What Is The Oldest Plane In The Major Carriers?

GulfstreamGuy · Tue Nov 04, 2003 1:24 pm

I was just curious about this. I know that NWA's oldest plane is N8908E...

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Photo © Dsavit

This DC-9-14 was manufactured 08 September 1966.
The remaining -14s (N8909E,N8911E,N8912E,N8913E,N8914E) were all produced between October 31-December 21 of that same year.
The only -14 not produced in 1966 was N8915E (February 4, 1967).

Does anyone know who has some of the oldest birds in the air?

GG

Incidentally, the "newest" DC-9 in NWA's fleet is N787NC (DC-9-51).

iahcsr · Tue Nov 04, 2003 1:55 pm

CO's oldest would be one of the MD80's ... Don't know which one unfortunately. Of the non-MD80l's, the oldest would be 737-300, Ship 301, built in 1985.

GulfstreamGuy · Tue Nov 04, 2003 2:11 pm

O.K., I found the OLDEST DC-9-14 still flying..
That honor goes to Midwest Express' N700ME

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Photo © Jay Piboontum

It was built in August 1965!! It was also the 2nd DC-9 produced.
It sure looks good!

GG

coolkenla · Tue Nov 04, 2003 2:21 pm

What about JR? Don't they have some of the oldest DC-9s too?

david_mx · Tue Nov 04, 2003 2:29 pm

Yep, Aerocalifornia has a "modern fleet" as they state on their TV advertising.... this is an example of their modern fleet:

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Photo © Juan Carlos Guerra Aviation Photography of Mexico

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Photo © Ricardo Morales Aviation Photography of Mexico

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Photo © Michael Carter

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Photo © Ricardo Morales Aviation Photography of Mexico

:D

David.

VS340 · Tue Nov 04, 2003 2:31 pm

I knew those DC-9's were old but not that old. That almost seems to old and maybe slightly unsafe. I think Ill try to avoid NW routes that use those aircraft

Guest · Tue Nov 04, 2003 2:36 pm

I knew those DC-9's were old but not that old. That almost seems to old and maybe slightly unsafe. I think Ill try to avoid NW routes that use those aircraft

I find this comment interesting considering you list your occupation as a ramp agent. Now please tell me, do you really believe that thousands of NW employees - who know more about the safty and maintenance of the DC-9 then either you or I - risk their lives every day? Would you have felt more comfortable on a shiny new America West Airbus a couple years ago when the company was close to being shut down due to poor maintenance standards?

FlyPIJets · Tue Nov 04, 2003 2:41 pm

Does CO still have this airplane?

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Photo © George W. Hamlin

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Photo © Lawrence Feir

Real Question

Were the DC-9's shown above actually built by Douglas before the merger?

If so, I find that a little amazing.

I'd love to fly on them!!!

GulfstreamGuy · Tue Nov 04, 2003 2:57 pm

To answer your questions FlyPIJets,
1. Yes. Continental still uses this DC-3 as a commemorative touring plane.
How cool would that be to fly in it?
2. Yes, as long as the DC-9s were built before April 28, 1967. Check out this link http://www.centennialofflight.gov/essay/Aerospace/McDac/Aero32.htm

GG

FlyPIJets · Tue Nov 04, 2003 3:19 pm

It would be VERY cool to ride in a DC-3!! Smokin cool

And I am just blown away with the fact that in 2003 you can still find a Douglas built aircraft producing revenue for a major airline.

And airlines are hesitating to buy the 717!

Guest · Tue Nov 04, 2003 3:20 pm

Here are the oldest jets in the active fleet (in other words, jets that aren't stored or retired from service with the airline) of the six USA-flag network carriers (excluding NW, which was mentioned above):

American Airlines
N218AA, McDonnell Douglas MD-82, delivered 05/04/83
this was the first MD-80 delivered to AA

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Photo © Matthew Smith

United Airlines
N606UA, Boeing 767-200, delivered 08/11/82
this was the first Boeing 767 delivered to UA

