[AlaskaErik]

If you want real longevity...AC-130A USAF 53-3129, c.n. 3001. First production Hercules, modified to gunship configuration in November 1967, survived 37 mm AAA hit over South Vietnam in March 1973, repaired, and finally retired from the 711th Special Operations Squadron in 1995 for display at the Air Force Armament Museum, Eglin AFB, Florida. Named “The First Lady” since November 1970.

[AlaskaErik]

For those not versed in USAF aircraft tail numbers, the first two digits are the year production started on that particular aircraft. In this case, 53-3129 was started in 1953 and was delivered in 1955. When I was in Afghanistan last year, there were 44 year old Herks flying daily missions all over the country. And when the last C-17 is retired, the C-130 will still be in service. As an aside, sometimes the tail number is abbreviated. 53-3129 can also be displayed as 3-3129. Then you have to know your airplanes to know what the first digit is.