RAW DATA, What is to be gained by leaving them on the ground, as museum monuments never to fly again?? In most sports there will be accidents and loss of life. Would you leave a racing yacht in the harbour, so that is doesn't sink in a storm drowning it's crew ?? The loss of life is tragic, but is a part of the risk taken in the sport, and it is normally a rare occourence. The loss of the airframe is not the end of the world, there are more being restored every year. If you restored a vintage aircraft to static display condition, you could probably restore 4 in the time it takes to get one back into the air. It will be a long time before there is a serious shortage of most of these aircraft(suitable for static display), with the odd exception of wooden aircraft, like the mosquito. Also, why do people resore them in the first place ?? They do it to fly them, not to leave in the hangar.
RIP guys
[This message has been edited by ickle black box (edited 05 June 2001).]