I'm surprised the oldest active aircraft isn't a B52
this post was submitted on 19 Jun 2026
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B-52s were built 1952-1962, but the earlier models were all retired and destroyed when nuclear disarmament treaties capped the number of bombers. Only the final production variant, the H series, from 1960-1962, remain operational.
The C-130 and U-2 families also date back to the 50’s, but again, only later production runs remain in service today. (Though these two planes remained in production much longer than the B-52 or the KC-135.)
Wow. I thought the J was already out but it’s still under development. I floors me that that last H rolled off the line in 1962, which means the airframe has been flying for at least 64 years. Granted some of the avionics have been updated but that’s still crazy.
Me too
when you keep forgetting to upgrade your old units before spending all your gold for the turn