What’ the most interesting plane still in commercial service?

I know there are An-124s and DC-10s and DC-3s still flying. But I want something better. Hawker Tridents or DC-4s or C-97s or some large flying boat.

Rule: It has to fly at least 12 times per year, and someone must be hoping to make money. And nothing by Buffalo Airway (we all already know about them).

First thing that comes to mind is Antonov's An-22 UR-09307 according to FR24 it was quite active through to at least October 2020, with a few flights since then the most recent the other day (12/JAN).

Where are the DC10’s still flying....???

TUGMASTER wrote:

Where are the DC10’s still flying....???

Omega Air Tanker still has a few of them. As a matter of fact, they even acquired some more recently. The Netherlands Air Force has sold their KDC-10s to Omega where they started their third life (their first life was with Martinair as civilian aircraft, second was with the Netherlands Air Force that used them as tankers and transport aircraft). At the Netherlands Air Force they're being replaced by Airbus A330MRTTs that are owned by NATO.

There haven't been any passenger DC-10s left in service for many years and I even doubt if there's any cargo DC-10s still around. If there are, there can't be many of them. However as tanker aircraft they're still popular.

An interesting plane to mention is the FlySAX DC-9-14 5Y-SAZ. First delivered to Delta Airlines in October 1966 it's now 54 years old and still going strong. Here's a video of the aircraft taking off from Nairobi on a flight to Entebbe.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jA_FxOaoR9I

Wilderness Seaplanes (split off from Pacific Coastal) still fly passenger flights with the Grumman Goose.

The Convair 580 still flies in BC with Conair as an airtanker (not for much longer, they just bought 11 ex Flybe Q400's) and Kelowna Flightcraft including a stretched 5800. Air Spray still fly the Electra as a tanker.

NASA’s DC8 and 747SP ‘Sofia’ and the only L1011 still flying that launches satellites have to fit in this category

kitplane01 wrote:

What’ the most interesting plane still in commercial service?

For What? Plane spotting or travelling as passenger? I just recently flew on Motor Sich Ukraine YAK40, hell what a ride it was!

https://www.flightradar24.com/data/aircraft/ur-vbv
https://www.flightradar24.com/data/aircraft/ur-88310

PatrickZ80 wrote:

An interesting plane to mention is the FlySAX DC-9-14 5Y-SAZ.

Is the aircraft still flying - couldn't find any proof... AFAIK the plane is lsd. from Fly540, which seems to be in financial distress, so I have concerns that it is still operating (regularly).

https://kenyanwallstreet.com/blow-for-f ... -e-ticket/

The A340, hoping I can fly on one, but the chances are getting slimmer and slimmer

I just found out that the Argentine Air Force reactivated TC-54, a 1973 build Fokker F28-1000 Combi, and that it has been seen operating scheduled services in Argentina for LADE.

It had been preserved a few years ago after bring withdrawn from service

PatrickZ80 wrote:

TUGMASTER wrote:

Where are the DC10’s still flying....???

Omega Air Tanker still has a few of them. As a matter of fact, they even acquired some more recently. The Netherlands Air Force has sold their KDC-10s to Omega where they started their third life (their first life was with Martinair as civilian aircraft, second was with the Netherlands Air Force that used them as tankers and transport aircraft). At the Netherlands Air Force they're being replaced by Airbus A330MRTTs that are owned by NATO.

There haven't been any passenger DC-10s left in service for many years and I even doubt if there's any cargo DC-10s still around. If there are, there can't be many of them. However as tanker aircraft they're still popular.

Besides those you mentioned, FX still has a few MD10. Real DC-10, I beleive there is one or two in Bolivia. Also the Orbis flying hospital

777luver wrote:

The A340, hoping I can fly on one, but the chances are getting slimmer and slimmer

By the end of this crisis, that will probably require flying to some exotic places.

blandy62 wrote:

777luver wrote:

The A340, hoping I can fly on one, but the chances are getting slimmer and slimmer

By the end of this crisis, that will probably require flying to some exotic places.

