https://www.planespotters.net/airframe/ ... X/bBl3tpLW


First delivered in 1966 to Delta. Just goes to show how durable these DC-9 and its derivatives are..

Yes and such a beautiful plane!.

PBA Airlines flew DC-3s,originally delivered to Eastern Airlines until 1987, 50 years after original delivery.

GF

I don't know for sure if this is for sure the *oldest* jet powered aircraft still in PAX service, but it has to be up there. I read in an another thread that this aircraft was stored, but it seems to have been returned to service since then. Kind of boggles my mind how this frame hasn't just disintegrated yet.

GalaxyFlyer wrote:

PBA Airlines flew DC-3s,originally delivered to Eastern Airlines until 1987, 50 years after original delivery.

GF

Those might be among the oldest aircraft period, but they're not jets.

Veigar wrote:

I don't know for sure if this is for sure the *oldest* jet powered aircraft still in PAX service, but it has to be up there. I read in an another thread that this aircraft was stored, but it seems to have been returned to service since then. Kind of boggles my mind how this frame hasn't just disintegrated yet.

Notice that it wasn't an airliner for over 30 years, which probably kept cycles low.

Nonetheless, here's your jumpseat ride from 7 months ago: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KTwJGT92Gkc

Doesn't Buffalo Airways in Canada still fly the C47 and DC-3's from the 1930 or 40's in a PAX or Combi configuration?

Veigar wrote:

GalaxyFlyer wrote:

PBA Airlines flew DC-3s,originally delivered to Eastern Airlines until 1987, 50 years after original delivery.

GF

Those might be among the oldest aircraft period, but they're not jets.

Actually, considering the pressurization cycles, it’s all the more remarkable for -9s to last as long as DC-3s. In ‘87, DC-3s were remarkable for the number of hours flown, but now jet airliners have far exceeded the Old Gal’s record.

GF

The list of former operators is cool too. Who was the Funk Exploration?

GalaxyFlyer wrote:

PBA Airlines flew DC-3s,originally delivered to Eastern Airlines until 1987, 50 years after original delivery.

GF

DC-3s were certainly not being delivered in 1987! IIRC production ended in 1942, before the end of the war!

BoeingGuy wrote:

The list of former operators is cool too. Who was the Funk Exploration?

It drilled oil and gas wells.

SurlyBonds wrote:

GalaxyFlyer wrote:

PBA Airlines flew DC-3s,originally delivered to Eastern Airlines until 1987, 50 years after original delivery.

GF

DC-3s were certainly not being delivered in 1987! IIRC production ended in 1942, before the end of the war!

That's not what GalaxyFlyer means. They meant they were flown until 1987, not delivered up until 1987.

Yes. Where one puts a comma matters! PBA flew a bunch BOS area routes in -3s until about 1987, as an Eastern local service carrier. Funnily ehough, at least one of them was delivered to EA in the late Thirties. It was one a very original -3s, most being C-47s. It was great to see them coming down the ILS 4R.

GF

Air Chathams in NZ operated a DC3 on ordinary scheduled services until last year. They still operate 3 Convair 580s on pax services

I'm confused, is this thread regarding the oldest jet airliner still in PAX service as quoted by the OPs headline title or about DC3s, Convair 580s, etc which are clearly NOT jet airliners!

Is the thread going off topic?

Obviously sarcasm is involved with the above

phljjs wrote:

Doesn't Buffalo Airways in Canada still fly the C47 and DC-3's from the 1930 or 40's in a PAX or Combi configuration?

They do operate a D-Day veteran C-47, but they do not carry pax anymore:(

Not exactly as OP is asking, but 5T has 2 732's still in sked pax service (C-GOPW & GDPA) roughly 38 years of age. Not the oldest I'm sure, but up there

How about Tu-134?

Veigar wrote:

I don't know for sure if this is for sure the *oldest* jet powered aircraft still in PAX service, but it has to be up there. I read in an another thread that this aircraft was stored, but it seems to have been returned to service since then. Kind of boggles my mind how this frame hasn't just disintegrated yet.

You made me laugh,my dear! Disintegrated! Into thin air? Some airliners just don't quit,you know. They are sturdy and stubborn. Another good example is the 727-100. Whatever happened, it kept flying. Especially if they keep maintaining the old airframe correctly, changing parts, re-skinning, and so on, rejuvenating the frame until it is no longer the same,original airplane. And this answers your question! PS: I like your helpless look!

