This question actually started out while playing Fallout 3 but it could include any and all fallout titles.

Ontop of Rivet City in the Capital Wasteland are roughly 10-15 planes most of which look unharmed save for a few that are flipped over.

My question is are or could they still be operational?

Cause from what I've been able to find aircraft during the 1950's which is went the timeline for Fallout splits off were most all manual unlike today's aircraft which are mostly electronical.

So because of this could Fallout still have working aircraft?

Those air craft, no. Imagine leaving a car for a year, to the elements undisturbed. Chances are that car will not start.

Now imagine leaving it for 200 years plus the added deterioration due to the bombs...... those things are as useful as [censored] on a bull.

This doesnt mean the world of Fallout is exempt of aircraft though. Watch the beginning tohttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vFV1QvnLVsM and that is made clear

Well yeah but you also have to take into account there are resourceful people in the wasteland.

But leaving a a few cars undisturbed in the elements for the year you could pull parts from each of them and fix one.

And I know there are aircraft in fallout cause the enclavbe have the er...Vertibirds was it?

I never said there were no aircraft.

You asked if the ones at RC were functional and I said no, just because it looks functional means nothing.

Ever have your car break down, pop open the hood and rvrtything looks fine?

Im sure with enough time and creative know how some may be able to figure out how to get it started( certainly not your average wastelander) but then what? Would they be expert pilots? If you hopped in an airplane right now could you even start it? Most likely they would kill themselves trying to get it to work.

The Enclave are an exception due to their pre war knowledge.

Yeah I guess. I mean I do see your point and everything.

Even if you could start one up, the rust would render the aircraft brittle and cause to fall apart. The level of degridation on them, it would probably be easier to construct a new one from scratch.