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Photo © Philip Preindl

Delta Air Lines
N102DA, Boeing 767-200, delivered 10/25/82
The Spirit of Delta

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Photo © Art Brett

Continental Airlines
N16883, McDonnell Douglas MD-81, delivered 11/25/81
has also operated for Hawaiian, American International and Frontier

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Photo © Bruce Leibowitz

US Airways
N602AU, Boeing 757-200, delivered 12/22/82
originally delivered to Eastern

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Photo © Radomir Zaric

jhooper · Tue Nov 04, 2003 3:43 pm

'The Spirit of Delta' is the oldest Delta plane? Wow! I'm kind of surprised. It's hard to believe that, but I guess it makes sense. They've retired lots of older planes recently.

dragon-wings · Tue Nov 04, 2003 3:52 pm

Although not a major carrier UPS has 747-100's built in 1970

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Photo © Joe Corrigan

This was the 54th 747-100 built

Evergreen International also has at least one or two 747-100's built in 1970

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Photo © Art Brett

How old is this JAL plane?

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Photo © Takashi

I don't know if Airtran still flies this plane, but as of April 27, 2003 this was the oldest plane in Airtrans fleet

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Photo © Bruce Leibowitz

skiordie · Tue Nov 04, 2003 3:54 pm

That quite a good record for the major's in terms of age. I would of though that they would still be pushing some old plane getting more mileage out of each one.

jhooper · Tue Nov 04, 2003 3:57 pm

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Photo © Simon Willson

Speaking of recently retired planes, why are these jets being scrapped? Certainly they could be sold to 3rd world countries for more than scrap metal! No?

Slcpilot · Tue Nov 04, 2003 3:57 pm

I don't know the answer, but I would have guessed that some of Delta's 737-200s were a little older.

Was Concorde the oldest plane in BA's and AF's fleet?

SLCPilot

GulfstreamGuy · Tue Nov 04, 2003 4:13 pm

Dragon-wings,

The JAL 747-146B SUD (JA8170) you asked about made its maiden flight on February 26, 1986 (msn-23390 This was the 636th 747 built).
GG

dragon-wings · Tue Nov 04, 2003 4:17 pm

The JAL 747-146B SUD (JA8170) you asked about made its maiden flight on February 26, 1986 (msn-23390 This was the 636th 747 built).
GG

1986? Since it was a 747-100 I thought it was built alot earlier than 1986.

artsyman · Tue Nov 04, 2003 4:28 pm

Patent, whenever anyone comments on the fact that NW has old planes, you are usually quick to jump down their throats (don't try to picture this at home kids), when if you look at the top 6 and their oldest aircraft, Delta, Continental, American, US, and United are all 1981-83, and Northwest is 1966. That is a full 15-17 odd years older.

While I do agree that NW would not fly them if they thought they were unsafe, plenty along the way have felt unsafe on them (Most notably Sammy Sosa, who refuses to fly on the team charters anymore because of it).

Lastly, I would be curious to see the machanical delay and cancelation rate for these planes if such data is available to any of us. Continentals fleet operates with a 99.87% completion factor, and just for Alpha1's sake, CLE operated a 100% completion for October.

Jeremy

GulfstreamGuy · Tue Nov 04, 2003 4:32 pm

I got my info from "TAHS's Jet Airliner Production List Volume 1 - Boeing" and that's what it shows.

You're right about it sounding strange but I noticed that the last -100 that was built before 23390 was 22749 (HZ-AII 747-168B) and it was first flown on March 19, 1982. So I guess it was just a special ordered -100.

Strange but true! Laugh out loud

GG

britmex · Tue Nov 04, 2003 4:51 pm

Well...

Aeromexico has a DC-9-32 built in 1967... it is XA-JEC of Hugh Heffer fame. It once was black with a white bunny in her tail. She is still in service and will go to rest once the leasing expires. Her sistership echo-bravo is now parked in GDL and it is 1968 vintage. Once the DC-9`s are gone, the oldest aircraft will be the 1982 vintage MD 82`s, and they will not last long...

BTW I don`t mind flying in old aircraft as long as i know they are well kept. In my flight school there is a 1970 vintage Cessna 182 and it is my favourite.

britmex

exnonrev · Tue Nov 04, 2003 5:02 pm

IF IT'S TOO OLD, YOU'RE TOO YOUNG!!!!

