Oldest Active Boeing /Douglas/Airbus Jets?

Flighty · Wed Nov 11, 2015 4:43 am

Definition of active can have 2 flavors. Active could mean it is "maybe still flying." Active could also mean this aircraft is "definitely still flying" and you have proof, like it flew today or something.

Are there still Boeings from the 1960s definitely flying? Are there many pre-1980 Airbii? How are the DC-10 pickings?

[Edited 2015-11-10 20:57:45]

maxpower1954 · Wed Nov 11, 2015 4:59 am

NASA has a DC-8 that is very active flying a wide variety of missions. It was built in 1969 for SAS I believe.

http://www.nasa.gov/centers/armstrong/news/FactSheets/FS-050-DFRC.html

clickhappy · Wed Nov 11, 2015 5:11 am

The oldest DC-10 would be the Orbis plane, L/N 2.

flyiguy · Wed Nov 11, 2015 5:14 am

Aloha Cargo is still flying around in 732's

WN has some 25+ year old 733's still flying around

FLY

flyDTW1992 · Wed Nov 11, 2015 5:17 am

Kalitta has two 1987 747-200s left flying.

NWAROOSTER · Wed Nov 11, 2015 5:22 am

If I am correct the only DC-10s flying are freighters such as FedEx and one flying as fire water bomber. Bangladesh Bimmi retired the last passenger DC-10 about February of this year. The only 727s flying are some well worn freighters and a few well decked out VIP 727s if I am correct. Most are 727-100 with one 727-251, N203US which is now 4K-8888. You might want to look at it's photos on Airliners.net. Goto be the nicest 727 flying.

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Photo © Piotr Kaczmarek (Wlkp_Spotters)

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Photo © Frank C. Duarte Jr.

I forgot the Orbis Flying Eye DC-10 N220AU.

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Photo © jason w. wong

[Edited 2015-11-10 21:31:10]

bennett123 · Wed Nov 11, 2015 7:15 am

I thought the original Orbis DC10 was retired and replaced with a New DC10.

As for Biman, surely their last flight was February 2014.

B777LRF · Wed Nov 11, 2015 7:45 am

Probably the B-52 or KC-135.

747WanSui · Wed Nov 11, 2015 7:46 am

The Iranian Air Force has some 707 & 747 aircraft which are almost half a century old by now...

UA444 · Wed Nov 11, 2015 7:47 am

Quoting NWAROOSTER (Reply 5):

If I am correct the only DC-10s flying are freighters such as FedEx and one flying as fire water bomber

Several more 10s left than that.

Scorpio · Wed Nov 11, 2015 8:13 am

Oldest active Airbus (according to airfleets) is XA-TWQ, flying for AeroUnion. Originally delivered to Air France in March 1977.

AndyEastMids · Wed Nov 11, 2015 8:31 am

Quoting maxpower1954 (Reply 1):
NASA has a DC-8 that is very active flying a wide variety of missions. It was built in 1969 for SAS I believe

The NASA DC-8 was originally built for Alitalia, first flight in 1969. However, DC-9-14 5Y-XXA (line number 19) is older - first flew in 1966 - and is due to ferry to Helsinki at the end of the month for preservation so it won't be active much longer. At present, the DC-9 may well be the oldest active Douglas jet, given the dubious status of a few older DC-8s that are reputedly still flyable but don't seem to.

macsog6 · Wed Nov 11, 2015 12:26 pm

Quoting B777LRF (Reply 7):
Probably the B-52 or KC-135.

The BUFF may fly forever.

trijetsonly · Wed Nov 11, 2015 1:27 pm

The DR Congo 707 9Q-CLK is from August 1959. I guess that that's the winner.

lightsaber · Wed Nov 11, 2015 1:32 pm

Quoting Trijetsonly (Reply 13):

Wow. Just wow... 56 year old airframe.

Lightsaber

Spacepope · Wed Nov 11, 2015 1:43 pm

Quoting NWAROOSTER (Reply 5):
such as FedEx and one flying as fire water bomber

As of today there are 3 DC-10 fire tankers in service, with up to 5 more ready to be converted if the call comes.

SpaceshipDC10 · Wed Nov 11, 2015 1:45 pm

Quoting Flighty (Thread starter):
Oldest Active Airbus?

This seems to be the oldest Airbus still active.

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Photo © Andrew Hunt

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Photo © Daniel Guerra

http://www.planespotters.net/airfram...-TWQ-Aerotransporte-de-Carga-Union

Quoting Flighty (Thread starter):
pre-1980 Airbii

What's that? Never heard of Airbii.

