Are any "Government Owned" vintage aircraft flying today?

Franklin · **Joined:** Sat Mar 19, 2011 3:53 pm **Posts:** 183

And what I mean is ... Are there any Government owned retired from service vintage aircraft still flying today. Specifically still government owned and operated and retired from active service still flying that are not loaned to any private entity. Even though it's a Navy ship, what comes to mind is the USS Constitution. But I just remembered it's still on active duty. I can't think of anything flying that would qualify as such.

Invader26 · **Joined:** Wed Aug 11, 2010 7:56 am **Posts:** 843

RAF Battle of Britain Flight Lancaster/C-47/Hurricane/Spitfire
RAAF Museum Mustang

I'm sure there are others..

Franklin · **Joined:** Sat Mar 19, 2011 3:53 pm **Posts:** 183

Invader26 wrote:

RAF Battle of Britain Flight Lancaster/C-47/Hurricane/Spitfire
RAAF Museum Mustang

I'm sure there are others..

Sorry mate! how rude of me to forget this is an international website. I was thinking USA only. My bad ... Hope I didn't start an international incident ... :oops:

Jollygreenslugg · **Posted:** Thu Apr 14, 2011 6:58 pm

CAC Mustang A68-170? It's at the RAAF Museum, Point Cook. I'm not sure of its ownership, but it could be a candidate...

Cheers,
Matt

warbirdcrew · **Posted:** Thu Apr 14, 2011 7:03 pm

The Canadian government's National Research Council still operates a Harvard IV for flight research.

P51Mstg · **Joined:** Tue Jan 25, 2005 11:36 am **Posts:** 1202

USAF B-52s.........

Mark H

Franklin · **Joined:** Sat Mar 19, 2011 3:53 pm **Posts:** 183

warbirdcrew wrote:

The Canadian government's National Research Council still operates a Harvard IV for flight research.

Wouldn't that constitute still on active duty?

JDK · **Posted:** Thu Apr 14, 2011 7:11 pm

As touched on already - the BBMF is an RAF (British Government) unit. The RAAF Museum's Mustang is an RAAF asset, and owned by the Commonwealth through the Australian Defence Forces. As are the CT-4, Winjeel and Tiger Moth.

Not sure of the current status of the South African Mustang - anyone?

Boscombe Down operated a couple of, later one Harvard. Not sure of current status. I also think that the Martin Baker Meteors are owned by the Ministry of Supply, rather than MB - but I'm not certain off the cuff. However these, like the Canadian NRC Harvard are in current jobs, rather than commemorative roles. Still working's a longer list, including Daks (such as the FAA C-47 usually seen at Oshkosh?) etc, etc...

AFAIK, apart from legacy types still fulfilling current roles, the only US Government owned airworthy machine I've heard of would've been the not-widely-publicised NAA T-6 of the USAF Museum some years ago. Other offers welcome!

No international incident, but there's more to warbirds than any one country can offer.

Franklin · **Joined:** Sat Mar 19, 2011 3:53 pm **Posts:** 183

P51Mstg wrote:

USAF B-52s.........

Mark H

Nope! still on active duty

Franklin · **Joined:** Sat Mar 19, 2011 3:53 pm **Posts:** 183

JDK wrote:

AFAIK, apart from legacy types still fulfilling current roles, the only US Government owned airworthy machine I've heard of would've been the not-widely-publicised NAA T-6 of the USAF Museum some years ago. Other offers welcome!

No international incident, but there's more to warbirds than any one country can offer.

And happily so ... We yanks need all the help we can get, in more ways than one. :wink:

dc8jet · **Posted:** Thu Apr 14, 2011 7:24 pm

FAA DC-3 N34?

Franklin · **Joined:** Sat Mar 19, 2011 3:53 pm **Posts:** 183

Invader26 wrote:

RAF Battle of Britain Flight Lancaster/C-47/Hurricane/Spitfire

The BBMF pilots, would they be current active duty or retired RAF pilots? Or both? or none?

jaldo · **Joined:** Tue Sep 13, 2005 4:33 pm **Posts:** 175

Mexico's Stearmans

JDK · **Posted:** Thu Apr 14, 2011 8:22 pm

Franklin wrote:

The BBMF pilots, would they be current active duty or retired RAF pilots? Or both? or none?

The BBMF aircrew and groundcrew are serving RAF men and women, and the BBMF is a unit posting, mostly like any other. Some crew stay longer on posting, given the nature of unit expertise, and the unique nature of the job.

The RAAF Museum's pilots are RAAF Reserve officers, and there's one serving 'Opso' RAAF Operations Officer posted to the unit who is usually one of the pilots.

k5083 · **Posted:** Thu Apr 14, 2011 8:36 pm

Arguably the USAF heritage flight F-4s would qualify, as they are maintained only for historical display purposes.

The Snowbirds CT-114s are getting awfully close to qualifying!

August

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