monkey wrote:

"Bjørnar Bolsøy" wrote in message ...
Ken Duffey wrote in
:

I think we agreed last time that the longest OPERATIONAL jet was
the Lockheed T-33 - which just beat the Canberra by a couple of
years.

Sure looks like the CAF had them going until last year
or so:

http://www.airforce.forces.ca/equip/equip1g_e.htm


You have to be very precise with your definition - by 'service
career' do you mean with a military arm ?? or in service with an
airline or serving with some organisation.

For example the T-6 is still 'serving' with the CAF - and I
think one is still used (in service) by the RAE at Boscombe Down
as a chase plane.

But would they count as still having a 'service career' ??

Both yes and no I guess, though my thought was "operational"
in that it has some sort of tactical role in an airforce.


Regards...

Hi

I am a pilot based at 4 Wing Cold Lake in Alberta. This wing still
flies the T-33, which should clear up some of your differences of
opinion.

OK - The Lockheed T-33 takes the prize as the JET aircraft type with the longest service career.

First flight of the T-33 was March 1948 - and it is still IN SERVICE.
First flight of the Canberra was 13 May 1949 - and it is still in front line service (as the PR-9).

But the original poster did not specify jet types - just 'aircraft type' - so that still leaves the title
open for the DC-3/C-47 and/or the T-6 Harvard/Texan.

Anyone have a first flight date for these two types - and can prove that they are still in 'service' ??

Although we still haven't defined 'service' - are we talking still serving with a military force - and, if
so, does the Commemorative Air Force count ??

Does the SAAF (South African AF) still operate C-47's ??

Does the UK Royal Aircraft Establishment (RAE - which still operates a Harvard AFAIK) count as a military
force ?

Discuss......

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Ken Duffey - Flanker Freak & Russian Aviation Enthusiast
Flankers Website - http://www.flankers.co.uk/
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