There are several reasons to restore a cockpit instead of a complete airframe:
* When scrapped, most of the times, the cockpit is the only item saved as scrapdealers know there is a market for them
* Sometimes an empty fuselage is the only thing left of an airframe when it leaves service. No tail, wings, gear,… The cockpit is the only thing left to save.
* most enthusiasts don’t have the space to store a complete airframe. A cockpit section is relatively easy to store. Also a complete airframe is VERY expensive to move, whereas a cockpit usually fits on a normal trailer.
* Restoring cockpits can help maintain a healthy population of certain types. For instance the Canberra. Huge airframe to store and most were scrapped, however there is at least one cockpit saved of almost every variant.
In the long way, cockpit preservation helps preserve history. In some cases even bringing extinct types back from the dead! It’s a labour of love:D
Oh, and as for the Capri comment. You can restore a car and drive it. Most of these cockpit types either don’t have the parts available to restore them to flight (mostly engines,..) or they are not allowed to fly as a civil aircraft in the UK. In the car world you have several firms making aftermarket parts to keep oldtimers running. In the ex-mil aircraft world, once the parts are gone, they are gone! Try finding a serviceable airworthy Lightning or Canberra engine. Not that many around!
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