For sale: boy's toy to beat them all

The MiG-21 'Fishbed', whose flying days are past, is the only single-seater of its type in New Zealand. Photo / Simon Baker

Stuck for a Father's Day present? You surely couldn't go wrong giving Dad his very own Cold War-era jet fighter.

The ultimate boy's toy, a Russian MiG-21MF - codenamed "Fishbed" by Nato - will be up for grabs in an online auction starting tonight.

The now-inactive 37-year-old fighter jet previously used by the Polish Air Force is one of only two of its type in New Zealand.

At almost 16m long, with a wingspan of 7m, in its flying days it could reach supersonic speeds of more than 2000km/h.

It is going to auction after the firm that owned it - headed by prominent Christchurch property developer David Henderson - was placed in receivership.

Mr Henderson is known for his very public battles with the Inland Revenue Department which became the subject of a film, We're Here to Help.

The starting bid will be $10,000"and the reserve is not too far from that", said Turners Auctions consultant Sam Brown. The aircraft hasan insurance valuation of $85,000.

"But what's it worth? Who knows. Being sort of unique - there's only two in New Zealand. One's a two-seater - which is quite different - down in Wanaka. This is the only single-seater in the country," said Mr Brown.

While it was in flying condition when imported in 1993 - "they cost something like $20,000 an hour to run" - the jet is now a display piece.

Museums and private collectors are expected to be among the bidders. Mr Brown said interest had been high - he had received 30 to 40 phone calls about it in the past two months.

"If you put it up on a pole outside your big lifestyle block, the Joneses are never going to beat you, are they?"

The auction begins at 7 tonight on Trade Me.

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