Seriously, I'd take one of NWA's Baby Nines over a brand new plastic A319 any day. The DC-9 has NWA's highest dispatch reliability rate, just as CO's did (or a close second behind the Mad Dog) before they were retired. How many 737s, or for that matter even 727s out there have anywhere near 100,000 hours or 100,000 cycles? Few, IF ANY!!!! Douglas didn't build throwaway tin cans like Boeing or plastic monuments to socialism (with the exception of the A300/310) like Airbus. Even the DC-10, which was the product of cost-cutting under McDonnell management, has outlived its widebody contemporaries in frontline pax service.

As for Sammy Sosa, sounds like a typical spoiled big leaguer who would settle for nothing less than a G-V or BBJ. Oh, and did I mention that he corks his bat!

[Edited 2003-11-04 09:06:35]

GulfstreamGuy · Tue Nov 04, 2003 5:06 pm

Britmex,

Just a small friendly correction.. Hugh Hefner's Playboy jet was actually XA-JEB (47394 dom-January 27, 1969) registered as N950PB. Smile

You were right about XA-JEC being built in 1967 (December 5) though.

GG

lymanm · Tue Nov 04, 2003 5:13 pm

"While I do agree that NW would not fly them if they thought they were unsafe, plenty along the way have felt unsafe on them (Most notably Sammy Sosa, who refuses to fly on the team charters anymore because of it)"

So Sammy Sosa, fully acredited A&P, ATP with vast industy knowledge, deemed the the NW fleet of DC-9s unsafe?

Giving cred to people simply beause they are celebrities is ludicrous, I'd trust Linda Tripp's opinions on RJs as I would Sammy Sosa's on DC-9s. Take you CO-shaded glasses off, and get real. While you're at it, explain to me how CO's 100% completion rate at CLE in 10/03 has anything to do with NW's DC-9s safety record (call me traditional, but a 30 year safety record is slightly more relevent). Look up the word "spurious", and you'll see your username.

artsyman · Tue Nov 04, 2003 5:15 pm

As for Sammy Sosa, sounds like a typical spoiled big leaguer who would settle for nothing less than a G-V or BBJ
******

Well the story stated that on his third mechanical diversion to an alternate in around a month, he decided enough is a enough

j

GulfstreamGuy · Tue Nov 04, 2003 5:16 pm

I think I would like to see a G-V in NW colors... Laugh out loud

Just think of it... "Introducing Northwest's new Ultra-Triple-Platnium-Elite World Perks upgrade!"

How about codesharing with Gulfstream Aerospace! hehehe Big thumbs up

GulfstreamGuy

exnonrev · Tue Nov 04, 2003 5:26 pm

Well the story stated that on his third mechanical diversion to an alternate in around a month, he decided enough is a enough

In a Boeing product, of course.

artsyman · Tue Nov 04, 2003 5:41 pm

In a Boeing product, of course.
**************

The DC9 is not a Boeing Product. While they certainly did buy MD, they didn't do it back in 1966 when these planes were made.

The DC-9 has NWA's highest dispatch reliability rate

While I am willing to accept that they have a reasonable dispatch rate at NW on these DC9's, I would be very suprised if they were more reliable than everything else in the fleet as you suggest. You also stated that the Mad dog was the most reliable in the Continental fleet..which is utter codswallop. I cannot refute your comments on NW as I have no data to do so, but I will refute it on Continental as you are wrong.

Jeremy

[Edited 2003-11-04 09:54:59]

britmex · Tue Nov 04, 2003 5:53 pm

oooopsss! thanks Gulfstream guy :

You are right, actually I would like former Playboy DC 9 preserved. However, I still confuse the registrations of what once was a DC 9 trio:

XA-JEB 1969 parked in GDL

XA-JEC 1967 still plying Mexico`s skies

XA-JED ??? not sure about birthday but it was destroyed in a very
tragic accident in Cerritos, CA before landing at LAX in 1986

Not to forget XA-SDF once XA-IOV built in 1968. This 9 is still in service and was used to ferry victims of that infamous Rv. James Jones massacre. She is known because of reg as "Sigue Dando Fallas" (still having failures) and with its former reg she was named "Inutil Objeto Volador" (worthless flying object).

we have fun in AEROMEXICO ha, ha

ALBRECHT

exnonrev · Tue Nov 04, 2003 6:01 pm

Wasn't NWA still using 727s for the sports charters at the time all this happened?