2175301 · Wed Nov 11, 2015 1:55 pm

I believe you need to start looking at DC-3's that are still in service. Most of these are in cargo operations; but, they are still flying. I believe there are a few in passenger service yet, and some are used as test aircraft or have been outfitted for special missions.

In some cases they have been retrofitted with new engines and controls, reskinned, and even reissued with a zero hour log book. There is a company in Oshkosh Wi that does major overhauls and retrofits of DC-3's.

Have a great day,

Kaiarahi · Wed Nov 11, 2015 1:56 pm

Air Chathams operates ZK-AWP, a DC-3 built in 1944, on scheduled seasonal routes in New Zealand. They also operate a ZK-CIB, a Convair 580 built in 1956, on scheduled services.

aviatorcraig · Wed Nov 11, 2015 2:04 pm

I was going to say the oldest Airbus was A-300 Line number 3 (!) F-BUAD - First flight in 1973, it has been used as a Zero-G "Vomit comet" trainer, but I understand it was retired earlier this year

pwm2txlhopper · Wed Nov 11, 2015 2:52 pm

Kalitta was still flying N915CK, last year. A 1967 DC-9-10, first delivered to Continentsl. I spotted it taking on lobster at PWM to YIP

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Photo © A. Kwanten

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Photo © Royal S King

[Edited 2015-11-11 06:54:33]

RRTrent · Wed Nov 11, 2015 2:59 pm

Buffalo surely have some of the oldest aircraft still in service?? DC3's, C-46's ect?....

aryonoco · Wed Nov 11, 2015 3:02 pm

What about John Travolta's ex-QF 707? When was that built?

SpaceshipDC10 · Wed Nov 11, 2015 3:06 pm

Quoting aryonoco (Reply 22):
What about John Travolta's ex-QF 707? When was that built?

Rolled off the Boeing production line at Renton as a 707-138B - July 29, 1964

http://www.aussieairliners.org/b-707q/vh-ebm/vhebm.html

tb727 · Wed Nov 11, 2015 3:07 pm

Quoting NWAROOSTER (Reply 5):
Goto be the nicest 727 flying.

That is the nicest one still out there! The oldest -200 I know of still flying is N724CK, delivered in 1970 to Eastern, line 831.

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Photo © A. Kwanten

The oldest -100 still going is probably, line 428.
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Photo © Roger Cannegieter - Curacao Aviation Photography

MrHMSH · Wed Nov 11, 2015 3:11 pm

Quoting SpaceshipDC10 (Reply 16):
Never heard of Airbii.

I think it's a subtle joke, in Latin a singular word ends in 'us', but the plural ends in 'i' So 'Dominus' becomes 'Domini' for example, and I guess 'Airbus' becomes 'Airbi'.

Quoting Trijetsonly (Reply 13):
The DR Congo 707 9Q-CLK is from August 1959. I guess that that's the winner.

Very impressive. Does anyone know how much of it is original?

Moose135 · Wed Nov 11, 2015 3:14 pm

Quoting macsog6 (Reply 12):
The BUFF may fly forever.

When the last B-52 is retired to the bone yard, a KC-135 will fly the crew home from the desert.

IADCA · Wed Nov 11, 2015 3:16 pm

Quoting Kaiarahi (Reply 18):
Air Chathams operates ZK-AWP, a DC-3 built in 1944, on scheduled seasonal routes in New Zealand. They also operate a ZK-CIB, a Convair 580 built in 1956, on scheduled services.

Quoting 2175301 (Reply 17):
I believe you need to start looking at DC-3's that are still in service. Most of these are in cargo operations; but, they are still flying. I believe there are a few in passenger service yet, and some are used as test aircraft or have been outfitted for special missions.

Quoting RRTrent (Reply 21):
Buffalo surely have some of the oldest aircraft still in service?? DC3's, C-46's ect?....

And what is the last word of the thread title again?

Quoting B777LRF (Reply 7):
Probably the B-52 or KC-135.

It's not the BUFF, I don't think. Correct me if I'm wrong, but aren't all of the BUFFs still flying B52Hs, meaning 1961 or later?

bralo20 · Wed Nov 11, 2015 3:33 pm

What about the DC-3's of Buffalo Airways in Canada? Probably the only commercial DC-3 flight left in the world, those birds must be pretty old? (as are their other birds)

EDIT: Sorry my mistake, the topic said JETS, must have looked over it. Mea culpa!

