We all enjoy watching warbirds flying but how long will it last. I mean one day the bbmf spitfires and Lancaster and Hurricanes plus all the privately owned stuff will one day run out of fatigue life what will happen to them then? Will they be put in museums? Will they be zero timed or respared? Will our grandkids be enjoying them in a hundred years or will the warbird movement have died out?
By: Markp451 - 24th April 2004 at 23:29
From a jet piont of view F.I. is very important.. Its a case no F.I. no fly. But most civil operater ( Hunter etc) operater the aircraft ( ie “G” loads) completely differently to say the RAF, so you can say probably another 100-150 years. The main problem is spares and the good old one COST ..
By: Mark V - 24th April 2004 at 20:43
Privately owned WWII era warbirds generally do not have formal ‘fatigue lifed’ airframes. There are however componenents requiring overhaul at agreed time scehdules such as engines and props.
By: Firebird - 24th April 2004 at 19:27
I seem to remember after BAe re-sparred PA474, the comment from BBMF was that the airframe life was now greater than the projected availabilty of suitable fuel for the Merlins…..:rolleyes:
By: Slipstream - 24th April 2004 at 19:04
An airframe can be kept going indefinately with the replacemant of worn parts, mainspars,etc etc. The real problem is cost. One way of increasing the life is to limit the stresses on the airframe. Personally I disagree with the idea of grounding an aircraft to preserve the ‘original’ structure when it is hidden under a fresh coat of paint anyway. Aircraft like Black 6 should have been returned to the skies!
Whether our grandchildren enjoy them in a hundred years time depends on issues other than airframe fatigue I am afraid.
By: trumper - 24th April 2004 at 10:54
New broom handle,new broom head,how long can a broom last,i assume it depends on whether we look at “original” parts or newer parts.:)
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April 24, 2004 at 10:46 am