[bw_wolverine]

Very interesting converseration!

I have to say that I fall mostly on Sternjager II's side of this. After reading all of the points, my hypothetical situation to suggest to everyone regarding whether original planes should be flying forever is this:

Let's say a team of crack restoration people got the Wright brothers' Flyer I in absolutely pristine condition using (incredibly!) all original parts!

There is no WAY that thing should be flown again! I don't think anyone would say that it should. That thing is just way too valuable as a historical piece.

If these WWII aircraft are as valuable as we believe they are in a historical sense, preservation of the plane should be higher priority than the vanity of watching an original plane fly. Sure, it's nice to see those planes in the air, but there's a point at which original bits just won't work and a replica, made as close as possible to original plans, is the only way you get a "safe" plane in the air. The debate shouldn't be do we keep them flying. The debate should be at what point do we ground them. I think ONE LEFT is a pretty good point to ground them!

I'll be sad when the last original airframe from WWII is no longer flying, but just like with the Wright brothers' planes, I'll get over it.