OK, my Boeing 747 analogy was a bit of hyperbole. But how about this one?
Cessna takes in some O-2's and makes them ZERO time, not refurbished, 337's. According to what I reading is that any airframe manufacturer can take a clapped out airframe, inspect and repair and make a 10,000 hour airframe a zero time airframe.
Am I the only one that thinks this is bogus? If Bell wants to refurbish an airframe and sell it as such that's fine. But it is not a zero time airframe.
And on the engine, if I bring in my UH-1H airframe with a 703 installed and have Bell turn it into a Bell 210, the engine can be turned into a -17 with nothing more than a records check to insure it has the proper parts. This is what I have heard. If so I would like to have Lycoming do the same to one of my engines so I can sell it as a civilian engine.