Who operates the oldest front-line military aircraft in the world? I heard that the Greeks were still flying a few C-47s, and I think Mexico have the odd T-33s in service. Anyone able to shed light on the golden oldies (display aircraft such as the BBMF, obviously not included).
By: John Boyle - 18th August 2004 at 15:29
the Korean War before going to the PLAAF… That’s well over 60 years old.
1950 to 2004….
54 years by my count!!! 🙂
By: Arthur - 18th August 2004 at 14:53
Albania’s MiG-15UTIs surely count. All built in the very early 1950s in Czechoslovakia and the Soviet Union, all coming to Albania after having seen many years of service in China. Appearantly, one of these MiG-15UTI’s served with the North Koreans during the Korean War before going to the PLAAF… That’s well over 60 years old.
The Greeks still have a handful C-47s in service (including one with an RAF Kx xxx serial IIRC), and there still is a number of T-33 operators.
By: danohagan - 18th August 2004 at 14:28
Any pics of the Boscombe Harvard?
By: Airbedane - 18th August 2004 at 14:05
I know it’s not on the front line and also that it’s already been put forward, but the Boscombe Harvard must be one of the oldest working military aircraft – it still does, I believe, a useful job as a photo chase aircraft.
By: Dave Homewood - 18th August 2004 at 09:32
Aaghh, uh-hum. Well done, I wondered who’d be the first to spot that… (in my best Captain Mainwaring voice!)
Sorry, I didn’t see that last bit.
Anyway. our old Orions definately beat the RAF’s Nimrods. (And I don’t just mean in age either 😉 ). And they’ll probably still be going in another 25 years with the latest upgrade that has been approved. And we have Herules, Iroquois and Soiux all the same age (the latter two will soon be gone though).
By: Stieglitz - 18th August 2004 at 09:08
Well the RAF still operates a Battle of Britain verteran Spitfire Mk II in the BBMF. Maybe that is the oldest?
Did you read the question Dave? :p
Anyone able to shed light on the golden oldies (display aircraft such as the BBMF, obviously not included).
J.V.
By: EN830 - 18th August 2004 at 08:47
How about the RAFs Nimrod fleet they date back to the fifties
I saw something on TV last night that said they first entered service in 1969.
By: Dave Homewood - 18th August 2004 at 06:04
Well the RAF still operates a Battle of Britain verteran Spitfire Mk II in the BBMF. Maybe that is the oldest?
By: JDK - 17th August 2004 at 23:11
Heh.
By: frankvw - 17th August 2004 at 20:59
I guess some interesting examples of old planes might also be found in Albania…
By: JDK - 17th August 2004 at 20:55
The good old Comet $c. That’s be better than the £c Comet then, being one more to the right on the keyboard, eh Mike?
By: topgun regect - 17th August 2004 at 19:20
IIRC a couple of the airframes are converted Comet 4C airframes – one of the reasons they are struggling with the new wings for the MRA4, I may be wrong though
By: topgun regect - 17th August 2004 at 19:05
Harvard IIB KF183 is or should still be in use with the RAF/Qinetiq at Boscombe Down.
The harvard is not on the front line though
By: topgun regect - 17th August 2004 at 19:02
How about the RAFs Nimrod fleet they date back to the fifties
By: Elmo - 17th August 2004 at 18:37
Harvard IIB KF183 is or should still be in use with the RAF/Qinetiq at Boscombe Down.
By: trumper - 17th August 2004 at 18:14
What about the canberras,do they still count?
By: John Boyle - 17th August 2004 at 17:45
USAF oldies…
By aircraft type, the 50 year old C-130 Hercules would be up there…but most of the ones still in U.S. service are no older than mid-60’s E models. However, recently the U.S. have given away to allies some of the late 50’s B models.
The B-52s still in service are “H” models..which date from 1961-62. The last “H” was accepted by the USAF in Oct. 62.
Lots of late 1950’s KC-135s are still in front-line service.
Also, some of the T-37s and T-38s are probably also at least 40 years old.
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August 17, 2004 at 5:33 pm