48 Hour Photo Comp - Ageing Aircraft Audit

Communal photo threads for specific aircraft types, operators etc.
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Mictheslik
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48 Hour Photo Comp - Ageing Aircraft Audit

Post by Mictheslik »

Whilst being wowed by modern high tech airliners and fighter jets may be some people’s cup of tea, the true stars of any show or photography trip are the slightly dirty, almost knackered, workhorses that are still soldiering on years after they were originally intended to be retired.

For this competition, I’m looking for any aircraft that has been in service for more than 40 years. Anything goes....civil, military, GA etc. Only rule is that when the photo was taken, the aircraft must be older than 40 years old and still be carrying out the role for which it was built and delivered (as an example, warbirds like spitfires do not count, unless they are still actively used as fighters!)

3 photos per entry...the dirtier the better!

.mic
Last edited by Mictheslik on Fri 11 Sep 2020, 9:44 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Wrexham Mackem
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Re: 48 Hour Photo Comp - Ageing Aircraft Audit

Post by Wrexham Mackem »

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capercaillie
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Re: 48 Hour Photo Comp - Ageing Aircraft Audit

Post by capercaillie »

Good grief, that's a tough ask, especially to still be carrying out the same role as when it came into service (GA aside) as many older survivors get passed onto secondary roles. Are you looking for originality with schemes as well? For example many a bashed up French Transall about, but they have been repainted, still look bashed, but only the C-160F derived ones would count and not the C-160NG derived aircraft as they came after 1981. Starts trawling.

And be careful with regs, for example Nigel's U-2 here was built in 1984 as a TR-1A, its bashed up mind you.
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xkekeith
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Re: 48 Hour Photo Comp - Ageing Aircraft Audit

Post by xkekeith »

Here's a U-2 that fits the criteria, a 1968 fiscal machine, photographed yesterday on return from a live mission:

Image68-10337 U-2S 99 ERS USAF ver 2 by Keith Heywood, on Flickr

68-10337 U-2S aka 'Triggers Broom'

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Draken
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Re: 48 Hour Photo Comp - Ageing Aircraft Audit

Post by Draken »

That's a hard one...
1. Swiss Air Force PC-6 produced in 1967, still active.
Image

2. Cessna 310F, produced in 1961, as far as I know no reg change since first delivery - HB-LBM, still active
Image

3. The Buff - still active
Image
Last edited by Draken on Fri 11 Sep 2020, 6:19 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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PeteM
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Re: 48 Hour Photo Comp - Ageing Aircraft Audit

Post by PeteM »

Had to think hard for this one,
Last edited by PeteM on Tue 06 Oct 2020, 8:29 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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capercaillie
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Re: 48 Hour Photo Comp - Ageing Aircraft Audit

Post by capercaillie »

Right, this is tricky but here goes, not particularly bashed, but there we are,
NKC-135E Stratotanker first flew in 1957, pictured in 1997, spent its entire life as a test aircraft and test tanker, so old now it needs someone to keep its back end up 24/7.(not counting now as its a few months under 40 since its first flight)
ImageUS Air Force NKC-135E Stratotanker 55-3135 by Paul Downes, on Flickr

Hawk T1 prototype XX154 photographed on the 40th anniversary of its first flight in August 2014, spending its entire life as a test aircraft.
ImageHawk T1 XX154 ETPS Boscombe Down by Paul Downes, on Flickr

Finally delivered to the RAF as a trainer in 1944, presumably in yellow, still serving as a trainer for various test pilot courses as well as photoship and other roles at Bocombe Down, KF183 Harvard, seen in 1998
ImageHarvard IIB KF183 DRA Boscombe Down by Paul Downes, on Flickr

OK, I think this counts although not sure of exact date it became the NT-33A. Built in 1951 at Burbank, it seems it was handed over in 1952 and immediately went for conversion gaining an F-94 Starfire nose, becoming the NT-33A and used thereafter as a test simulation aircraft, its final missions before retirement flown from Edwards Air Force Base in April 1997, when this was taken, prior to attending Nellis Golden Air Tattoo. It was the oldest aircraft in the USAF inventory at the time.
Imageimg116 by Paul Downes, on Flickr
Lots of scratches...….
Last edited by capercaillie on Fri 11 Sep 2020, 11:53 am, edited 1 time in total.
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CJS
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Re: 48 Hour Photo Comp - Ageing Aircraft Audit

Post by CJS »

