How hard is it to restore an aircraft?
Please excuse my ignorance: this is a genuine question.
I have restored a few cars in my time, and know various things you can and cannot do.
But when I walk around aircrft museums I often wonder how difficult would it be to take a static aircraft and return it to flying condition??
As an example, lets take an old warbird, complete with old engine. Given enough man-hours, how difficult can it be to return it to flying status??
I mean, and engine is an engine and an engine rebuild is surely just an engine rebuild. Ditto chassis/ airframe.
Rather then a MOT, get the CAA to check on workmanship, but a wing is simply a collection of almuinum pieces which needs to be repaired or replaced- long winded and time consuming, yes. But I cannot see where this is complicated or expensive, or where a specialist is required. I could take a wing apart, clean all pieces, repair/ replace if necessary then put back together again. From what I have seen, it seems very stratight forward. Just time consuming.
What I am trying to say is: why aren't all the aircraft at somewhere like Duxford in flying condition? Why restore to 100% accuracy, just for display purposes?
You would certainly not bother with a car- not unless they were going to be driven at some point.
Again, please excuse my ignorance: a genuine question!