10 Classic Airliners You Can Still Fly On

Time is short for flying on classic airliners, with many now consigned to memory in the name of progress. Today, most Airbus and Boeing aircraft look alike, but we remember the days of piston and early jet airliners filling our skies with noise and smoke. All is not lost, however. Here are 10 classic airliners still going strong and flying passengers today...

Nolinor Convair 580

Built in 1956 for Braniff, this Convair 580 flies for Nolinor in Canada.

Iran Air Boeing 747SP

Via Bravo Iranian Spotters

Iran Air are the last operator of the stumpy Boeing 747SP, which was a 'Special Performance' long range version of the jumbo jet.

Perris Valley DC-9-20

Via Craig O'Brien

The DC-9-20 was a special version of the Douglas passenger jet made for Scandinavian Airlines. The only one still flying is now a parachute dropping platform at Perris Valley Skydiving in California!

EAA Ford Tri-Motor

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Henry Ford's classic American Tri-Motor airliner from 1925 was an early pioneer for passenger transport. You can still fly on this one at the Experimental Aircraft Association in Oshkosh, WI.

Next Jet BAe ATP

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The British Aerospace ATP never really reached its potential as a passenger aircraft in the regional market. Today, only one airline still flies them on passenger flights and that's Next Jet in Sweden.

Cubana Ilyushin IL-96

Via Paul Carlotti

Since Aeroflot retired their Ilyushin IL-96 aircraft recently, it leaves only one operator in the world, and that's Cubana based in Havana.

Classic Wings Dragon Rapide

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The de Havilland Dragon Rapide was an icon of early air travel. Its art deco lines and biplane wings were the epitome of style. A few companies use the type for scenic flights, including Classic Wings at Duxford in the UK.

KLM McDonnell Douglas MD-11

It seems strange to include such a relatively new aircraft as the McDonnell Douglas MD-11 in this list, but sadly only one operator still flies passengers on the type, and that's KLM based at Amsterdam. This will come to an end by the end of 2014.

Buffalo Airways Douglas DC-3

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The classic Douglas DC-3 was built in the tens of thousands and still flies on around the world with a few operators. The only airline flying the type on scheduled services is Buffalo Airways, based at Yellowknife in Canada. You have to fly a DC-3 before you die!

Skyclass Douglas DC-4

Via Steve Brimley

Skyclass of South Africa offer the last chance to fly the Douglas DC-4. It uses these classic aircraft on scenic charter flights.

Wish you could easily find out where the historic and rarer types still fly now that they're not in the big airline fleets? Last Chance to Fly is an ebook designed to give you all the information you need to seek out these aircraft for flights before they disappear from our skies for good.