1. An in flight damage assessment and security system for aircraft comprising: imaging means for capturing optical images of predetermined portions of said aircraft substantially continuously during flight, being disposed along the exterior of said aircraft such that the flight characteristics of the aircraft remain substantially unaltered, said imaging means comprising: a plurality of video cameras positioned on the structure of said aircraft and positioned to view a first and a second side of a vertical stabilizer, an upper side of a fuselage and two aircraft wings, a front landing gear under carriage portion and an aft underbody portion of said aircraft, including an underside of said wings; means for recording images captured by said imaging means on a storage media, said recording having an enclosure which provides for the survival of said storage media even when subjected to the harsh environment of an aircraft crash; display means for displaying said captured optical images to aircraft crew members; and means for interfacing said imaging means to said recording means and said display means.