WIX Archives

Data Plate restorations v. "original" a/c

Posted by simon king on Thu Apr 18, 2002 12:41:24 PM

Something thats been taxing me (apart from Gordon Brown.....)

How long will it be before "data plate" restorations are the only safe way to fly warbirds?

Presumably skins, ribs,castings and components etc all have a safe "life" after which it becomes unsafe to fly - I suppose fatigue life is the correct term.

Everything was built for a short life during WW2 - time wasn't engineered into the design - it was more likely to be written off or shot down than reach the end of it's fatigue life.

I suppose what I'msaying is that will we ever reach that day when no "original" a/c are flying - and how far away is it.

If it's not too far away then all the debate about otriginality becomes superfluous and "original = static" and "data plate restoration = airworthy" - will that ever happen???

sk

Follow Ups:

Re: Data Plate restorations v. "original" a/c - Elliott Thu Apr 18, 2002 12:50:57 PM
- Re: Data Plate restorations v. "original" a/c - Jim H Thu Apr 18, 2002 01:26:01 PM
  - What about the current active B-52s? - Mike Henniger Fri Apr 19, 2002 07:13:54 AM
    - Re: What about the current active B-52s? - bdk Fri Apr 19, 2002 01:22:03 PM
    - ...and what about the DC-3/C-47? - Kenneth Fri Apr 19, 2002 04:22:31 PM
      - Well, here's an Airworthiness Directive for you... - bdk Fri Apr 19, 2002 06:55:32 PM
    - Re: What about the current active B-52s? - nick Fri Apr 19, 2002 10:23:27 PM
Re: Data Plate restorations v. "original" a/c - Paul Coggan Thu Apr 18, 2002 12:52:55 PM
- Re: Data Plate restorations v. "original" a/c - Paul Stewart Thu Apr 18, 2002 08:54:23 PM
Re: Data Plate restorations v. "original" a/c - Kenneth Thu Apr 18, 2002 01:02:36 PM
Yikes! How many hours a year do you plan to fly????? - bdk Thu Apr 18, 2002 03:46:06 PM
- Re: Yikes! How many hours a year do you plan to fly????? - Tom Thu Apr 18, 2002 07:07:23 PM
Re: Data Plate restorations v. "original" a/c - mick Fri Apr 19, 2002 02:43:51 AM
Re: Data Plate restorations v. "original" a/c - Cees Fri Apr 19, 2002 10:48:31 AM