[Yossarian]

There is a lot of ignorance in the posts. Any part on a plane can be replaced. They rebuild ford trimotors, dc-3s, and other antique planes all the time and we replaced most of the wing spars on the A-10s in recent years due to hi-g

Yeah, but what about all the underlying spars and truss that forms the g-loaded backbone of the plane? You can't just "swap" that out!

The F-22 is atrociously expensive, but the F-15 has been operated WAY beyond its design life, and I'm not surprised at all that it is showing fatigue problems.

[BikerJoe]

There is a lot of ignorance in the posts. Any part on a plane can be replaced. They rebuild ford trimotors, dc-3s, and other antique planes all the time and we replaced most of the wing spars on the A-10s in recent years due to hi-g

Yeah, but what about all the underlying spars and truss that forms the g-loaded backbone of the plane? You can't just "swap" that out!

I've learned that ANYTHING can be repaired. It becomes a matter of whether it's economic to do so.

Having been an engineer at McDonnell Aircraft (working on the F-15) in a past life, I can tell you that the repairs can be done, but it will be MAJOR surgery to do it.

[Seaplaner]

You can't just "swap" that out!

Agreed. Changing longerons can't be easy, and I suspect that what's left will be heavier, weaker, looser, or crooked.

And, you just cant' go digging out the skeleton without screwing something else up.

I like the idea of new F22s. (Just take the money from social programs that don't work or are for illegal aliens.)