Used Aircraft Guide: Van’s RV-8

If you would like to find out how it feels to fly an old-school, piston-engine fighter, there are a few paths available.

Learning to fly a North American AT-6, just like aspiring fighter jocks did during World War II, is a great way to build the skills necessary to move on to more glamorous warbirds and to experience the feel of combat-style flight without necessarily burning through millions of dollars in the process. Those with more time and money to spend, and a desire for horsepower in the four-digit range, can acquire a P-51 Mustang or other former front-line fighter aircraft for a more authentic and thrilling ace fantasy.