The oldest AIRWORTHY jet????

I think, in common parlance, it is safe to assume that a Jet Engine is a Gas Turbine for all intents and purposes. And when someone refers to a jet engine, they are generally referring to a gas turbine. A turbo prop is simply another variation of a gas turbine engine. Ergo, a turbo prop is a jet engine.

Rob, I totally agree with you – until your last line.

A turbo-prop is not a jet engine. If we extend your statement to include turboshafts, as it’s also a gas turbine, a Westland Wessex is a jet.

Gas turbines had been known of for years. It was Frank Whittle, and Pabst von Ohain (sp?) who reasoned the exhaust, or jet efflux, could be used to propell the aircraft directly, rather than using the power generated to drive a propellor.

I agree any residual exhaust thrust may aid performance – but so does a Merlin with ejector exhausts. 🙂

But I protest sir! A turbo prop IS a jet, and it was manufactured in WW2, although re engined later on. The question remains, is there an airworthy one about?

C6

So far as the EKWs go – there were a few kept airworthy for a while after withdrawal from Swiss service. The British registered example I think ceased flying about 2002 and I believe is stored at Hurn, there was a German one but I believe it got bent and there was a French registered example – not sure of it’s current status. The only other civilian one I’m aware of was in the US but, last time I saw that, it was decidedly non-airworthy and stored at Rockford. There may be others, at least one is presently stored dismantled and likely to be restored.

Nice try to argue that its the oldest airworthy jet because the airframe is vintage even if the power-plant is more recent:rolleyes: Though on that basis the WACO bi-plane which had a huge jet engine strapped to it and was used for an aerobatic routine in the US would have been older! Sadly that WACO was destroyed in a fatal crash within the last couple of years.

If you’re going to argue turbo-props and conversions are included then you open the flood gates because (for example) the Grumman Goose has been around since WWII and there are certainly turbo-conversions still airworthy! IMHO I wouldn’t personally argue they were the oldest jets flying, IMHO that would be cheating:)

I think, in common parlance, it is safe to assume that a Jet Engine is a Gas Turbine for all intents and purposes. And when someone refers to a jet engine, they are generally referring to a gas turbine. A turbo prop is simply another variation of a gas turbine engine. Ergo, a turbo prop is a jet engine.

No, a turbo-prop is a gas-turbine, as is a turbo-jet.

No. Choose from…

It’s not a jet – it’s a turbo-prop.

It’s not a W.W.II jet (or turbo-prop).

You could probably* have ‘oldest aircraft powered by jet fuel’.

Thanks for the pics Cooter. Did someone have the scheme described over the telephone? It’s very ~ah~ approximate, and no cheaper than an accurate one…

* I can’t be bothered to seek alternatives.

But I protest sir! A turbo prop IS a jet, and it was manufactured in WW2, although re engined later on. The question remains, is there an airworthy one about?

C6

The jet efflux driving a turbine…

as opposed to the aircraft is, I suspect, the relevant pointt.

Sorry, I’m a bit confused.

I always thought a Turbo Prop, in it’s simplest description, was a jet engine powered propeller. The jet efflux driving a turbine, which in turn drives a gearbox, that then turns a propeller.

Not unlike this illustration on Wikipedia – Click Here

Have I missed something?

So is there one still flying, and does that make it the oldest flying jet?

No. Choose from…

It’s not a jet – it’s a turbo-prop.

It’s not a W.W.II jet (or turbo-prop).

You could probably* have ‘oldest aircraft powered by jet fuel’.

Thanks for the pics Cooter. Did someone have the scheme described over the telephone? It’s very ~ah~ approximate, and no cheaper than an accurate one…

* I can’t be bothered to seek alternatives.

It’s an EKW C-3605 – built during WWII and used in a similar role to the Battle.
Re-engined to Lycoming T-53 turbo prop power for target tugging in the late 1960’s.

I really must go to bed…a vision of a turboprop Battle has just swum in front of my eyes:cool:

William

It’s an EKW C-3605 – built during WWII and used in a similar role to the Battle.
Re-engined to Lycoming T-53 turbo prop power for target tugging in the late 1960’s.

