Is there any of the original metal on that bird that was there when it rolled of the assembly line? I wonder about that when the B-52 is brought up. Some of those birds are decades old. How much of the original aircraft still exists and still flying? Boeing does build some VERY GOOD aircraft. Always have. Hopefully always will.
Most of the 17s flying are majority original manufactured parts.We are starting to rebuild wrecks that 20 years ago were not worth the rebuild costs.They are now and will be majority new metal but will be built to original specs.(We’re picky sumbitches)