Watch above: When you think about Kijiji, finding an apartment or new furniture comes to mind. But what about a fighter jet? That’s exactly what a Red Deer man is looking to sell and it could be yours for $1.5 million. Shallima Maharaj reports.
EDMONTON – If you’re in the market for a Harrier jet, look no further; a Red Deer man is selling one for a cool $1.5 million. But the way he’s chosen to sell the jet is somewhat less-than-traditional. He’s taken out an ad on Kijiji.
“I wanted to reach out to a different kind of audience, rather than the normal people that read aviation magazines, see if there’s somebody out there that wanted the ultimate toy,” said Ian Cotton.
The Scotland native, who moved to Canada in 1995, posted the ad to sell his 1986 Sea Harrier FA2 Jump Jet on Kijiji last week. By Sunday afternoon, the ad had garnered nearly 26,000 views online.
Cotton says while he’s heard from a couple of serious potential buyers, he’s also heard from quite a few “jokers.”
“We’ve heard from some dodgy characters too, that clearly are doing some sort of internet scam.”
“Somebody saying they’re going to send me $1.5 million in cash through PayPal,” Cotton said with a laugh. “Of course, I don’t think PayPal deals in that kind of cash.”
A collector not a pilot, Cotton obtained the Ex-Royal Navy Harrier Jet from the UK five years ago. It’s the sixth plane he’s acquired over the past six years or so.
“The plan was to originally try and get this into flyable condition; there is one exactly the same as this flying in the States,” he explained. “I just don’t seem to have the time any more to play with these.”
WATCH: Cotton prepares the jet for the 2013 Airdrie Airshow
So, he’s taken to Kijiji to sell it. Cotton says the jet is in excellent condition. It comes with a Rolls-Royce Pegasus MK107 engine, a parts donor extra fuselage and another Harrier cockpit that can be used for display or the basis of a simulator.
The jet was built in 1986, converted to the latest FA2 standard in 1997 and last flown in 2001.
Cotton says now, all it needs are minor parts and “somebody crazy enough to fly it.”
“I think anybody that’s going to buy it is obviously going to look after it and maybe get it flying, maybe put it in a museum or maybe use it as a static display.”
To see Cotton’s ad, head to Kijiji’s website.
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