# Dead man's plane **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 2, 2012, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dead-mans-plane/642777 "2012-12-02T19:33:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2012, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dead-mans-plane/642777/1 "2012-12-02T19:33:53Z")
A P-51D Mustang is on offer at eBay for the incredibly low price of $250,000. The problem is, it’s a wreck. [The pilot was killed](http://www.azcentral.com/community/chandler/articles/2010/03/11/20100311airplane-crashes-chandler-stellar-airpark.html?nclick_check=1). Now, at first glance one might think that basically rebuilding from a data plate is stupid. Maybe, but it’s been done. These are rare birds, and it may be worth the money to rebuild. Or at least, there are some valuable parts. Assuming the wreck was rebuilt, would you fly it, knowing a person died in it? ---
**Author:** ![Ruby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/13edae/32.png) [@Ruby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruby)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2012, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dead-mans-plane/642777/2 "2012-12-02T19:38:21Z")
A quarter of a million dollars is an “incredibly low price”. Damn. After it’s been rebuilt it would no longer be the same plane where the pilot was killed so I’d say it would be OK. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2012, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dead-mans-plane/642777/3 "2012-12-02T19:41:30Z")
> [@Ruby](#): > > A quarter of a million dollars is an “incredibly low price”. Damn. Currently at [controller.com](http://controller.com), a flying example runs $1,675,000 to $2,145,000. ---
**Author:** ![Absolute](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b2d939/32.png) [@Absolute](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Absolute)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2012, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dead-mans-plane/642777/4 "2012-12-02T20:04:35Z")
Unless there were outstanding mechanical issues with the plane, sure, I’d fly it. It would add to the thrill. Not that flying a P-51 wouldn’t be thrill enough. ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2012, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dead-mans-plane/642777/5 "2012-12-02T20:23:47Z")
> [@Absolute](#): > > Unless there were outstanding mechanical issues with the plane, sure, I’d fly it. It would add to the thrill. Not that flying a P-51 wouldn’t be thrill enough. But would you last the required eight seconds? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Pork\_Rind](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pork_rind/32/111_2.png) [@Pork\_Rind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pork_Rind)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2012, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dead-mans-plane/642777/6 "2012-12-02T21:27:03Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > Now, at first glance one might think that basically rebuilding from a data plate is stupid. Maybe, but it’s been done. These are rare birds, and it may be worth the money to rebuild. Or at least, there are some valuable parts. [This Mustang](http://www.historicflight.org/impatient1.html) crashed and burned 65 years before its data plate and a random assortment of parts were found in an English field. [The BF-109 parked across the field](http://www.flyingheritage.com/TemplatePlane.aspx?contentId=6) was scrap metal with a data plate found at low tide buried in a beach on the coast of France. The guys in that business seem to think starting with the data plate is a fine idea. I suspect that a lot of the ‘whole’ aircraft out there have had so many years worth of repairs of dubious authenticity that the real perfectionists want to start over anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2012, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dead-mans-plane/642777/7 "2012-12-02T21:48:54Z")
Even airplanes of that vintage that _haven’t_ crashed or suffered serious damage have had a significant amount of stuff replaced. ---
**Author:** ![Capt\_Kirk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/779978/32.png) [@Capt\_Kirk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Capt_Kirk)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2012, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dead-mans-plane/642777/8 "2012-12-02T21:49:23Z")
You buy, I’ll fly 😃 **Capt** ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2012, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dead-mans-plane/642777/9 "2012-12-02T22:28:04Z")
Questions from ignorance: 1. Is this considered restoration, rebuilding, or creating a facsimile sharing a few key original parts? 2. How much does the recreation of the plane usually cost in a project like this? ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2012, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dead-mans-plane/642777/10 "2012-12-02T22:38:12Z")
Technically (legally), the data plate is the aircraft. So it would be a restoration. No idea how much it costs. More than I have access to. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2012, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dead-mans-plane/642777/11 "2012-12-02T22:57:00Z")
Now THIS is what I’d spend my money on after I hit the Megamillions Jackpot for $200M. Find some warbirds in need of work and fund it. But I get to name them! ---
**Author:** ![StrangerThanFiction](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f05b48/32.png) [@StrangerThanFiction](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StrangerThanFiction)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2012, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dead-mans-plane/642777/12 "2012-12-03T00:06:59Z")
Glacier Girl (one of a handful of flying P-38s) apparently cost a hair under $3M to restore to original condition. She was sold three years later for $5M, then two years after that for $7.2M. Where do I sign up? ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2012, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dead-mans-plane/642777/13 "2012-12-03T00:08:03Z")
So if a plane was found and the only thing that was damaged was that its data plate was missing then it legally is not the plane? ---
**Author:** ![StrangerThanFiction](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f05b48/32.png) [@StrangerThanFiction](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StrangerThanFiction)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2012, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dead-mans-plane/642777/14 "2012-12-28T15:28:21Z")
That is correct, it would just be an assembly of spare parts. Without the data plate, it’s not the airplane. ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2012, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dead-mans-plane/642777/15 "2012-12-31T14:50:17Z")
> [@StrangerThanFiction](#): > > That is correct, it would just be an assembly of spare parts. Without the data plate, it’s not the airplane. So, [which part of the ship is the ship?](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ship_of_Theseus) 😉 ---
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2012, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dead-mans-plane/642777/16 "2012-12-31T15:46:17Z")
In the deep south the “data plate” equivalent of the redneck bass boat is the beer cooler. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2012, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dead-mans-plane/642777/17 "2012-12-31T17:57:49Z")
> [@Pork\_Rind](#): > > [This Mustang](http://www.historicflight.org/impatient1.html) crashed and burned 65 years before its data plate and a random assortment of parts were found in an English field. [The BF-109 parked across the field](http://www.flyingheritage.com/TemplatePlane.aspx?contentId=6) was scrap metal with a data plate found at low tide buried in a beach on the coast of France. The guys in that business seem to think starting with the data plate is a fine idea. I suspect that a lot of the ‘whole’ aircraft out there have had so many years worth of repairs of dubious authenticity that the real perfectionists want to start over anyway. Those restorations are just beautiful! I was surprised to see that the P-51B saw service in Korea. Can this be right? I know the -D did, but I’d’ve thought all the -Bs were scrapped long before 1950. ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2012, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dead-mans-plane/642777/18 "2012-12-31T23:34:40Z")
I should probably learn to fly first, but, I would fly it. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2013, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dead-mans-plane/642777/19 "2013-01-01T00:23:19Z")
My fave is the C-model. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2013, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dead-mans-plane/642777/20 "2013-01-01T01:12:21Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > My fave is the C-model. With the Malcolm canopy? 🆒 [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dead-mans-plane/642777.md?page=2)