The oldest operational RAF Aircraft not type but actual Aircraft?
One of the BBMF Chipmunks, serial WG486, is a bit of a 'Cold War Warrior'. I believe that the RAF Gatow Chippies, or at least one of them, took a few AK-47 rounds going about their duties?
http://www.spyflight.co.uk/chipmunk.htm
Link to image of WG486
http://www.airliners.net/photo/UK---...ada/0700015/L/
http://www.spyflight.co.uk/chipmunk.htm
Link to image of WG486
http://www.airliners.net/photo/UK---...ada/0700015/L/
effects wrote:-
The Basset XS743 first flew in Feb 1964,
The Dominie XS709 first flew in Dec 1964.
Perhaps, but the original thread was about operational RAF aircraft. The Basset does NOT fit the criteria.
The Basset XS743 first flew in Feb 1964,
The Dominie XS709 first flew in Dec 1964.
Perhaps, but the original thread was about operational RAF aircraft. The Basset does NOT fit the criteria.
Oldest current aircrew? There are at least 3 full time aviators at Linton all past 60 to varying degrees. Despite the sometimes disagreeable comments by some Pruners regarding old/reservist/civilian aircrew, all are highly regarded and doing an excellent job---which you might expect given their depth and breadth of flying and instructing.
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VC10 K4 ZD230 succumbed to the scrapman's axe a couple of years ago.
She was originally built as G-ASGA for BOAC and flew on 7 May 1964. This airframe was first example and prototype of the Super VC10, the largest jet aircraft ever built in Britain. In recent years at least, she must be a contender for the most historically significant aircraft to have been simply cut-up, with no thought of preservation.
How about individual airframes with the most hours? The VC10 fleet has some with over 50,000 hours. The TriStars must be up there too.
She was originally built as G-ASGA for BOAC and flew on 7 May 1964. This airframe was first example and prototype of the Super VC10, the largest jet aircraft ever built in Britain. In recent years at least, she must be a contender for the most historically significant aircraft to have been simply cut-up, with no thought of preservation.
How about individual airframes with the most hours? The VC10 fleet has some with over 50,000 hours. The TriStars must be up there too.
Oldest RAF Aircraft
Bit tongue in cheek this but what about
XP490 - Grasshopper TX1 Primary Glider. Rumoured to still be airworthy at RAF Watton with 611 VGS though it would be a very brave (or completely mad) pilot who would launch in it. Suspect that the Van Gelder winch would pull it apart long before it reached take off speed.
XP490 - Grasshopper TX1 Primary Glider. Rumoured to still be airworthy at RAF Watton with 611 VGS though it would be a very brave (or completely mad) pilot who would launch in it. Suspect that the Van Gelder winch would pull it apart long before it reached take off speed.
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QUOTE
I know were trying to go "green" but the RAF is taking re-cycling its ac a bit far.......time for some new kit and a few attrition replacements too, Hercs x4, Nimrod x1, Puma x4 the list goes on...
The real question though is not the individual age of certain airframes but the % Fatigue Index remaining in each fleet. I suspect that there is a lot less than everyone planned on and that with delays in new procurement (A400 M, Nimrod 4 etc.) the situation will only get worse, with little "light at the end of the tunnel"....
BYALPHAINDIA REPLY
With this The RAF is also risking Adding to it's Accident book too
I know were trying to go "green" but the RAF is taking re-cycling its ac a bit far.......time for some new kit and a few attrition replacements too, Hercs x4, Nimrod x1, Puma x4 the list goes on...
The real question though is not the individual age of certain airframes but the % Fatigue Index remaining in each fleet. I suspect that there is a lot less than everyone planned on and that with delays in new procurement (A400 M, Nimrod 4 etc.) the situation will only get worse, with little "light at the end of the tunnel"....
BYALPHAINDIA REPLY
With this The RAF is also risking Adding to it's Accident book too
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
Does this refer to the aircraft that had, at some point in its life, been operational or one that is operational at the moment?
Clearly a Chippy that patrolled Berlin was operational but the role stopped a few years ago.
Then the Bassett was an operational aircraft when it was on the Comms Sqn, if you agree that 'operational' AT tasking was operational.
The PR9 was certainly operational until retired but 47 years is a red herring. When did those PR9s first fly?
The C130K and the VC10 are really the only aircraft in the frame is you define 'operational' as operational flying and still flying.
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Resurrecting this old thread after some research for an article, I'd concur that Dominie T1 XS709 claims the prize, delivered to the RAF on 30 March 1965 and still going strong (I think).
With regard to the two strands of this thread, I'm a little dis appointed that XS 709 is a contender as, between the 7th and 25th of November 1966, I flew in XS 712 (twice) XS 713 (twice) and XS 714. Captains were: Sqn Ldr Yeardley, Flt Lt Burdett and M/P Bird.
