This question was asked just the other day; Why would I fly an 80-year -old airplane?
The easiest answer is because I can; yet that doesn’t tell the whole story.
There is a whole subculture of pilots and aircraft owners who love their antique or classic planes and fly them wherever and whenever they can — and the older the better.
The truth be told, my 1947 Stinson 108-2 is only 78 and I’ve flown it for 30 plus years but unlike me, it is still going strong. However, the eldest two airplanes that I have been privileged to fly was built in 1938, a Piper J-3 and a 1938 Beechcraft D17 Staggerwing. Then there was the Finch 16D built in 1939 and then led a hard life in the military as a trainer during WW2. There was a 1946 Piper J-5 and a 1948 Champ 7DC followed by an 83-year-old 1941 Porterfield that after the Stinson is my personal favourite. I’m sure that you can tell from the above that I do have a bias towards older taildraggers but think of the bragging rights.
Let’s look at some of the ages of some other airplanes whose names you will recognise.
DH Beavers built in 1948 are still out there hard at work every day. Another of note is that the RCAF currently fly the CF18 fighter jet built back in 1982, some 42 years ago. At least one is a museum piece. The Douglas DC3’s first flight was in 1935 (84 years ago) and several of them are still working worldwide. Flight schools in Canada regularly use Cessnas that are older than many of their students. The first C150 was built in 1957 and is now 67 and the later C152 that came out twenty years later in 1977 is a mere 47. The American military fly a bomber that is a senior citizen; their B52 is 66 years old and still going strong. I do admit that older but pampered antiques are flown only on nice days while some are taken on long cross-country flights from all over the continent to Oshkosh, Wisconsin every year where hundreds of similar aircraft meet.
Safety is an issue that must concern us all; however, I personally feel more secure in a well cared for antique or classic because I’m confident that the owner of that airplane probably spends more time maintaining and pampering it than flying; therefore, it is more likely to be in a good, safe condition.
For a little contrast, think about driving a classic car. How do you feel about going down the freeway at 110 kph in a car with no seatbelts and a speedometer that reads in mph, no airbags or God forbid, one with no screen to tell where you might be going, that you are driving too fast or too close to the car in front and no GPS to hint at how to get there. That 67 Mustang in my neighbour’s driveway is 57 years old and yet it’s driven regularly by an 80-year-old who doesn’t seem concerned.
In conclusion, while there is a common opinion that flying is too expensive and no doubt one could make a case for that, you can often buy a certified, airworthy antique or classic for significantly less than the price of a good used car.
