WIX Archives
Re: Guaranteed to satisfy nearly everybody...
Posted by Tim Savage on Wed Jun 19, 2002 11:38:12 AM
In reply top Guaranteed to satisfy nearly everybody... posted by bdk on Tue Jun 18, 2002 09:12:55 PM
: I propose that the individual parts of an aircraft be pain
: ted in authentic colors and with authentic serials for tho
: se individual parts. Thus you might have a Corsair with Au
: stralian markings on the tailcone, US marking on one wing,
: and UK markings on the other wing, while the cowl would h
: ave French markings. The rudder would use Honduran marking
: s, and the newly manufactured wooden ailerons would have t
: he Fighter Rebuilders logo on them. This should satisfy al
: l the "internet enthusiasts" out there, with the exception
: of the owners and the airshow public who just want to see
: a flying example of the aircraft and don't care about the
: provenance.
:
: Of course North American remanufactured some AT-6's to T-6
: G standard post-war, so which identity do we use then if w
: e restore it to WW2 standards?
:
: All tongue-in-cheek of course, but where do we want to dra
: w the line on this? As long as the buyer of said aircraft
: does not feel it has been misrepresented, what is the harm
: of whatever ID has been selected? Can anyone document whe
: re a buyer has been harmed from the selection of the "wron
: g" ID (other than switching a data plate for the purposes
: of an aircraft theft of course)?
:
::Am I the only one that feels this way?
I am with you Brandon! What some of the "internet enthusiasts" as you call them, don't understand are the realities of operating these airplanes. Switching serial numbers or parts is necessary for certification issues in many cases. While it may be impractical to attempt to register a new restoration with its original serial number (if known) it may be much easier with another traceable identity that may have a less stringent set of operating limitations.
As I have said before if you want to see perfectly original airplanes go to the National Air and Space Museum. If you want to see them live and breath and fly, then you have to accept some concessions. After all those who are making them fly are investing incredible amounts of money to make them operational and frankly couldn't care less what someone on this board thinks.