Thanks David,

So is there one still flying, and does that make it the oldest flying jet?

C6

It’s an EKW C-3605 – built during WWII and used in a similar role to the Battle.
Re-engined to Lycoming T-53 turbo prop power for target tugging in the late 1960’s.

Can anyone name the oldest airworthy jet powered aircraft in the world?

I think it is Golden Apple Operation’s F-86A Sabre (G-SABR) based at Duxford. It was built in late 1948 and entered service in April 1949.

Is there anything older? Must be AIRWORTHY, must be JET powered and must be the actual aircraft, not a representative of type.

Bonus question: what is the oldest AIRWORTHY jet trainer in the world?

Is it one of those Swiss jobbies (!) with the turbo prop, long nose and triple finned…..D&W or something like that? The target tugs…When were they built? Was it during WW2, and re-engined later on……???

Anyway, it’s all knickers in a knot with this post isn’t it?
I’m surprised folk are getting their knicks in a knot…….. or am I?
That poor CAD chappie, he’s been rebuked by even the most calm of people, he’ll NEVER be back. You should be ashamed……

She was displayed at Fairford and then to storage in the Southampton area for the museum.

thats a nice looking aircraft, just goes to show what happens when hard work pays off, this maybe a shot in the dark, but is there a swift in the same condition ?

Comper Swift yes 😀 , Supermarine Swift no:( . The are a handful of static airframes but the only one with potential to return to air was XF114. I remember seeing her at Cranfield when she was a trials aircraft and carried an all black scheme. I next viewed her at the technical college at Connahs Quay as an instructional airframe. She then moved to Hurn and a strip down at the start of a restoration to fly and registration G-SWIF was allocated. That was the last time I viewed the machine. For various reasons the restoration was never completed and she moved on to storage at Scampton, but was last reported as obtained by Solent Sky for exhibition in Southampton. I’ve lost track of where she physically is, no doubt someone will confirm if the airframe actually moved South.

thats a nice looking aircraft, just goes to show what happens when hard work pays off, this maybe a shot in the dark, but is there a swift in the same condition ?

N6878D Vampire DH100-3

I heard that RCAF 17072 was coming back to Canada, great news and yes, please post some pixs. Can tell us who the proud new owner is?

Thnxs!

Brian

Well it has been a busy year. We had the aircraft at Oskosh and it flew everyday. It dominated the crouds during it’s static display time and won Most Unique aircraft award. It continues to perform well. It is residing in Batavia airport as the Canadian import nonsence did not go well. Here are a couple of links.

http://www.airliners.net/search/photo.search?regsearch=N6878D&distinct_entry=true

http://www.myaviation.net/search/search.php?view=&regnr=N6878D

http://www.jetphotos.net/viewphoto.php?id=5799865

http://www.airport-data.com/aircraft/photo/019806.html

[ATTACH]151078[/ATTACH]

Cheers

Dont hold your breath waiting for the POF P-59 to fly.It looks about the same as it did approx. 10 years ago when I first saw it and its state of restoration.Its on the slow road to restoration.I do however believe that it will one day fly.One day around 10 years ago I became a member of the POF museum and was just sitting around when I ran into my hero Mr. Steve Hinton.I picked his brain about the P-59 and I was amazed when he said that it will fly with the Original Very Early Vintage Engines.I thought that they would be too problematic but he set me straight.I anxiously await the day she finally flies. Tim. 😮

Perhaps not the oldest jet flying, but near enough.

Can anyone name the oldest airworthy jet powered aircraft in the world?

I think it is Golden Apple Operation’s F-86A Sabre (G-SABR) based at Duxford. It was built in late 1948 and entered service in April 1949.

Is there anything older? Must be AIRWORTHY, must be JET powered and must be the actual aircraft, not a representative of type.

Bonus question: what is the oldest AIRWORTHY jet trainer in the world?

How about this bird? SAAB J29, still flying.

http://www.airliners.net/open.file/899700/L/

Gentlemen, can we keep it civil please, thank you 🙂

Geez just think of what might have happened if he had asked what is the youngest airworthy jet :p

This may be of interest: http://warbirdinformationexchange.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=5776