Warbird Information Exchange

At least an airworthy restoration could have been made to look authentic and faithful to the airframe's history. Then again, the originality of what survived would have been totally compromised, so... ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

I dread the day some collector buys the Maude P-40, fills it with modern radios and equipment to fly it, then tops it off with a pseudo-AVG paint scheme. That day will be every bit as much a tragedy as this.

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Matt

bdk wrote:



That is the best question I have ever seen on this forum.

One things for sure, it would still have had a sharks mouth plastered on it

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The simple answer is either would have destroyed the authenticity of the artifact, so both are terrible prospects. While those of us here, on this forum, would probably lean towards an airworthy restoration, because we love warbirds, it would still be a crime to do that to this artifact.

This plane was unique. A direct link to the tragedy of the war on both the grand and very personal scale. It was in its' original state. Left just as it was when it met its' original wartime fate. Yet now, as in an airworthy resto, the link to its' originality has been severed permanently. It will never be as it was.

It is a tragedy for future generations.

I would agree it is thought provoking. Devils Advocate question....Both Ottawa’s and the Maude P-40 are highly original....how many does the world need however? Generally aircraft need some degree of utility to an owner to be attractive, and to civilization to survive. Not disagreeing, but other than a diorama at the RAF Museum....it has low value elsewhere. What it’s best display state and options were evolve over time, and are also subject to some degree of what is in fashion. This is a combat veteran P-40E. That alone has great value as is. I think a flying restoration would not be a bad thing if done sympathetically. Even today. Well especially today. The plane has gotten somewhat more utility with its handling by the Egyptians....if not availability.

I think they did that to it, to get under our skin. Dug in their heels, made plans to emotionally wound, as soon as they realized how important to us it was. Real meanies! There are probably other time capsules to be found-- gotta get to them first is all, with swift, military-style recoveries-- call it a training mission. This story really got to me from day one. The silent sense of helplessness was fatiguing. Very shameful outcome and clearly these folks aren't ready to join the civilized world. RIP Dennis Copping

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'KEEP ‘EM FLYING…FOR HISTORY!'

That doesn't make any sense.

You assume they actually considered the opinions of anyone outside Egypt. This object obviously meant something far different to them than it did to some random people on the internet.