what was the last operational bi-plane to serve with a air force…
with Great Britain am i right with the heyford as bomber, gladiator as a figher, also the swordfish and the tiger moth in naval and training duties. when was the last tiger moth withdrawn from RAF service.
what about the rest of the world, what country was the last to use bi-planes as a operational type. ??????????. 🙂
By: Arabella-Cox - 14th May 2006 at 04:17
i have to be honest with you the good old an-2 never entered my mind when i posted….so the question is what was the last operational biplane apart from the colt….sorry about that…i was thinking about the poor west ham fans they must be feeling like **** at the moment. like i was this time last season….they where robbed……
Why exclude the still operational Colt?
A bit like asking about the best recon aircraft… except the U-2 or the SR-71…
How about the AN-3. Have the Ukraine bought any?
By: Arthur - 14th May 2006 at 01:40
Belgian SV4s flew into the 1960s, i believe.
I think the real prizewinner will be the Colombian Kaydets. The first escuadron of GC71 at Cali still has a few PT-17 on strength, see for a pic of one at http://www.scramble.nl/co.htm
Another non-An-2 biplane still operational with an airforce are the Greek Grumman G.164 AgCats cropdusters, flying with 359MAEDY from Dekelia/Tatoi.
By: BIGVERN1966 - 14th May 2006 at 00:44
Don’t I rember reading that Po-2s were used by N. Vietnam at night over bases in the south (or was it Korea???)
Roger Smith.
Korea (one killed a Lockhead Starfire as well, or to be more correct the Starfire killed the Po-2 , but in the process it had to drop its speed to make the intercept and when the pilot fired his guns, the recoil caused the aircraft to stall and crash).
By: ollieholmes - 14th May 2006 at 00:28
If i remember correctly the Afgan airforce was flying Hinds into the 1950s i think. The commentator at Old Warden mentioned something like that i remember.
By: RPSmith - 13th May 2006 at 23:01
Don’t I rember reading that Po-2s were used by N. Vietnam at night over bases in the south (or was it Korea???)
Roger Smith.
By: BIGVERN1966 - 13th May 2006 at 20:57
I remember Tiger Moths being used for RAF training in 1952, so they continued at least until then!
141 Sqn at Coltishall had one in July 1952 along with a number of Meteor NF 11’s
By: Rlangham - 13th May 2006 at 20:56
At least one Valentia was used as a bomber in North Africa – a Station Commander was so enraged by the first airborne attack on his airfield, he ordered a revenge attack by all he had available, a Vickers Valentia, with the bombs being rolled out of the door!
By: Papa Lima - 13th May 2006 at 20:55
I remember Tiger Moths being used for RAF training in 1952, so they continued at least until then!
By: sea vixen - 13th May 2006 at 20:24
i have to be honest with you the good old an-2 never entered my mind when i posted….so the question is what was the last operational biplane apart from the colt….sorry about that…i was thinking about the poor west ham fans they must be feeling like **** at the moment. like i was this time last season….they where robbed……
By: Alex Crawford - 13th May 2006 at 20:11
Hi,
I would have thought that the Russian Antonov AN-2 biplane was the last to be used operationally. Aren’t they still used by some countries?
Valentia biplanes were still being used as transports in the desert in 1940. Gladiators were the last operational biplane fighters of the RAF, although the South Africa Air Force used Hawker Fury biplanes until 1941 before they were relegated to training duties up until 1943.
Italy had the Cr42. I believe a night fighter version was till in use by 1943.
Alex
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May 13, 2006 at 7:14 pm