My other half worked for a manufacturer of high-pressure gas cylinders for many years.
I asked one of her colleagues how old was the oldest re-certified and he said pre WW1, 1908 I think but it was years ago.
Bear in mind this isn’t just in use but returned to the manufacturer, blasted, tested, repainted and stamped and certified for another X years service as good as new.

Sorry to be so late but I’ve generally given up looking in this section of the forum.
I’m quite prepared to believe it’s now even worse but the Search facility’s been hopeless for years since a previous system update.
Personally I find Google more successful than the site search.

Original wood isn’t necessarily a problem.
A survey was done on W4050 some years ago to see what sort of deterioration there had been over the 60? years since it had been built and I believe the conclusion was it could be made airworthy, not that there was ever any intention of doing so.
Bruce may remember more clearly as, from memory, I think he was involved in commissioning the survey and how it was carried out.

Another notable change to the Jackdaw is it wouldn’t be a good idea to park where Christopher Plummer did as it would probably upset them – and not do your car any good. It’s now a beer garden.

As BoB was made in 1968 I guess it must have been 1967 when I went round the hangar(s) at Henlow where the aircraft were being collected to make the film.

It would be safest to find out the original material spec first.
Personally, I’ve no idea about Hurricane wing structure but if it’s stamped or pressed from sheet material it’s quite possible it’s a non-heat-treatable alloy. The soap trick still works but once you’ve annealed it that’s your lot, it stays soft. It would get a bit harder as you straightened it but if it’s only slightly distorted, not much.

I’m not suggesting grovelling thanks after every post but something along the lines of thanks for the suggestions chaps, dudes, guys, people, whatever, after a few replies would cost nothing.
If you asked directions to somewhere, would you just drive off without saying thanks?

Perhaps it’s a culture problem.
I don’t think anybody requires a thank you but you’ve enlisted the services of an unknown number of people to do your research for you so a general expression of thanks after a few days, a week, whatever would seem to me to be common courtesy.

What I know about helicopters could be written on the back of a postage stamp in huge letters, but I’d always understood that the Wessex (and Whirlwind?) couldn’t be certified for civilian use.
I must have read it, or something that suggested it, somewhere but I haven’t a clue where.