I realize that. Swiss still has theirs that they completed mods on last year but who knows how much longer they will remain

OK... let’s change the question a bit, let’s make it aircraft that you can buy a ride on.
Plymspotter found a great option.
Argentinian F-28...
anything else..?

As a last resort there is always Air Koryo. Last airline to operate the IL-62, Tu-134 and Tu-154 in passenger service, although they're not used often anymore. Mostly it's AN-148s and Tu-204s, which aren't exactly unique.

blandy62 wrote:

Besides those you mentioned, FX still has a few MD10. Real DC-10, I beleive there is one or two in Bolivia. Also the Orbis flying hospital

The Orbis flying eye hospital is a MD-10. It was donated by FedEx in 2016.

https://www.orbis.org/en/what-we-do/flying-eye-hospital/flying-eye-hospital-history

dcs921 wrote:

blandy62 wrote:

Besides those you mentioned, FX still has a few MD10. Real DC-10, I beleive there is one or two in Bolivia. Also the Orbis flying hospital

The Orbis flying eye hospital is a MD-10. It was donated by FedEx in 2016.

https://www.orbis.org/en/what-we-do/flying-eye-hospital/flying-eye-hospital-history

thanks, really tough it is a real DC-10

PatrickZ80 wrote:

TUGMASTER wrote:

Where are the DC10’s still flying....???

Omega Air Tanker still has a few of them. As a matter of fact, they even acquired some more recently. The Netherlands Air Force has sold their KDC-10s to Omega where they started their third life (their first life was with Martinair as civilian aircraft, second was with the Netherlands Air Force that used them as tankers and transport aircraft). At the Netherlands Air Force they're being replaced by Airbus A330MRTTs that are owned by NATO.

There haven't been any passenger DC-10s left in service for many years and I even doubt if there's any cargo DC-10s still around. If there are, there can't be many of them. However as tanker aircraft they're still popular.

Fedex has roughly 15 of them, however they'll be gone by 2023.

https://www.airliners.net/photo/Cavok-A ... D1eSMHk%3D

Not sure how rare this is, but it sure looks rare in YYZ.

I believe that the EAA still flies the Ford Tri-motor as well during the summer that you can buy tickets on. I flew on it a few years ago and highly recommend it.

Is Iran Air still flying their A300B4 (or B2)? That's the oldest Airbus in service apparently...

Philippine747 wrote:

Is Iran Air still flying their A300B4 (or B2)? That's the oldest Airbus in service apparently...

True, IranAir is operating 41year old veteran A300B2 EP-IBS - unfortunately no confirmation if the plane is flying passenger or cargo.
https://www.flightradar24.com/data/aircraft/ep-ibs

Yes, Iran is a fascinating country for aviation! Iran Aseman holds the honour of flying the A340 testbed msn 002 in regular service!
https://www.flightradar24.com/data/aircraft/ep-apa

debonair wrote:

Philippine747 wrote:

Is Iran Air still flying their A300B4 (or B2)? That's the oldest Airbus in service apparently...

True, IranAir is operating 41year old veteran A300B2 EP-IBS - unfortunately no confirmation if the plane is flying passenger or cargo.
https://www.flightradar24.com/data/aircraft/ep-ibs

Yes, Iran is a fascinating country for aviation! Iran Aseman holds the honour of flying the A340 testbed msn 002 in regular service!
https://www.flightradar24.com/data/aircraft/ep-apa

Either way, nice to see that it's still in service! Also learning about that Aseman A340 is new to me!

If the stories about those mythical DC3's flying in the Amazon jungles are really true, then that wins hands down!

Do F100s doing RPT in Australia count yet?

F100's count as you can buy tickets on those flights.

I want the Cubana IL-96

The Perris DC-9-20 I'd say is pretty interesting.