I'm helping a friend with an article on some issues in my country, mostly related to corruption. His English isn't very good, so here I go
One of the cases he's analyzing is the sale of 4 Boeing-707 airplanes for $50,000 . These airplanes couldn't fly but according to public information, they had their avionics, each of them has 4 working (not suitable for flying) Pratt & Whitney JT3D engines and one of them had a working intelligence/surveillance system (this was a very complex subject and now government says they'll try to keep this for training). Airplanes were for military use, both passengers and cargo.
Even considering selling them for scrap or replacement parts, is $50,000 a realistic price? For example, is there a place I can find prices for the parts, eg engines, landing gear and such?
EDIT: this is in Argentina, newspaper article (in Spanish).
Some data translated from article:
Approximate cruising speed: 977 km / h
Service ceiling: 11,000 meters
Approximate range: 8690 km
Empty weight: 62,500 kg
Load capacity: 94,000 pounds
Maximum operating weight: 335,600 pounds
It could carry up to 180 passengers
They are four-engine jet aircraft, Boeing brand.
Primary function: Transport of passengers and cargo, as the case may be.
Wing type: low implantation. Undercarriage: type retractable tricycle with 10 armed wheels. They have four Pratt & Whitney engines (turbines).
Length: 44 meters. Span: 47 meters. Tail height: 13 meters.
3 of the airplanes were bought by an US company specialized in airplanes' instrumental and parts, 1 was bought by a local party.