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For some context in case anyone is curious: putting together information from various websites suggests that the following is the oldest plane in commercial ser

For some context in case anyone is curious: putting together information from various websites suggests that the following is the oldest plane in commercial service today. https://m.planespotters.net/airframe/Boeing/737/5Y-CGV-Zone-Four/bAMQCBP1 https://m.planespotters.net/airframe/Boeing/737/5Y-CGV-Zone-... It is a Boeing 737-200 and it has been in service for 43.7 years.

TylerE 7y ago
Hardly. There are still DC-3's in commercial operation, and production of those ended in 1942. http://www.buffaloairways.com/ http://www.buffaloairways.com/ is one operator.
- cheerlessbog 7y ago
  They have two Curtiss C-46 from 1945. Its interesting that its cheaper to continue to pay for the maintenance and fuel than lease something more modern.
  - TylerE 7y ago
    Replacements don’t exist. Those old prop liners can operate off unimproved dirt strips, grass, even snow and ice - and off short runways too. Jets don’t like that. For back country missions the only thing maybe better than a DC-3 is a Basler... and that is a modernized DC-3 with reinforcements and turboprops for more power. They suck a lot more fuel than a plain DC3 though, which can be problematic as some of these fields they have to fly fuel in.
    - goatinaboat 7y ago
      A C130 should be a viable modern alternative for those use cases, if economic
      - TylerE 7y ago
        A fully loaded DC-3 can takeoff in just over 2000ft. A C-130 needs almost 4000ft.
        JAlexoid 7y ago
        There are no small planes that can replace DC-3. C-130 is massive!
- somecontext 7y ago
  It appears you are correct in this regard and the websites I used are not. Are there any such planes used for regular scheduled (passenger) airline services? It appears to me that Buffalo Airways is charter and cargo only.
- JAlexoid 7y ago
  They don't seem to be a scheduled service operator. They look like a charter airline. Common definition of a "commercial operation" for airlines is scheduled operation, not charters. So... That boeing just may be the oldest flying airliner on scheduled routes.

TylerE 7y ago

Hardly. There are still DC-3's in commercial operation, and production of those ended in 1942. http://www.buffaloairways.com/ http://www.buffaloairways.com/ is one operator.

cheerlessbog 7y ago
They have two Curtiss C-46 from 1945. Its interesting that its cheaper to continue to pay for the maintenance and fuel than lease something more modern.
- TylerE 7y ago
  Replacements don’t exist. Those old prop liners can operate off unimproved dirt strips, grass, even snow and ice - and off short runways too. Jets don’t like that. For back country missions the only thing maybe better than a DC-3 is a Basler... and that is a modernized DC-3 with reinforcements and turboprops for more power. They suck a lot more fuel than a plain DC3 though, which can be problematic as some of these fields they have to fly fuel in.
  - goatinaboat 7y ago
    A C130 should be a viable modern alternative for those use cases, if economic
    - TylerE 7y ago
      A fully loaded DC-3 can takeoff in just over 2000ft. A C-130 needs almost 4000ft.
      - JAlexoid 7y ago
        There are no small planes that can replace DC-3. C-130 is massive!
somecontext 7y ago
It appears you are correct in this regard and the websites I used are not. Are there any such planes used for regular scheduled (passenger) airline services? It appears to me that Buffalo Airways is charter and cargo only.
JAlexoid 7y ago
They don't seem to be a scheduled service operator. They look like a charter airline. Common definition of a "commercial operation" for airlines is scheduled operation, not charters. So... That boeing just may be the oldest flying airliner on scheduled routes.