B-52s built how long ago are still flying?
Hmmm… DC3s are still flying commercial passengers.
Nice clean B757 with only 89,000 hrs on the airframe:
https://www.controller.com/listing/for-sale/215575675/1988-boeing-757-200-jet-aircraft
Takes a lickin’, keeps on tickin’
I flew C130s that were made in 1963 up until 2017. And those airframes were slammed to the ground on many short-field landings (called assault landings to us). I don’t think people really understand what goes into maintaining the airworthiness of these aircraft.
It’s not the years, it’s the hard mileage. That goes for people, too.
“Oldest passenger plane?” There 18 airworthy Ford Trimotors still around and at least three of them are carrying paying passengers. The last Trimotor was built in 1933!
I used to love flying in those old seaplanes Chalk’s had before they got the turbo-prop Mallards.
No they weren't. They had only signed with EMI the year before, and had just released Queen II to terrible reviews. Then Sheer Heart Attack arrived in November and then they were on their way.
I’ve flown in a 39’ Fairchild. It was a beautiful thing.
Lying headlines are the norm now. I mean theyve always been overblown. But now straight lies are common.
We still have WW 2 vintage aircraft flying in Alaska.
I don’t know how you define “passenger” but WWII planes still haul passengers. Even old Biplanes take people up on rides.
I flew a Turbine DC3 in the Congo for several years. It was built in 1943 and carried 32 pax. I think it is still flying and flew one in Southern Colombia, SA for a few years just recently.
Boeing 737-200 - serial number 20836:
Oliver Smith wasn’t even alive in 1974.
Queen was not yet in their pomp until the late 70s. In 1974, Bohemian Rhapsody hadn’t yet come out, and Queen had one big hit, Killer Queen, which was good, but we hadn’t yet heard the rest.
The JT8Ds in these are now complete Garbage, with the parts repaired with 3rd world “migrant” labor.
If you don’t believe me, wait for the NTSB report of the 732 cargo plane that ditched off Honolulu.
If a 732 rolls up to your gate, tell them you’ll wait for the next one.
I’ll be never getting on one again.
I expect they’re talking about scheduled air carrier passenger service, which rules out DC-3s & J3 Cubs. They’re still flying but in charter operations and milk runs.
However, the Norks are still flying Tupolev Tu-154s and Ilyushin Il-62s in scheduled air carrier passenger service, and both of them first flew in the 1960s.