I'm not sure I'll get away with this one, and they're not exactly beat up, but at least some of the RAFAT Hawks were delivered in the late 1970s - XX177 in 1977 and XX325 (which was the highest serial when they displayed in 2019 so I assume is the newest aircraft) was first registered in 1980.
https://www.planelogger.com/Aircraft/Re ... 325/850631

Image
RIAT 2016 RAFAT by Chris Strawson, on Flickr

Again, not beat up, but as far as I can find out, this was first registered in 1967 with the RAAF and transferred to the Pakistanis in 2018.
http://www.c-130.net/aircraft-database/ ... ce/PAF/16/

Image
DSC05006 by Chris Strawson, on Flickr

Do they count?
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adamp89
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Re: 48 Hour Photo Comp - Ageing Aircraft Audit

Post by adamp89 »

CJS wrote:
Fri 11 Sep 2020, 11:38 am
I'm not sure I'll get away with this one, and they're not exactly beat up, but at least some of the RAFAT Hawks were delivered in the late 1970s - XX177 in 1977 and XX325 (which was the highest serial when they displayed in 2019 so I assume is the newest aircraft) was first registered in 1980.
https://www.planelogger.com/Aircraft/Re ... 325/850631
Do they count?
I know that until fairly recently, one of their aircraft was delivered to them in the original batch of hawks when they transferred to the type in 1980, but I cant remember which aircraft, or when they disposed of it, their other aircraft are ex-trainers so don't count
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Re: 48 Hour Photo Comp - Ageing Aircraft Audit

Post by Spiny Norman »

Did someone say scabby Transalls? Coming right up.

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Image

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AndyXH558
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Re: 48 Hour Photo Comp - Ageing Aircraft Audit

Post by AndyXH558 »

This skyvan surely must be over 40 years old
Image580A8429 by andrew abbott, on Flickr

ImageIMG_1324 by andrew abbott, on Flickr

Sorry can't find any dirty aircraft. but this one is old.
ImageIMG_1899 by andrew abbott, on Flickr
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Seamus
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Re: 48 Hour Photo Comp - Ageing Aircraft Audit

Post by Seamus »

This Puma was 45 years old when I shot it in 2017

ImageWestland Puma HC2 XW235 Royal Air Force SPTA 10/07/17 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

This U-2, shot this year, is a casual 52 years old

ImageLockheed U-2S | 68-10337 | US Air Force | RAF Fairford | 02/06/20 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

I think the mighty BUFF will smash any service records, this example was 57 years old when I shot her in 2017 and still going strong.

ImageBoeing B-52H Stratofortress 60-0021/LA US Air Force RAF Fairford 11/06/17 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr
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capercaillie
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Re: 48 Hour Photo Comp - Ageing Aircraft Audit

Post by capercaillie »

Seamus wrote:
Fri 11 Sep 2020, 2:23 pm

This U-2, shot this year, is a casual 52 years old
Which bits? :wink: :grinning:
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Skyflash
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Re: 48 Hour Photo Comp - Ageing Aircraft Audit

Post by Skyflash »

Image
by Gordon Duncan, on Flickr

Image
by Gordon Duncan, on Flickr

Image
by Gordon Duncan, on Flickr
Posting comments on an aviation-related chatroom, are ya? Looks like it an' all...


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Col. Chibani
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Re: 48 Hour Photo Comp - Ageing Aircraft Audit

Post by Col. Chibani »

Disapointed to learn that C160NG Transall does not qualify. They have a so lovely "battered" finish !

Looking elsewhere:
At this time (Ferté 2017) this Ju-52 was still used as an airliner:
ImageDSC_8609 by Colonel CHIBANI, sur Flickr

A Zlin at Ferté 2016, bearing the same french registration since 1967:
ImageDSC_1548 by Colonel CHIBANI, sur Flickr

A Belgian Sea King, at Ferté 2016, flying since 1976. Retired in 2019, after 12 500 hours and et 738 rescue missions:
ImageDSC_2450 by Colonel CHIBANI, sur Flickr

Andyph
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Re: 48 Hour Photo Comp - Ageing Aircraft Audit

Post by Andyph »

wasn't reading the instructions - fully - DUH!
so , second go!

Image716 (181c) by Andy Heap, on Flickr

Image223 by Andy Heap, on Flickr

ImageIMG_7746-02 by Andy Heap, on Flickr
Last edited by Andyph on Sat 12 Sep 2020, 8:26 pm, edited 3 times in total.

