is for sale... you just have to name the right price".

[YachtForum]

After the fall of the wall, a friend who had a hangar adjacent to me at Ft. Laud exec began buying surplus Russian jet trainers. They were pennies on the dollar, although they were still a lot of money. He would freshen them up and sell them to collectors, airshow participants and in some cases... other nations. Great little business model he had going until a Federal Agency took exception with some of his customers, which grounded his business.

It's nice to see democracy prevail. But at what cost...?

[YachtNews]

it would cost at least $500 million if it were to be sold on the spot.

"That is no problem. It is such a cool machine,"

LOL, that is what had me laughing. He sounds like he is buying groceries.

[airship]

I was trying to imagine why anyone, let alone a Russian with "easy come, easy go billions" would want to buy a B-52 for $500m (unless it came with a few nuclear bombs) for which a middle-eastern "caviar producer" might pay far more...

Nah, if I were one of those immoral newly-capitalist Russkies, I'd consider paying $100m for a SR-71 Blackbird maybe. Or a little more for a Concorde still in flying condition, I guess.

OK, so the B-52 has 8 engines, and in our days of oceanic commercial services that operate on just twin-engined aircraft, the other 6 engines could represent a safety bonus. Unless you can already afford an executive Airbus A-380 which on balance (not requiring a military crew for maintenance and in-flight refuelling services) would make your billions stretch further.

The repercussions of the US sub-prime market have yet to completely unwind. The Russkies should display some reserve and caution...

[Codger]

On the lighter side.. Why not buy a B52? There are quite a few airports that I'd get quite a laugh out of flying in to with a B52.
As far as a "caviar producing" country buying one with a hot load, why bother? Just as nasty bits of kit available out there that are quite a bit more discrete.

Airship
If you look at money as just the commodity that it is and it is declining in it's trading value against other commodities then exchanging one with a declining value for others that are stable in value or increasing in value makes sense.
Which commodity would you rather have had a warehouse full of over the past 20 years... Greenbacks, titanium plate, 6 9s copper, Pt6 cores and on and on.

There is also a cultural difference in attitude towards the reality that one is guaranteed to die, so enjoy life while you have it.

I'd take the SR71 to.