Unit Cost of Various Aircraft

[kitplane01]

I'm trying to make a list of unit costs of various aircraft.

I'm aware that unit costs can include many many factors, such as year produced, what's included, production rate, currency conversions, whether it includes an engine, etc. I'm just trying to very approximately ballpark things.

So, can anyone add to my list (with a citation to a reputable source)?

 

[33k in the air]

The US Army Air Forces Statistical Digest has a table of aircraft unit costs. It's Table 82, "Average Unit Cost of Airplanes Authorized, By Principal Model: Fiscal Years 1939 to 1945" and appears on page 134 of the original document (page 153 of the PDF).

You can download the PDF document here.

 

[kitplane01]

The US Army Air Forces Statistical Digest has a table of aircraft unit costs. It's Table 82, "Average Unit Cost of Airplanes Authorized, By Principal Model: Fiscal Years 1939 to 1945" and appears on page 134 of the original document (page 153 of the PDF).

You can download the PDF document here.

So that was awesome. Much thanks. Now I need some non-USAF data. Does the Navy have a similar document?

 

[33k in the air]

So that was awesome. Much thanks. Now I need some non-USAF data. Does the Navy have a similar document?

That question I cannot answer. But hopefully someone else here might be able to.

 

[Graeme]

What a fascinating list!
I'm amazed at some of the prices - in particular the cost a Cougar and the CH-53K.

But there ya go...

Is $138 Million for the CH-53K King Stallion Helicopter Justified? – The Defense Post

 

[Graeme]

Some 'early bird' prices...

(History of the USAF - 1957)

 

[kitplane01]

Much Thanks.
Need more data!

Newer list attached. Rough estimate of prices only!

 

[kitplane01]

The 'coolest' plane from WWII I cannot find a price for is the Mosquito. Or for that matter *any* British plane except the Spitfire. Did the British not publish prices? Even after the war???

Would love help!!!!

 

[Graeme]

Percival Provost - $60,000 in 1954.
Avro Vulcan - $4,800,000 in 1956.

 

[Graeme]

Beautiful machine - but expensive.
One source says $750,000,000 each.

This site says that's $6,322,194,466 in 2021 dollars.

Calculate the Value of $750,000 in 1964. How much is it worth today?

(WIKI Pic)

 

[ARTESH]

Well, I am interesting at "Tomcat" prices! can You provide any info about Them? as well as other items available within IRIAF!

 

[ARTESH]

Much Thanks.
Need more data!

Newer list attached. Rough estimate of prices only!

You named your file as "Aircraft Prices", but it include almost anything, from submarines to Carriers, That would become a pretty source if you can add small arms, artillery, Throwing weapons, Trench warfare systems and equipment, medicines, clothing and ...

 

[tomo pauk]

Well, I am interesting at "Tomcat" prices! can You provide any info about Them? as well as other items available within IRIAF!

This is a very good source for the prices of US aircraft (although it does not deal just with that), can be downloaded for free: link
Roughly, the F-5 was very cheap (1.2M $ in early 1970s), A-4 was slightly more expensive, the A-7 and F-4 were at 2.3 - 2.5 M in late 1960s/early 70s, the F-14 was projected at 1st at 8M, later projected at 11M, that grew to 18M for the 1st series (probably would've gone even more upwards if there was no Iranian order).
USAF Statistical Digest is also a great source, although by ~1963 they don't list flyaway cost of aircraft, just the cost of respective programs for year in question. This is also great, 1971 budget discussions.
Also this table.

 

[pbehn]

The 'coolest' plane from WWII I cannot find a price for is the Mosquito. Or for that matter *any* British plane except the Spitfire. Did the British not publish prices? Even after the war???

Would love help!!!!

Ive seen prices for the Spitfire and Hurricane pre war. However by 1940 the government owned the new factory that was building Spitfires and rebuilding the original bombed out Supermarine works. The government paid wages and supplied materials in a controlled economy. The engines were (or soon would be) made in a similar factory bought and supplied by the government which was technically bankrupt. Even more difficult with German manufacturers, what does cost mean when slave labour is used and materials "appropriated" when possible. There was obviously money changing hands with Spitfire production and records of types made against orders/ changes to orders, how much you can compare to a USA machine is a big question.

 

[tomo pauk]

To correct myself about the F-14: seems like the price for early years - 1974/75 - was around 14M $.

 

[Koopernic]

I'm trying to make a list of unit costs of various aircraft.

I'm aware that unit costs can include many many factors, such as year produced, what's included, production rate, currency conversions, whether it includes an engine, etc. I'm just trying to very approximately ballpark things.

So, can anyone add to my list (with a citation to a reputable source)?

An extremely important factor is that unit costs reduced dramatically, in some cases near ten fold for aircraft produced near the beginning of the war to the end. Even the last year of the war seemed to produce a halving of man hours for the Me 109.

 

[Ovod]

I recall, when I checked out the sticker prices of US built aircraft a few years ago, that the price of a new P-40 in 1943 was almost half that of a P-47 in the same year. I imagine the P-40 and maybe the P-39 as well were kept in production for so long was because they were such cost-effective bomb trucks in service.