[Edited 2015-11-11 07:40:19]

BoeingGuy · Wed Nov 11, 2015 3:37 pm

Quoting 2175301 (Reply 17):
I believe you need to start looking at DC-3's that are still in service. Most of these are in cargo operations; but, they are still flying.

There's that active DC-3 that flies in airshows. It parks at some kind of museum above the Mukilteo Speedway on the west side of PAE. I've seen it flying around. It's painted in Pan Am colors. Anyone know the heritage of that airplane?

Edit: Yep, I missed the jets reference too.

How many active commercial 707s are left? I don't believe there are any active 720s or 707-120s anymore. No active 737-100s either. Are there any 747-100s flying?

[Edited 2015-11-11 08:16:02]

Moose135 · Wed Nov 11, 2015 3:40 pm

Quoting IADCA (Reply 27):
It's not the BUFF, I don't think. Correct me if I'm wrong, but aren't all of the BUFFs still flying B52Hs, meaning 1961 or later?

Correct. From what I remember, the oldest operational KC-135 is a 1957 model.

citationjet · Wed Nov 11, 2015 5:29 pm

The last DC-9-10 flight is soon.
http://www.traveller.fi/last-call/
Discussed here:
https://www.airliners.net/aviation-fo...eneral_aviation/read.main/6548130/

GianiDC · Wed Nov 11, 2015 5:31 pm

This is one site that might answer your question:

http://www.airfleets.net/home/

But for some reason, some types are missing like the 707 and 727. And I don´t really now how up-to-date the site is.

As already mentioned the oldest Airbus is an A300, l/n 45, flying for AeroUnion which is 38,7 years.
http://www.airfleets.net/ficheapp/plane-a300-45.htm

Apparently Airbus still uses the very first A320 as a testbed, aged 28,7 years.
http://www.airfleets.net/ficheapp/plane-a320-1.htm

If you only consider aircraft flying commercially, the winner should be l/n 45(again) operating for Air India aged 26,6 years.
http://www.airfleets.net/ficheapp/plane-a320-45.htm

There is a B732 ,l/n 223, active in Columbia flying for Aerosucre which is 45,9 years old.
http://www.airfleets.net/ficheapp/plane-b737-20253.htm

Considering DC-10s there is the Orbis plane, l/n 2, aged 44,9 years.
http://www.airfleets.net/ficheapp/plane-dc10-46501.htm

As this plane isn´t flying that much there is a DC -10 from Fedex aged 43,3 years.
http://www.airfleets.net/ficheapp/plane-dc10-46521.htm

YVRLTN · Wed Nov 11, 2015 7:23 pm

Quoting tb727 (Reply 24):
The oldest -100 still going is probably, line 428

Line 52 is still going, built 1966

Spacepope · Wed Nov 11, 2015 7:30 pm

Quoting CitationJet (Reply 31):
The last DC-9-10 flight is soon.

No, it's not. The last flight of THAT PARTICULAR AIRFRAME is soon. Plenty of DC-9-10s operating in North America. Heck, I just saw 4 airborne at once doing auto parts flights last week.

saleya22r · Wed Nov 11, 2015 8:40 pm

Quoting Spacepope (Reply 34):

Quoting CitationJet (Reply 31):
The last DC-9-10 flight is soon.

No, it's not. The last flight of THAT PARTICULAR AIRFRAME is soon. Plenty of DC-9-10s operating in North America. Heck, I just saw 4 airborne at once doing auto parts flights last week.

The question was about the oldest not the last.
I posted this some days ago:
Last Flight For DC-9-14 (5Y-XXA) Now Planned (by saleya22r Nov 6 2015 in Civil Aviation)

Allegedly this is the oldest DC-9-10 series still active. Flew first in December 1965..

zanl188 · Wed Nov 11, 2015 8:50 pm

Quoting tb727 (Reply 24):
The oldest -100 still going is probably, line 428

Rumor is ln #1, N7001U, will fly again soon although only a one time flight.

TWA772LR · Wed Nov 11, 2015 9:20 pm

For Boeing, how about the super guppy? AFAIK, it wasn't built brand new but off the frame of a Stratocruiser later adapted with turboprops. So the airframe itself has got to date to the 1940s.

Spacepope · Wed Nov 11, 2015 9:23 pm

Quoting saleya22r (Reply 35):
The question was about the oldest not the last.

I understand. I was correcting the poster claiming the last DC-9-10 flight ever is coming up, as it simply wasn't true. There are many still in service.