MO11 wrote:

BoeingGuy wrote:

The list of former operators is cool too. Who was the Funk Exploration?

It drilled oil and gas wells.

did they use it for transporting well pipes and such inserted via the emergency exit cone at the rear?

5Y-SAZ was saved from the desert almost 20 years ago!!

c933103 wrote:

How about Tu-134?

It didn't show up on airfleet.net. But then Russia might now share those records.

lavalampluva wrote:

c933103 wrote:

How about Tu-134?

It didn't show up on airfleet.net. But then Russia might now share those records.

https://russianplanes.net/registr

Russian only I’m afraid and my skills in that language are bit rusty, but it seems no early Tu134’s are still flying. The oldest one flying seems to be frame 62199 from 1979 with reg UN-65683, but I’m not sure it carries pax, and probably not in commercial traffic. I can’t find any older Soviet or Russia built jet airliners older than this one that are marked green on that web page.

/Fredrik

UN-65683 is a Kazakhstan government aircraft, so not an airliner.

Didn't know russianplanes.net is back online, great to know. It was shut down a year ago or so.

Russia wouldn't be a candidate for old jet aircraft, there is a 40y age ban on commercial jet pax aircraft. Props are excluded, so still a couple of older Antonovs around.

Regards,
Loran

gzm wrote:

Veigar wrote:

I don't know for sure if this is for sure the *oldest* jet powered aircraft still in PAX service, but it has to be up there. I read in an another thread that this aircraft was stored, but it seems to have been returned to service since then. Kind of boggles my mind how this frame hasn't just disintegrated yet.

You made me laugh,my dear! Disintegrated! Into thin air? Some airliners just don't quit,you know. They are sturdy and stubborn. Another good example is the 727-100. Whatever happened, it kept flying. Especially if they keep maintaining the old airframe correctly, changing parts, re-skinning, and so on, rejuvenating the frame until it is no longer the same,original airplane. And this answers your question! PS: I like your helpless look!

Just begs the question "if you replace all the parts, is it the same aircraft?" haha.


And yes, there are a surprisingly large amount of 727-100s that are still flying!

Veigar wrote:

Just begs the question "if you replace all the parts, is it the same aircraft?" haha.

Since Plato, these things have been pondered upon:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ship_of_Theseus

In aviation, I understand that the answer is -- as long as the original builder's plate, with aircraft number, build date, etc. is there -- it's still the same aircraft.

Veigar wrote:

gzm wrote:

Veigar wrote:

I don't know for sure if this is for sure the *oldest* jet powered aircraft still in PAX service, but it has to be up there. I read in an another thread that this aircraft was stored, but it seems to have been returned to service since then. Kind of boggles my mind how this frame hasn't just disintegrated yet.

You made me laugh,my dear! Disintegrated! Into thin air? Some airliners just don't quit,you know. They are sturdy and stubborn. Another good example is the 727-100. Whatever happened, it kept flying. Especially if they keep maintaining the old airframe correctly, changing parts, re-skinning, and so on, rejuvenating the frame until it is no longer the same,original airplane. And this answers your question! PS: I like your helpless look!

Just begs the question "if you replace all the parts, is it the same aircraft?" haha.


And yes, there are a surprisingly large amount of 727-100s that are still flying!

I beg to differ regarding your last comment.

As of July 2018 there are 44 Boeing 727s still in service with commercial operators (42 Boeing 727-200 and 2 Boeing 727-100).

Although there are only 2 Boeing 727-100 still in commercial service I'm not sure how many there are in active service as private jets but to state that there are a ''surprisingly large amount of B727-100s still flying'' is quite an overstatement.

heathrow wrote:

Not exactly as OP is asking, but 5T has 2 732's still in sked pax service (C-GOPW & GDPA) roughly 38 years of age. Not the oldest I'm sure, but up there

GDPA was delivered in 1980 (Fun fact, it's had that reg it's entire life) but there's even older 732's in Canada still. Nolinor's C-GNLK was originally delivered in May 1974. I think there's a few older frames still being operated by various airforces, but she may be the oldest active 732 in civil service these days