The most enduring traces of aviation left on our lands are not aircraft at all: planes, gliders, helicopters, or balloons. These are what the vast majority of aviation enthusiasts focus their attention on. However, flying machines have short lives. Sometimes they are saved by a quirk of history, sometimes by a deliberate decision of a manufacturer, conservator, or museum curator. Everything that flies or once flew is by nature poorly resistant to the relentless passage of time — far more durable are buildings, elements of aviation infrastructure, and airfield grounds.