LXSWISS · Wed Nov 11, 2015 9:25 pm

Quoting GianiDC (Reply 32):
If you only consider aircraft flying commercially, the winner should be l/n 45(again) operating for Air India aged 26,6 years.
http://www.airfleets.net/ficheapp/pl...5.htm

Here you have a 27.8 years old A310 operating for Air Transat
https://www.planespotters.net/airframe/Airbus/A310/447/C-GTSY-Air-Transat

And a close competitor, 27.6 years old B763 operating for Air Canada
https://www.planespotters.net/airframe/Boeing/767/24082/C-FCAB-Air-Canada

Had a chance to fly both aircraft, respectively YYZ-LGW in 2010 and ZRH-YYZ in 2015

IADCA · Wed Nov 11, 2015 9:42 pm

Quoting LXSWISS (Reply 39):
And a close competitor, 27.6 years old B763 operating for Air Canada
https://www.planespotters.net/airframe/Boeing/767/24082/C-FCAB-Air-Canada

There are older Boeings than that still flying passengers even within major North American airlines. Delta was - at least until very recently - still flying some 752s that were 1984 builds, and AA has been using some that aren't much newer (N902AW, which will turn 30 this week, is presently en route PHX-DCA). And as another poster mentioned, there are even a few 732s still knocking around.

RetiredWeasel · Wed Nov 11, 2015 9:55 pm

Quoting GianiDC (Reply 32):
As this plane isn
[quote=GianiDC,reply=32]As this plane isn´t flying that much there is a DC -10 from Fedex aged 43,3 years.
http://www.airfleets.net/ficheapp/plane-dc10-46521.htm

Technically, the "DC-10s" Fedex are flying were conversions to MD-10s several years ago....but I guess you could lump them into the 10 bracket if your just considering airframes and not aircraft certification or crew type ratings.

UA444 · Wed Nov 11, 2015 10:49 pm

Quoting RetiredWeasel (Reply 41):

It's still a DC-10.

cschleic · Wed Nov 11, 2015 11:46 pm

Quoting lightsaber (Reply 14):
Wow. Just wow... 56 year old airframe.

What's interesting to think about, when 737 variants still are flying way out there in the future, while the planes themselves will be newer, the basic fuselage design could reach the 100 year mark, with the 707/727/737/757 using the same fuselage.

RetiredWeasel · Wed Nov 11, 2015 11:52 pm

Quoting UA444 (Reply 42):
It's still a DC-10.

I will agree with you for purposes of this topic. On the other hand, a former DC-10 First Officer walks into the cockpit of a MD-10 and asks 'where is the second officer?'. Capt says "Sorry bud, you're in a different airplane. Didn't training tell you that the walk-around is now your responsibility? Now get out there in the rain and check the tire pressures!"

haddock0815 · Thu Nov 12, 2015 12:25 am

Quoting aviatorcraig (Reply 19):

The A300 was ferried to Cologne in November 2014.
Last "flight" with the help of a Heavy lift crane Liebherr LR 1.600 was in August this year.

Retired after 5200 flights, 4200 flight hours an 13.180 parabolas while working for NoveSpace.

http://www.koeln-bonn-airport.de/en/...bid=1771&history=0&q=zero%20g&fs=1

DarkSnowyNight · Thu Nov 12, 2015 12:28 am

Quoting cschleic (Reply 43):

What's interesting to think about, when 737 variants still are flying way out there in the future, while the planes themselves will be newer, the basic fuselage design could reach the 100 year mark, with the 707/727/737/757 using the same fuselage

Barring some type of apocalyptic catastrophe, it's a certainty. Same goes for the 747. The late 2060s are sooner than we realize.

chrcaremanav · Thu Nov 12, 2015 1:02 am

Hi! How are You? Here in Canada We have an Nolinor Airline, They are using Boeing 737-200 and They are quite old and there are some which are combi, in front is cargo and the back is for Passengers those are from Air North, They are flying to the most remote Regions in the Northern Canada and also Kelowna Flightcraft are flying Boeing 727. Taike good care everybody.

aryonoco · Thu Nov 12, 2015 1:06 am

Do these planes require flight engineers? In which case, isn't it increasingly difficult to find flight engineers these days?

Adipasquale · Thu Nov 12, 2015 1:14 am

Quoting MrHMSH (Reply 25):
Very impressive. Does anyone know how much of it is original?

Well considering it now has JT3-D turbofans, the engines certainly not original. Also, if you look at the wingtips, the pitot tube? points forward. I have never seen another 707 where it points this way, they usually are situated the other way around. .

Also, it appears that the pitot tube is only on the starboard wing:

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If anybody knows why this is, I would really like to know! Absolutely a stunning plane, would be the ultimate spotter's treat!

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