Hornet fighter jet on eBay auction for bargain price tag of $1 million

NORFOLK, Va. (AP) -- A Navy F/A-18A Hornet fighter, "someassembly required," is being offered on the online auction houseeBay.

The price for the jet, which formerly belonged to the Navy's BlueAngels aerial demonstration team, is just over $1 million, or about$9 million for a buyer who wants it assembled, painted and certifiedready to fly.

"Complete with extras including bomb racks, drop tanks andpylons," the eBay offering notes.

Only legal U.S. residents can bid. The auction is scheduled toend Thursday, just before 5 p.m. EST. One bid was listed Sunday:$1.05 million.

An F/A-18 in 1997 cost the military $28 million, according to theBlue Angels' official Web site. Eleven squadrons of F-18 Hornets arebased at the Oceana Naval Air Station in Virginia Beach, with about12 jets per squadron.

Mike Landa of Landa and Associates in Arlington, Wash., thebrokerage that listed the Blue Angels fighter on the Internetauction service, told The Virginian-Pilot the jet is in parts andcame out of military service in 1994. Landa wouldn't identify theowner but said he came by it legally.

"This thing obviously slipped through the system somehow," Landasaid, adding that it was "released during the Clinton managementera."

Normally, the Navy either mothballs a jet after it no longer isdeemed usable or leases worn-out models to museums. Only rarely cana surplus jet be sold to a third party, a Navy spokesman said lastweek.

There also are policies against reselling them or shipping themout of the country. The Navy's official position is that it is awareof the auction and is looking into the matter.

The FBI came out to visit Landa after he put the jet up forbidding. They wanted to know "what are you selling here," he said.

Landa said the owner has offered the government an opportunity tobuy the jet back.

Landa said he has no doubt someone will surface to claim theHornet. The jet's model can fly about 1,400 mph and climb 30,000feet in a minute.