I seem to remember that in 1980/81 there was a crew on 27 Vulcan MRR Sqn, of whom four were over 60 or pretty close to it; the co-pilot was a youthful 51. It was said that when they arrived at Hickham on a ranger they enjoyed themselves by spending their time off drinking endless g + ts in bed.
I seem to remember that in 1980/81 there was a crew on 27 Vulcan MRR Sqn, of whom four were over 60 or pretty close to it; the co-pilot was a youthful 51. It was said that when they arrived at Hickham on a ranger they enjoyed themselves by spending their time off drinking endless g + ts in bed.
Puma Serials
Dundiggin, et al
If you mean which are the Pumas written off since entering service they are: XW200, 203, 205, 211, 218, 221, 225, 227, 228, 230, 233, 234, ZA934, 938 and 941.
The caveat here is that some have been stuck together and brought back into service and several others, which were originally categorised as write-offs, have been re-examined and are to be returned to service or might be used to prime the Mark II production/update line. It follows that this list needs to be treated with caution. Certainly a couple of the Iraq losses are apparently to be repaired.
O-D
If you mean which are the Pumas written off since entering service they are: XW200, 203, 205, 211, 218, 221, 225, 227, 228, 230, 233, 234, ZA934, 938 and 941.
The caveat here is that some have been stuck together and brought back into service and several others, which were originally categorised as write-offs, have been re-examined and are to be returned to service or might be used to prime the Mark II production/update line. It follows that this list needs to be treated with caution. Certainly a couple of the Iraq losses are apparently to be repaired.
O-D
Puma XW197
Can't find XW197 in the fleet listing. Could it have been a plastic 'recruiting' Puma or perhaps a manufacturer's prototype painted up for sales/advertising purposes?
O-D
O-D
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Oldest RAF Pilot / Aircrew?
The resurection of this thread is the 1st time that I've seen it.
My nomination for the 'Oldest Pilot on the books', is MoRAF Sir Mike Beetham! I believe that his last 'mission' was in the BBMF Lancaster at Betty's Jubilee.
If you get to 5* rank, you don't retire
As for the Canberra PR9's I worked on them during my time at Akrotiri, Oct 62 to Oct 64.
They were on 13 Sqdn at the time.
My nomination for the 'Oldest Pilot on the books', is MoRAF Sir Mike Beetham! I believe that his last 'mission' was in the BBMF Lancaster at Betty's Jubilee.
If you get to 5* rank, you don't retire
As for the Canberra PR9's I worked on them during my time at Akrotiri, Oct 62 to Oct 64.
They were on 13 Sqdn at the time.
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I resemble that remark
Barksdale Boy
John Marman's crew: I was the co pilot ( 24 ) Gordon Mitchell the Nav Rad (54), Brian Olive Nav Plot ( 53 - ish), Gordon Jones AEO ( early 50s).
The original AEO had been Tom Flood ( 44 ) and when he left the crew we had various guests for a while, Jim Mooney notably from the Rowlands crew when the Sqn went to 9 crews, but GJ took over permanently in late 80.
The best description of JM came from Bolive " He's a garrulous old b8stard at the best of times".
On a Ranger I would give them a bottle of gin and 6 pack of tonic, put the jet to bed with the crew chiefs and join them later in the hotel or BOQ to clear up the empties :-)
Good times.
I seem to remember that in 1980/81 there was a crew on 27 Vulcan MRR Sqn, of whom four were over 60 or pretty close to it; the co-pilot was a youthful 51. It was said that when they arrived at Hickham on a ranger they enjoyed themselves by spending their time off drinking endless g + ts in bed.
The original AEO had been Tom Flood ( 44 ) and when he left the crew we had various guests for a while, Jim Mooney notably from the Rowlands crew when the Sqn went to 9 crews, but GJ took over permanently in late 80.
The best description of JM came from Bolive " He's a garrulous old b8stard at the best of times".
On a Ranger I would give them a bottle of gin and 6 pack of tonic, put the jet to bed with the crew chiefs and join them later in the hotel or BOQ to clear up the empties :-)
Good times.
IIRC XW198 is the oldest Puma in the fleet but there was once a XW197.
XW 203 went to 33 Sqn and was nominated as a CAAP (Components Advanced Ageing Programme) aircraft together with one of 230s and some French machines. Their job was to fly a minimum of 100 hrs/month ????????? so that with suitable monitoring the component life of important bits could be extended for the benefit of the civil market. XW203 failed miserably when it attempted a low level barrel roll as a result of something quite seriously wrong with the autopilot.
The fireball from the overload tanks in the back went between the pilot and crewman and conveniently removed most of the cockpit structure enabling them to exit straight ahead with only minor injuries.
