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This brings up the old question; would unique a/c like this be better on static display in a museum?

Car drivers tend to stick their relics in museums (though I have had a ride in a 1904 English Electric), whereas boat and aircraft people tend to use theirs. Obviously more of the aircraft get lost.
Museums are much less exciting than active displays. I vote to keep flying them, even if it's the last.

I heard there was a prang at Chino. Thanks for the link Ian.

I'm with Fox3 on this. One can't appreciate the flying qualities of a Spit at a museum for instance and one would never be allowed to sit in a static one.

And I'd never have flown in a P51 2-seater at Chino if it was just sittin' on display.

Keep 'em flying.

Keep 'em flying.

Agreed. I would have been sol if that weren't the case. The first twin I ever flew commercially was a PBY. Second was a Lockheed 10 and the third a Lockheed 12.

Imagine a museum full of DC3s . . .

We have 30+ aircraft in our museum and although some actually flew here we do not attempt to keep any of them airworthy. It may be all very well to see aircraft in the air or to fly one and if that is your thing you can always pay the money to buy, restore, maintain and operate yourself.

Our aircraft range from Simmons Spartan to GR3 Harrier and include DC3 Mig17, Provost, A4, etc etc. We acquire them, spruce them up if necessary and keep them warm and dry for future generations to see and touch. But we do not fly them.

There is something about a museum though. The sheer size of a B36 or the B52 in the USAAF/USAF museum at Duxford.

At least you can still see B52s flying - and for a while yet! Incredible to think that when it is finally retired the basic design will be close to 100 years old! Can’t imagine an SE5 on the ORP as a front line aircraft of today!

I believe after the B52 is retired and the A380 takes up permanent residence in the Nevada desert, there'll still be DC3s flying around somewhere.