As for CO, things may be different now with more new equipment, but when my wife worked in SOCC, it had been pretty much a toss-up for years between the DC-9 and MD-80 as to which had the best dispatch rate (at least on paper) The DC-10 was always far and away the worst.

GulfstreamGuy · Tue Nov 04, 2003 6:02 pm

Britmex,
Here is the most recent photo of XA-JEB

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Photo © Juan Carlos Guerra Aviation Photography of Mexico

Still hoppin' around the Central American skies!

GG

nwa man · Tue Nov 04, 2003 6:15 pm

"The DC9 is not a Boeing Product. While they certainly did buy MD, they didn't do it back in 1966 when these planes were made."

No, the DC9 is not a Boeing product. However, the 727 is. The 727 is the aircraft that NW used for sports charters, and thus the aircraft that Sammy was bitching about when he made his ludicrous and ill-informed comments. Of course, NW has now retired all of their 727s. So Sammy's comments are irrelevant to this post.

Back on topic, I don't see any NW DC-10s leaving various pieces of metal on Parisian runways... wouldn't want a plane like the Concorde to come across something like that...

artsyman · Tue Nov 04, 2003 6:19 pm

Back on topic, I don't see any NW DC-10s leaving various pieces of metal on Parisian runways... wouldn't want a plane like the Concorde to come across something like that...
*****

How about sticking to the facts. I didn't that they were poor, I didn't say that they were unsafe. I did comment that I refuted that they had the highest dispatch reliability in NW entire fleet, and I commented on the fact that NW oldest planes were 15-17 years older than the rest of the majors.

While, Like OJ, Paris was never proved and a sad day like that really has no place in this conversation

Jeremy

godbless · Tue Nov 04, 2003 6:19 pm

Until Lufthansa had retired it's 747 from passenger service D-ABYM was the oldest plane in the LH-fleet.

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Photo © Torsten Maiwald

Now it is D-ABXD, a 737-300 built in 1986.

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Photo © Steve Dreier

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Photo © Alastair T. Gardiner

Max

GulfstreamGuy · Tue Nov 04, 2003 6:28 pm

Speaking of Lufthansa.. I have often thought of what it would be like to have MY name on the side of an airliner.... NOW I KNOW !!!!

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Photo © Philipp Brumann

Life is good for me right now! Big thumbs up

GulfstreamGuy

britmex · Tue Nov 04, 2003 6:34 pm

Thanks but X-ray Bravo was parked about 1 month ago. That photo was taken in September. Anyway I saw that acft. in the GDL hangar parked with flaps all down and in a secluded corner. I would like to know when she was retired.

albrecht

britmex · Tue Nov 04, 2003 6:36 pm

er...sorry! Echo Bravo! again sorry, phonetical alphabet changes a little bit in Mexico and I sometimes get confused.

albrecht

9V-SVE · Tue Nov 04, 2003 7:14 pm

Boeing 747-400 9V-SMI, delivered on February 25, 1991, is the oldest current jet SQ operates. SMB was the first delivered - it has now been sold to Air Pacific along with SMD. SMA was delivered next but it has now been dumped in the desert along with SMC, SME, SMF, SMG, SMH, and SML.

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Photo © Benny Bartels

Boeing 747-400 B-HOO, delivered on September 26, 1988, is the oldest of the Cathay fleet, if you don't include the cargo fleet with some old -200Fs about to be replaced.

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Photo © Li Jing

Boeing 757-200 G-BIKT, delivered on November 1, 1985, is the oldest of the BA fleet, as the Concordes are retired. However, it is also going to be gone soon - several sisterships have already left the fleet.

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ssides · Tue Nov 04, 2003 7:26 pm

What about WN's 737-200s? Some of them look like they could have been with WN from it's inception.

