AirwaySim

General forums => General forum => Topic started by: yyebo on July 15, 2009, 11:52:28 AM

Title: Oldest plane in service
Post by: yyebo on July 15, 2009, 11:52:28 AM
Hi Guys,

I've just found there's oldest plane still in service (not for sale) is 33.6 years old!

I thought any plane over 25years will be scrapped?


no offence to this airline operator :)
Title: Re: Oldest plane in service
Post by: swiftus27 on July 15, 2009, 12:30:37 PM
Hey, there are some caribbean airlines using DC3s.....  Yes, the same planes that dropped troops in Normandy.
Title: Re: Oldest plane in service
Post by: Powi on July 16, 2009, 06:50:50 AM
Scrapping old planes is always optional.
Title: Re: Oldest plane in service
Post by: EGJB on July 16, 2009, 08:19:44 AM
Nothing unrealistic - the average age of my local airline's Trislander fleet is over 30 years old.

They even conducted a review a couple of years ago to find a replacement but decided to stick with them as there isn't anything suitable. They don't build them like they used to!
Title: Re: Oldest plane in service
Post by: Filippo on July 16, 2009, 10:26:45 AM
Airliner World (magazine) photographed a DC3 belonging to "Bush Air", a cargo airline in Alaska
Title: Re: Oldest plane in service
Post by: NorgeFly on July 16, 2009, 10:52:02 AM
Quote from: EGJB on July 16, 2009, 08:19:44 AM
Nothing unrealistic - the average age of my local airline's Trislander fleet is over 30 years old.

They even conducted a review a couple of years ago to find a replacement but decided to stick with them as there isn't anything suitable. They don't build them like they used to!

Channel Islands by any chance? Gotta love Joey! :)
Title: Re: Oldest plane in service
Post by: broadbander on July 16, 2009, 11:46:41 AM
Delta inherited DC9s when they merged with Northwest Airlines, and some of those aircraft are over 40 years old! N9821E (a DC9-30) was still in service in May 2009 judging by photos on airliners.net, and it was originally delivered to Eastern Airlines in 1966!
Title: Re: Oldest plane in service
Post by: Sami on July 16, 2009, 12:40:10 PM
The max age for planes is 35 years which after they are automatically taken off the routes.. This is because the maintenance / value / etc calculations have certain limits in the math formulas and it was decided to be 35y.. But most likely won't be ever a problem here.
Title: Re: Oldest plane in service
Post by: Flightman on July 16, 2009, 04:56:58 PM
Oldest plane should be on airlines status page :)  Something new to competive :p
Title: Re: Oldest plane in service
Post by: swiftus27 on July 16, 2009, 05:20:04 PM
Quote from: broadbander on July 16, 2009, 11:46:41 AM
Delta inherited DC9s when they merged with Northwest Airlines, and some of those aircraft are over 40 years old! N9821E (a DC9-30) was still in service in May 2009 judging by photos on airliners.net, and it was originally delivered to Eastern Airlines in 1966!

My boss flew on a 9-30 out of St Louis last month. 
Title: Re: Oldest plane in service
Post by: ICEcoldair881 on July 17, 2009, 09:47:42 PM
Quote from: Filippo on July 16, 2009, 10:26:45 AM
Airliner World (magazine) photographed a DC3 belonging to "Bush Air", a cargo airline in Alaska

Buffalo Airways in NWT (north-western Canada) has a fleet of (about) 10 DC-3s. My dad flew on one, as it was a passenger flight!

He told me, that the pilot told him, that the aircraft was delivered originally in 1936 and was also used in the war, then in 1972 was converted into a commercial aircraft for Buffalo Airways.
Title: Re: Oldest plane in service
Post by: ukatlantic on July 22, 2009, 07:37:30 AM
Quote from: EGJB on July 16, 2009, 08:19:44 AM
Nothing unrealistic - the average age of my local airline's Trislander fleet is over 30 years old.

They even conducted a review a couple of years ago to find a replacement but decided to stick with them as there isn't anything suitable. They don't build them like they used to!

Hmm The good old reliable Aurigny Trislander!  At least Aurigny have upgraded their ATR72-210's now to the 500 series on their Gatwick Route I bet more people are flying withthem now then Fly(May)Be!  The trislanders are certainly an interesting flight I've done it a number of times between Guernsey and Jersey and I dont think I've ever known Aurigny's Trislanders to go 'technical' - so as the saying goes 'If it aint broke dont fix it!' hence why they are reluctanant to replace them  :)