I wouldn't think that at all. For one thing, there were more than one Colonel, and my guess is this is the one that was saved one from being auctioned off (side note, he was not on Ebay as some rumors stated, but in a Cast Member only silent auction). If they didn't care about what happened to the Colonel, I'm sure they would have just let him be sold and be done with it, but they did save him and are now touring him, as my guess would be, to raise awareness of the Club and excite people of it's return.
Well, in the first place, they did get a new coat of pain, and two, they are exterior props. Perhaps they are trying out a new paint formula to see how it will preform in the elements. If they weren't going to put them back, why did they keep "Adventurers Club" painted on the side of the plane?
Some days you eat the mouse.
Some days the mouse eats you.
But never give into the mouse without a fight!
KUNGALOOSH!