WIX Archives

Re: Beware parts consolidation - I think I'll have another

Posted by john parker on Wed Nov 21, 2001 05:37:56 PM

In reply top Was: Beware parts consolidation posted by Paul on Tue Nov 20, 2001 06:13:32 AM

: Just noted a very interesting piece many postings ago rega
: rding provenance and identities and John Parkers' comments
: (which I think were well made) about identities.
:
: Sorry if I sound like a stuck record, but imho (and many
: others for that matter) the identity of an aircraft should
: always be the centre fuselage section - the bit that carr
: ies the data plate. Anything else hung off this centre sec
: tion is really almost irrelevant. This is certainl how Mus
: tangs are categorised in my experience and researching.
:
: Interested to know other's opinions on this
:
: regards
:
: Paul Coggan


Well said Paul

The point of my original post was this:

There are in my view 3 types of warbirds

1) Replica / new builds which contain very little if any of the original aircraft - could be either flying or not (preferably flying)!

2) "Original" restorations which contain as much material from a specific aircraft as possible,ie the pre crash/last flight state - naturally these machines contain new / refurbished parts where necessary to replace those too badly damaged/lost - I don't care about the percentage as long as it is the maxamum possible thus retaining the historical context and provinance - ge4nerably static restorations

3) Historic replicas/compilations where an original substantial airframe no longer exists and there are remains of many parts from different airframes from which to construct an aircraft to represent the type otherwise extinct. - generally static

The point I am making is that all three types have a very proper place in our movement - the problem I have is where the restorer consumes more than one airframe in his efforts or an airworthy rebuild destroys one or more substantial historic static airframes - we lose our historic artifacts.

Lets look at the available material with each restoration and make the best decision based on the state of the material and not destroy multiple airframes to satisfy a short term fix.

By taking this approach more of "our" aircraft will remain to be displayed in the future.

I love nothing more than seeing a fighter being displayed in the air where it belongs - it's just that 60 year old parts have little place on it in general

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