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US Air Force planes can be rented for as little as $917 an hour - here's how much bombers, fighters, and cargo planes go for

Christopher Woody   

US Air Force planes can be rented for as little as $917 an hour - here's how much bombers, fighters, and cargo planes go for
Defense1 min read

Air Force B-2 Spirit stealth bomber Rose Bowl college football flyover

  • The Defense Department calculates the hourly reimbursement cost for each branch's aircraft - rates used to charge nongovenmental organizations or civilians for events like flyovers at sporting events.
  • The Air Force plane with the highest rate is the E-4B airborne command center: $73,123 an hour.
  • Heavy bombers like the B-1B and B-2A are also really expensive, likely based on fuel and crew costs.

The Air Force has planes for every mission, but those planes aren't always doing missions for the Air Force.

In October, the Defense Department Comptroller released latest reimbursement rates for each service branch's planes and helicopters.

These costs are generally calculated based on fuel use, wear and tear, and personnel needs - the branch providing the aircraft also typically provides a pilot and crew, an Air Force spokeswoman told Business Insider.

The document lists four categories for reimbursement: other Defense Department components, other federal agencies, foreign military sales, and "all other."

"When determining the hourly rate, agencies should utilize the appropriate rate category," the document says. "The 'all other' annual billable rate will be used to obtain reimbursement for services provided to organizations outside the Federal government."

Below, you can see Air Force aircraft reimbursement rates for users that fall into the "all other" category - that's you.

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