Longest serving aircraft Mark?

[ShyTorque]

Another recent thread got me thinking about the Puma HC1's long career with the RAF. So far it's 36 years and still there is no sign of them being replaced.

While this is quite remarkable, I'm sure this isn't necessarily the longest serving single mark of aircraft. Any advance on this?

[PPRuNeUser0211]

Canberra PR9? First entered service in about 1960, iirc? And left service in (was it 05 or 06?). That makes a good solid 45/46 years in my maths.

[vecvechookattack]

Seaking entered service in 1969...OSD ?????...Gawd knows.

[Beeayeate]

pba may have misread but a Canberra still fits the bill. WJ874 was a T.4 taken on RAF charge in December 1954. Left RAF service November 2005 - that's 49 years!
And, this airframe is still extant - Air Atlantique now own it. Affectionately known as "The Blue One", it was painted to represent the prototype VN799.


Edited to note that vecvec has changed the gist of his post so my first sentence now means nothing!

[Jackonicko]

He said single mark, not initial service mark, so PR9 seems like a good answer.

If you did want an initial service mark then the Canberra B.Mk 2 (there was no Mk 1!) served from 1951 until at least 1993, while the Hercules C.Mk 1 must be doing rather well, and the VC10 C.Mk 1, too.

[pr00ne]

Chipmunk T10

[PPRuNeUser0211]

Indeed I was referring to the PR9 specifically, not the rest of the fleet.... hence the 1960ish referral...

Think we have a winner with the Chippy though!

[BossEyed]

Harvard IIB KF183 is still in service doing a useful job as photo chase etc at Boscombe Down, beside which a Chipmunk is a mere stripling!

[mikip]

Technically the BBMF aircraft are still in RAF service aren't they?

[L J R]

BBMF a clear winner here.

[ZH875]

Originally Posted by L J R

BBMF a clear winner here.

Does a break in service count, as the Lancaster did not join BBMF until 1973, having effectively finished her service around 1964.

Spitfire:
P7350 had a career break from 1948 to 1968.
AB910 had a career break from 1947 to 1965
EN951 has a break of sorts between 1943 and ??
MK356 had a 53 year break until 1997
PM631 has been in service since 1945.
PS915 had a 30 year break.

Hurricane:
LF363 was in service from 1944 to 1991 and from 1998
PZ865 entered service in 1972.

So to be a record holder, PM631 looks like the one to beat.

[timex]

What about the Swordfish at VL?

This aircraft, a "Blackfish" built by Blackburn Aircraft at Sherburn-in-Elmet, first flew on Trafalgar Day (21 October) 1941. She served with the Mediterranean Fleet for a year and was returned to Fairey's Stockport factory for refurbishment. Used for advanced flying training and trials, the aircraft was sent to Canada where it was again used in a training role and stored in reserve after the war's end. Passing through the hands of at least two civilian operators after disposal, she was purchased by Sir William Roberts and brought to Scotland to join his Strathallan Collection. Bought by British Aerospace for presentation to the Swordfish Heritage Trust, the partly-restored airframe went to BAe Brough for complete restoration to flying condition, the work being completed in 1993.

Shaun

[ZH875]

The Swordfish has had a long service break,

Passing through the hands of at least two civilian operators after disposal...Strathallan Collection (1971)....complete restoration to flying condition, the work being completed in 1993.

So it still lags a long way behind PM631 for continuous service.

[ShyTorque]

Some good ideas folks, however I was rather thinking of continuous squadron operational service, so BBMF etc aren't really in the frame as they are preserved examples. I should have made that clear.

[green granite]

Does a break in service count, as the Lancaster did not join BBMF until 1973, having effectively finished her service around 1964.

The Lancaster was flying out of Waddo in the late 60's. If I remember correctly the pilot was Sqd Ldr Stanley who was Sqd Ldr Ops at the time, and it was nominally on 44's charge

[ZH875]

Canberra T17 WD 955 (Echo Mike), a Mk B2 built in November 1951 and converted to a Mk T17 in January 1968 was on strength when 360Sqn disbanded in 1994, so had an operational career of approx 43 years, XH135 and XH168 (PR9) had around 47 years.

WH849 (T4) had over 50 Years in service.


How long will the Typhoon last (or have to last)?

[Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaargh!]

...well technically, as the question didn't omit breaks in service and also didn't omit entirely different airframes, that would make the Typhoon the current winner, spanning 1943 ish to the current date and beyond





I win

[ZH875]

Originally Posted by Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaargh!

...well technically, as the question didn't omit breaks in service and also didn't omit entirely different airframes, that would make the Typhoon the current winner, spanning 1943 ish to the current date and beyond
I win

I think the Nimrod (Hawker Nimrod 1932) and Nimrod MRA4 span far outclasses the Typhoon.


Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaargh!;, you lose.

[Pontius Navigator]

Originally Posted by ZH875

Does a break in service count, as the Lancaster did not join BBMF until 1973, having effectively finished her service around 1964.

The Lancaster did not have a break in service.

It had a break in RAF service then it was refurbished at Waddington in 67 and I flew in it in the 68 and 69 seasons. It was not part of the Coltishall BBMF but we flew several displays with Hurricane and Spitfire.

[Pontius Navigator]

Originally Posted by green granite

The Lancaster was flying out of Waddo in the late 60's. If I remember correctly the pilot was Sqd Ldr Stanley who was Sqd Ldr Ops at the time, and it was nominally on 44's charge

"Dad" was one of the pilots and the one I flew with most after Ken Haywood retired. Both Ken and John S had claimed the right to fly the Lanc based on previous operational flying and they being on the GSU.

Dad had stretched the truth as he had been a Spitfire pilot not a Lancaster one. Boots Griffiths was also a pilot and later Mike D'Arcy. Dad and Mike had a go at killing me in the Lanc. In all Dad had about 4 goes at me.

On one occaision he almost parked the Hurricane in the hole made by the French Atlantic at Farnborough.

After Dad Ken Sneller became the pilot.