WIX Archives

Re: American warbirds to be permanently grounded/Destroyed?

Posted by Steve Young on Thu Nov 08, 2001 09:12:06 AM

In reply top American warbirds to be permanently grounded/Destroyed? posted by Tony on Wed Nov 07, 2001 11:49:09 AM

I don't know a lot about the bill itself, but it seems to me to be almost completely unfeasible.

In essence, it calls for the permanent and irreversible de-militarisation of all ex-US military hardware, be it firearms, aircraft or even vehicles. The bill apparently states that aircraft would have to have their main spars cut through in order to be rendered un-usable.

However, anyone who knows anything about aircraft knows that such action is NOT irreversible - Lancaster PA474 had it's main spar replaced a few years ago, and I understand that TFC's Mosquito could easily have it's sawn-through main spar repaired. Expensive remedies in both cases, but achievable.

There is probably a significant legal argument to be made that the only truly irreversible action which could be taken to implement this bill would be to completely destroy all traces of the aircraft, thereby making them extinct. However, such action would destroy significant parts of the history of the United States, and I believe that a properly committed legal mind could argue this case very well.

After the tragic events of September 11th, I cannot see any patriotic American judge or politician wanting to be seen as a destroyer of national heritage, therefore the bill would (hopefully) be thrown out....

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