There are SO many issues with rebuilding an aircraft like a Halifax to fly in the UK, and the perceived rewards may not be as great as you envisage.
The big problem from a certification point of view, is availability of drawings, and support from the original manufacturer. I am certain that drawings are in a short supply, and the original manufacturer no longer exists. This is a big problem from the CAA point of view.
To get the support you would need would require a fortune spending (much like the Vulcan) to acquire, and a vast, ongoing amount to keep it going (again, think Vulcan)
I would guess that you would be looking at figures in the order of £25-30m to get a Halifax close to flight. My guess is that I am rather light here! That assumes that you can get the support both from the CAA and some form of design authority support to do it in the first place.
I would like to see a Halifax, Stirling and Wellington carefully and professionally restored in the UK, with minimum loss of original structure and parts. If the right airframes were available (currently they are not), I dont see why it would not be possible. To fly? Not in my lifetime!
Bruce
Couldn’t agree with you more Bruce,
AFAIK the drawings for the Halifax and Hampden are not complete, ruling out a new built aircraft.
I would like to see these aircraft to be airworthy. But if there aren’t even enough static airframes in museums (musea), the chances to see an airworthy aircraft are nil! Let’s face it. A static aircraft is impressive in it’s own right and should (in my opinon) be the set standard.
Let’s make sure that the available airframes/wrecks are properly preserved and restored. The past has shown that airframes still turn up. The problem as always is cost. Who is willing to pay a lot of money for say a Whitley or Hampden, which are not as sexy as a B25 or B26. But, that doesn’t mean that it can’t be done, time will tell.
Cheers
Cees
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