An aircraft isn't "free" even if the capital cost was paid decades ago. On a good day how many serviceable airframes can you generate from this orphan fleet and at what cost in support? One on a good day with 6 on the tarmac. At what expense and effort is required when it goes tech out of base? I've been on the receiving (non receiving end) of unreliable AAR and AT support too many times and that was 15 years ago. Let it go and either make a case for the proper kit or let the politicians decide what capability they are going to gap but don't try and paper over the cracks and patch up airframes long past their sell by date.