YouTuber exploring Motley Crue’s abandoned private jet says it’s a perfectly good airplane but grounded because an engine part would be $800K
- This Lear 35 has had an impressive career
- From serving in the military to partying with rockstars, it has done it all
- But after leaving Motley Crue’s service, it needs a massive fix
Published on Jan 07, 2025 at 9:47 PM (UTC+4)
by Jack Marsh
Last updated on Jan 08, 2025 at 11:37 AM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Tom Wood
The plane that carried Motley Crue around the globe is now an abandoned private jet that could be bought for less than a new car.
This plane has enjoyed quite a lifetime.
From a career in the military, deployed on various missions around the world, it spent its retirement years hosting parties for rockstars.
But it has since been abandoned after falling out of the Motley Crue’s usage, as it needs one strikingly expensive part to take to the air again.
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The abandoned private jet that belonged to Motley Crue showcased ahead of auction
As abandoned planes go, this Lear 35 plane is quite a fabled character, up there alongside the Cessna 401A which nears completion from its wreckage state.
YouTuber Jimmy Webb – who got exclusive access to the aircraft – has uncovered all of its secrets as it headed for auction.
After being let go from the military, the jet became the exclusive carrier for the many tours of Motley Crue – one of the most famous – and infamous – heavy metal bands of the 80s and 90s.
Now named N21VN, after Vince Neil (lead singer), the private jet had seen more hangovers than Bradley Cooper.
In its prime, it was littered with flame decals that can just about be made out on the plane, which does admittedly need a wash.
The jet reaches an impressive top speed of 519mph, boasts a fuel tank of 525 gallons, and has two colossal engines, but it has remained stationary for years.
Why is this jet abandoned?
Dubbed a ‘rocket ship’ by Jimmy – who runs the Jimmy’s World channel – the abandoned private jet plummeted in price to just $64,500.
That’s the same price as some tiny handbags…
So, why is it so cheap?
Well, as other YouTubers and restorers have found, planes can be extremely expensive to fix and sometimes they’re not worth the investment.
The Motley Crue jet is just one example of this, as it was found to need one part to get back up and running again.
The hitch is that one small piece of kit costs $800,000, thirteen times the price of the plane as it is.
Jimmy claims that the jet would be too loud, which he guesses is the reason that it is grounded, exceeding government regulations, and needs a muffler kit installed, which comes in at that near-million price tag.
He also noted that there would likely need to be another $100,000 (roughly) spent on general repairs and upkeep.
Lear 35s usually sell for around the one million dollar mark, but this might be one restoration too far.
Still, it was auctioned for $64,500, and while its whereabouts are now unknown, it could have been a good chance for someone to get it airborne again or an interesting museum piece.
It was one step too far for Jimmy though, despite restoring Elvis’ private jet last year.