People are comparing the price of aircraft, but what about the production cost of aero engines? what was the price of the powerplant of a P-40N compared to the engine on a Spitfire Mk IX or P-51D?

 

[tomo pauk]

People are comparing the price of aircraft, but what about the production cost of aero engines? what was the price of the powerplant of a P-40N compared to the engine on a Spitfire Mk IX or P-51D?

Price of V-1710 in 1943 was ~11300$ (1-stage engines mostly), the Packard Merlin was at ~16900$ (average between 1- and 2-stage engines?). All in all, Packard Merlin seems to be about 1/3rd more expensive than V-1710, in 1941-45, per Vee's for victory, pg. 331.

 

[Zipper730]

From the source, I get the following

Year.....................1939-1941...1942..........1943..........1944..........1945........
Bombers.......................................................................................................
Very Heavy.................................................................................................
...B-29.....................................$893,730.....................$605,360....$509,465
...B-32*....................................$790,433.....................$790,433..................
Heavy.........................................................................................................
...B-17.................$301,221.....$258,949.....................$187,742....$187,742
...B-24.................$379,162.....$304,391.....................$215,516...................
Medium......................................................................................................
...B-25.................$180,031.....$153,396...$151,894...$142,194....$116,752
...B-26.................$261,062.....$239,655...$212,932.....................................
Light/Attack...............................................................................................
...A-20.................$136,813......$124,253...$110,324...$100,800.................
...A-26.................$224,498........................$254,624...$192,457...$175,892
...A-28......................................$118,704......................................................
...A-29......................................$118,080.....................................................
...A-30......................................$155,570...$151,017...................................
Fighters........................................................................................................
.Night..........................................................................................................
...P-61.................$649,584......$245,327...$180,711.....................$199,598
...P-70.................$143,076..........................................................................
Twin-Engine..............................................................................................
...P-38.................$134,284......$120,407...$105,567.....$97,147.................
...P-59..........................................................................$236,299.................
.Single-Engine...........................................................................................
...P-39...................$77,159........$69,534.......................$50,166.................
...P-40...................$60,562........$59,444.....$49,449.....$44,892.................
...P-47.................$113,246......$105,594...$104,258.....$85,578.....$83,001
...P-51........................................$58,698.....$58,824.....$51,572.....$50,895
...P-63........................................$60,277.....$57,379.....$59,996.....$65,914
...P-80..........................................................................$109,471.....$71,840

 

[Vincenzo]

price italian aircraft ordered in 1941
Breda Ba.25, 92,000 lit (italian lire)
Macchi C.200, in average 411,728 lit (they were ordered in different block at 3 different firm)
Macchi C.202, in average 509,450 lit (as above)
Reggiane Re.2000, 701,043 lit (small block, 12)
Reggiane Re.2001, 350,486 lit (two order to 2 different firm)
Sai 207, 293,833
Nardi FN.305, in average 225,034 lit (3 block)
Nardi FN.315, in average 167,923 lit (2 order to 2 firm)
Fiat G.50/B, in average 332,843 lit (2 block)
Fiat G.50 Bis, in average 397,989 lit (3 block to 2 firm)
Fiat CR-30/B, 206,400 lit
Fiat C.R. 42 (C.N.), 299,200 lit
Fiat C.R. 42 (B.a.), in average 325,672 lit (2 block)
Fiat C.R. 42, 342,003 lit
Fiat B.R. 20/M 1,085,866 lit (3 block)
Fiat R.S.14, 870,000 lit
Fiat C.5, 228,802 lit
Fiat G.12, 2,302,960 lit (2 block)
Siai S.M.87 2,460,000 lit (small block, 4)
Siai S.M.84&Bis 960,005 lit
Siai S.M. 84 Bis, 1,043,274 lit
Siai S.M.79, in average 762,184 lit (11 block to 3 firm)
Siai S.M.82, in average 1,318,974 lit (2 block)
Siai S.M.75/T, 1,528,395 lit
Caproni 309, in average 294,522 lit (2 block)
Caproni 311, in average 475,433 lit (2 block to 2 firm)
Caproni 314, 4,008,429 lit, i suppose there is a misprint
Caproni 314/S, 595,116 lit (small block, 4)
Caproni 313, 601,670 lit
Caproni 313/S, 482,810 lit (one plane)
Caproni 164, 49,416 lit
AVIA FL.3, in average 49,155 lit (5 block to 2 firm)
Saiman 200, in average 94,232 lit (3 block to 2 firm)
Saiman 202, in average 86,801 lit (6 block to 3 firm)
IMAM Ro.63, 183,333 lit (small block, 6)
IMAM Ro.41/B, 102,333 lit (2 block to 2 firm)
IMAM Ro.43, 312,000 lit
Piaggio 108/B, in average 3,016,733 (2 block, 12 planes)
CRDA Z.1007 Bis, in average 1,192,180 lit (5 block to 2 firm)
CRDA Z.1018/L, 1,130,000 lit (small block, 10)
CRDA Z.1018/L, 518,000 lit (block later cancelled, 100)
CRDA Z.501, in average 443,176 lit (5 block to 2 firm)
CRDA Z.506, in average 1,368,352 lit (5 block to 2 firm)