Long Serving Military Aircraft

[Lianachan]

Russian Tu-95s are in the news here today, which prompted a coffee time discussion at work about still active military aircraft that have been in service for a long time. A colleague offered the B-52 as a guess for the longest serving (60 years and counting, so just edging out the Tu-95), but I think I'm onto something with my suggestion of the C-47 (74 years and counting).

I know both the B-52 and Tu-95 have decades planned for them yet so will more than likely overtake the C-47 at some point, but can anybody think of any aircraft that can top (or approach) it's longevity?

[Lianachan]

1955 - Present (and future)

1956 - Present (and future)

1941 - Present (and future)

1954 - 2014

[Heid the Ba]

B52s are pencilled in to be in service until 2040, they are talking about re-engining them.

Is the C47 still in service?

There is a Russian Navy submarine tender still in service which started life in the Imperial Russian Navy and outlasted the Soviets.

[Lianachan]

Definitely still used by the Columbian Air Force. South Africa were using them very recently (still?) and I think a couple of others. That Russian ship looks like it has another century left in it, too. Amazing.

[Heid the Ba]

One of my mates (who should have known better) suggested that since the Bear has propellers we should use Spitfires to shadow it, he was astonished to find out how fast they are for prop driven.

[Lianachan]

Indeed. Would need Gloster Meteors at least.

[Heid the Ba]

Nothing to do with longevity, but I spent a good long while on this last night.

[Lianachan]

Some amazing pictures there! Balls of steel required.

[Heid the Ba]

I like the B52 flying below the level of the carrier desk, and the Phantoms, and the Lancaster, and the Mossie, and . . . .

[Enzo]

Wow...

[Arneb]

Wow 2

[Lance]

Wow 3

[Lance]

(If this turns into the Count to Wow game, I'm leaving.)

[Enzo]

h moM

[Мастер]

WOW

[Lance]

h moM

lol!

Wow VI

[Lianachan]

Another long serving aircraft that hadn't sprung to mind. Not the longest, but still a good innings: 1956 - present and future.

Bell Huey helicopter.

[Lance]

Bell Huey helicopter.

I can't see one of them and not hear Ride of the Valkyries in my head.

Watch on youtube.com

[Lianachan]

Ah, indeed. Great film, and a good old fashioned workhorse helicopter.

[Lance]

Ah, indeed. Great film...

Film? There was a film? What's that? I thought all Hueys just played that tune.

j/k

[Enzo]

First joke I ever sold:

What were Vic Morrow's last words?







"ow ow ow ow ow ow ow ow ..."

[Lance]

lol

[Lianachan]

Yet another that's already had a long innings.

1955 - present (and future)

[Enzo]

Oh yeah. I remember when Francis Gary Powers got himself shot down in one in 1960. it was a real big deal then.

[Heid the Ba]

Yet another that's already had a long innings.

1955 - present (and future)

Foxtrot Alpha had a good article on the U@ about a month ago. How odd, I thought I remembered Powers being shot down, but apparently I hadn't been born.