She still is commissioned and has an official navy crew of 60. Her functions now are mainly ceremonial, like the aforementioned McClellan saddle, and the various services bands. However ceremonial functions are important to the military and its esprit de corps so she remains of significant value to the navy even though her lethality has deprecated.
Come to think of it, the smaller USCGC Eagle is even more actively in service, and although much younger than the Constitution is still older than any of the B52s.
“[USS Constitution]...still is commissioned...mainly ceremonial, like the aforementioned McClellan saddle, and the various services bands...she remains of significant value... USCGC Eagle is even more actively in service...” [JohnBovenmyer, post 56]
News coverage of the recent state visit by the Australian Prime Minister showed a number of units passing in review; one was a formation of Redcoats, in 1780-vintage uniforms.
Eyeing their march-off, it occurred to me that shot for shot, a smoothbore flintlock musket is just as lethal today as it was 240 years ago. But we’ve relegated them to ceremonial and historical activities. They’d not meet with much success on today’s battlefields.
While the Eagle does perform training functions, only USCGA cadets and OCS candidates sail on her. If tall-ship operation were as critical as you imply, the Cost Guard would put enlisted recruits through the same training.
The Eagle was built at the same time as some of the aircraft in the Air Force Heritage Flight. But the former is officially government funded while the latter is not.
Are you telling the forum that a technology centuries old is more important to the military establishment than a technology dating back only a couple generations?