Where have the round engine airplanes gone ...
What's sad is that the very "vintage people" who have the money to maintain and fly one of the big pre-war radials are the very same folks who are likely to also have a Malibu or something similar "inappropriate" for Sport Aviation, etc. See the following comment to understand why I say this:
Nonsense. I own one of those "round engine antique" airplanes that you speak of. In fact I own three of them. I used to fly them all regularly also. Then my hangar caught fire and now I am in the process of restoring them all over again. Yes, I restored them myself. I can't afford to hire someone to do work that I can do myself. Wouldn't if I could. Part of the joy of owning these airplanes is in the restoration. Keep them alive for another generation.
Yes, I am getting older. My next physical is due when I am 74. I expect to pass it without any problems. No, I don't own a mirage. Besides my airplanes, my other vehicle is a 1990 Toyota Celica. If I couldn't work on my own airplanes, I couldn't afford to own them. It is a real handicap to jot around the country in a wonderful, comfortable, stable old taildragger that burns $150 an hour in gas and oil and cruises at a resounding 100 knots. With my restricted budget I don't fly as much as I used to do. Can't afford the gas and oil. I had to drop my insurance because the insurance companies became totally unreasonable several years ago. Anything I could do to the airplane and survive I could fix for less than a years insurance cost! Unfortunately, I hadn't expected my hangar to catch fire and reduce all of my airplanes to restoration projects at one time.
Currently I have one of my airplanes flying. It isn't fancy and it doesn't have a round engine, but it does give me something to fly.
In short, I can no longer afford to go to "Airventure" with my airplane, or without it for that matter.