oldest airplane still flying
 

I recently saw a thread on oldest airplane still flying, the bleriot was one, what do you guys think? I love to walk the antiuqe row at oshkosh. guess I am showing my age. Not a poll just friendly discussion ........dan

RE: oldest airplane still flying
 

I have seen films of a 1912 Blackburn Monoplane that is being flown occasionally at Old Wordon (the Shuttleworth Collection) in England. It may not be the oldest, but it's pretty high up on the list.

Bob

RE: oldest airplane still flying
 

Funny how we forget just how long some planes have been flying. At OSH this year they celebrated the 75th anniversary of the first flight of the DC-3. Of the 24 airplanes that made it to Rock Falls IL, the plane I crew was built in May '45, and it was the NEWEST DC-3 there. There was a 1937 vintage -3 in the pack.

As for "authentic' oldest I'd venture to guess something in the Shuttleworth collection too, probably this one:

http://www.shuttleworth.org/shuttlew...tails.asp?ID=1

RE: oldest airplane still flying
 

MajorTomski, your post made me think...

There is also a Bleriot at the Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome in Rhinebeck, NY. I've head that they only fly it on calm days, and only fly it straight ahead down the runway, just making a short hop to show that it can still take to the air.

The website states that this is the oldest flying airplane in the USA and the 2nd oldest in the world. This plane is over 100 years old and still flying!! I hope that we can all do the same!

The link (below) also has additional links to discussion about the planes aerodynamics, etc. Thanks for the reminder.

http://www.oldrhinebeck.org/index.ph...tnet&Itemid=87

Bob

RE: oldest airplane still flying
 

I came across this reference on the RHinebeck/Bleriot web page under the link entitled THE BLERIOT XI: A STUDY IN AERODYNAMICS

"The Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome Bleriot XI, of construction #56, is the oldest still-flying airframe in the US, eclipsed only by the Shuttleworth Collection’s Bleriot, which bears construction #14."

I wonder what other planes would be worth discussion? The oldest seaplane, etc.?

Bob

RE: oldest airplane still flying
 

Oldest operational warbird? MiG-21's are 50+ years old and KC-135 airframes are 1957 vintage.

Oldest certified civilian aircraft still flying?

Oldest airliner still flying the line?

Oldest airworthy helicopter?

Oldest airworthy sailplane?