Interesting post Prangster. It's so often the case that as well as the pain of job losses recessions present new opportunities and initiatives.
In fact there may even be a ready made route that could assist in implementation in what you suggest.
The National Aviation Heritage Skills Initiativeis a pioneering partnership project between the British Aviation Preservation Council (BAPC) and the Imperial War Museum (IWM) Duxford. Its aim is to provide volunteers working at BAPC member organisations with training in the basic skills needed to preserve the nations prestigious non-flying aviation collections.
NAHSI - National Aviation Heritage Skills Initiative for more info.