Also, when were the first and last 727-200s built? I didn't think DL would ever get rid of those ancient planes, I wonder how old the oldest one was when they were finally retired.

GulfstreamGuy · Wed Nov 05, 2003 12:35 am

Ssides,

The first 727 was (18293) first flown on February 9, 1963.

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Photo © Royal S King

The last 727 is N217FE (22938 #1832) and it is a -2S2F for FedEx. It was first flown on August 28, 1984.

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Photo © Ben Wang

Some other 727 milestones are............
#100..........................................#500.........................................

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#1000.........................................#1500.......................................

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Later,
GG

Iberia340600 · Wed Nov 05, 2003 1:41 am

Well,

For Iberia, the B747-200 EC-GAG was the oldest plane flying with us. Delivered on January 16th, 1972 it flew with us for a little over 31 years before being retired in March of 2003.

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Photo © Ismael Jorda

Unfortunately, EC-GAG "Calderon de la Barca" has been reduced to rubble as she has been scrapped. I was hoping IB would have preserved her as a memory to their oldest 747. May she rest in peace. I will try to upload some photo's of EC-GAG being scrapped.

Regards,

Federico

clickhappy · Wed Nov 05, 2003 1:55 am

Here is the oldest plane that WN is flying, built in 1979.

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FlySSC · Wed Nov 05, 2003 1:56 am

Now that Concorde is retired Crying

the oldest PAX plane in service with Air France is one of the five remaining B747-228, F-BPVS manufactured and delivered to the airline in 1977.

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Guest · Wed Nov 05, 2003 2:41 am

Funny how some people are comparing Boeing products to Douglas/McDonnell Douglas products and calling the Boeing pieces of crap. Last I checked of those companies the one remaining is Boeing, in fact they bought McDonnell Douglas and only kept one of their products in production. A product that is not seeing too many if any new customers. I have no objection to calling Scarebuses monuments to socialist inferiority. I never did like the Toulouse Toilets and I think there are some very clear quality issues that demonstrate themselves in how few Scarebuses are hauling passengers in the US. BTW Why are people listening to anything Sammy Sosa says. I really hate when people start taking what celebrities say as fact. When people listen to celebrities political views they so often forget most of them never finished college if they went at all. When it comes to airplanes I want to know where Sammy got his A&P certification. Let the little bat corker hit the balls and let the experts fly and maintain the airplanes. On a related note.. I know Delta had some pretty old 727s before they retired them.. Any idea what the oldest one was?

rb211 · Wed Nov 05, 2003 3:22 am

That picture of the United 744's next to the Delta L-1011 is sickening. I really hope that the 744's are in temporary storage. I'll take the Delta L-1011 off of their hands for NOTHING! Love

An-225 · Wed Nov 05, 2003 3:34 am

UAL 744's are stored until further notice. Some are or will be sold, some are being brought back to service. I think our company will operate 29 of them as previously stated somewhere.

Alex.

ScottB · Wed Nov 05, 2003 3:39 am

Delta's 727's were some of the last units off the assembly line; the newest were delivered in 1981. The 727 would have still had several years of life at AA, UA, and DL, but a 3-person cockpit was very uneconomical compared to newer aircraft in their fleets.

Delta still has some 737-200's in storage which are older than the Spirit of Delta, but that's the oldest aircraft currently being flown by DL.

transswede · Wed Nov 05, 2003 3:44 am

According to the SAS flightops website, OY-KGT (MD-82) is currently the oldest plane in the SAS fleet, delivered Oct 10, 1985

New livery:

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airbazar · Wed Nov 05, 2003 4:02 am

Back to that JAL 747-146B/SR/SUD picture. Could that be the wrong picture?
That looks like a 743 to me. I always thought that the extended upper deck started with the 743. I didn't know that there are -100 series 747's with an upper deck like that.

Iberia340600 · Wed Nov 05, 2003 5:31 am

Airbazar:

If I am not mistaken as I have read somewhere in another post, there were a few 747SUD's (stretched upper decks) produced back in the days. So it is most likely a 741.
Im not sure there are any other distinguishing features between the 741SUD and the 747 besides maybe the engines??

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