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Blackbird
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Re: 48 Hour Photo Comp - Ageing Aircraft Audit

Post by Blackbird »

I've opted for some civvy carriers.
1. This Dakota was built in 1943. I saw it in 2004 at Opa Locka and from the subsequent photos I have seen it is still in service and remains as active on the FAA Registry 77 years later!
ImageDouglas DC-3C Atlantic Air Cargo N705GB by Andrew Shaw, on Flickr

2. This Ju-52 was delivered to the Swiss Air Force in 1939 and served until 1985 when it was sold to Ju-Air. It is the sister aircraft to the one that crashed in August 2018. According to the most recent information I have found online Ju-Air is currently overhauling its remaining Ju-52s under the supervision of the Swiss Federal Office of Civil Aviation and they should return to the air in 2021. Seen overflying the 2015 Goodwood Revival
ImageJunkers Ju-52-3MG4E Ju-Air by Andrew Shaw, on Flickr

3. Built as a DC-6A (R6D-1) for the US Navy and delivered in May 1953, I saw this at Anchorage Int'l Airport in May 2019. I have since found out that it was written off in an accident in August 2019 but the good news is that all three crew were not injured.
ImageDouglas DC-6A Liftmaster Everts Air Cargo N451CE by Andrew Shaw, on Flickr

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Re: 48 Hour Photo Comp - Ageing Aircraft Audit

Post by FarnboroJohn »

I'll also go with BUFFs for this one, one at RIAT last year and two currently at Fairford on deployment:

Image20190720 (58)_60048_Boeing_B-52H_Stratofortress by John Dixon, on Flickr

Image20200831 (98)_60044_Boeing_B-52H_Stratofortress by John Dixon, on Flickr

Image20200831 (88)_61034_Boeing_B-52H_Stratofortress by John Dixon, on Flickr

PeterR
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Re: 48 Hour Photo Comp - Ageing Aircraft Audit

Post by PeterR »

Great theme Mic! I initially had lots of potential contenders in mind, but a bit of googling ruled out some of the planned entries as they were slightly younger than expected!

Firstly, a veteran helicopter, the Alouette III. The type first flew in 1959 and this particular machine first flew in 1969, meaning it had clocked up 47 years of service when this photo was taken at Airpower16. The Austrians still operate the type (as do the Belgians & Maltese), although it is due for replacement imminently.
Image

Secondly, an aged airliner. The Ilyushin IL-18's first flight was 1957, so this particular machine is a fairly young example of the type as it rolled out the factory in 1968. This image was taken in September 2015, and we had flown on the aircraft the day earlier which was a very enjoyable experience akin to flying in a time machine.
Image

Finally, like many others, I have to include a BUFF photo because their operational service life is simply outstanding! This airframe was delivered to the USAF in 1960, and is photographed 60 years on still performing the same role and with the same incredibly inefficient engines! Image from last week at RAF Fairford.
Image
60-0005 / United States Air Force / Boeing B-52H Stratofortress by Peter Reoch, on Flickr

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TJJ
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Re: 48 Hour Photo Comp - Ageing Aircraft Audit

Post by TJJ »

Well the oldest British airworthy aircraft is over 100 years old and still doing what it was built for!

Image

AN-2s are still great workhorses

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The Lufthansa Ju-52 was still flying passengers untile recently. When I worked just off Fleet Street I used to enjoy seeing it fly past when it was based at LCY for pleasure flights

Image
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Re: 48 Hour Photo Comp - Ageing Aircraft Audit

Post by cg_341 »

Does this count as it was a KC-135A when delivered and is probably a bit like Triggers' Broom now..!?

Image
62-3551 | Boeing KC-135R | USAF - United States Air Force by Chris Globe, on Flickr

Domvickery
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Re: 48 Hour Photo Comp - Ageing Aircraft Audit

Post by Domvickery »

Free straws available to clutch at - PM me. Inventor of the baguette scale

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Mictheslik
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Re: 48 Hour Photo Comp - Ageing Aircraft Audit

Post by Mictheslik »

Some superb entries in a tricky category (I actually originally went with 30 years, but changed it to make it a bit more difficult!)

What amazes me is how good some of these old designs are still looking!

Honourable mentions go to Preoch and AndyPh for fantastic sets of 3, and Nick for the Il-20 and the superb Puma shots from multiple posters.

However, the photo that I think truly captures the theme is blackbird’s Atlantic Air Cargo DC-3...rough, but always ready to continue dragging freight around the sky!

Over to blackbird!
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