The United States Air Force operates a number of old aircraft types. That said, it is important to keep in mind that there is a difference between old aircraft types and old airframes. For example, the tanker workhorse, the KC-135 Stratotanker, has some of its very first airframes in service that are now 68 years old.

On the other hand, most of the old Lockheed C-130 Hercules airframes have been retired, but the type remains in production as the upgraded C-130J Super Hercules. This means that while the type is one of the oldest in the USAF, some of the airframes are among the newest. Here are some of the oldest aircraft types in the USAF.

10

McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle

First introduced in 1976

The McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle is the oldest fighter jet in service in the USAF. It was first introduced in 1976 after achieving its maiden flight in 1972. The Air Force’s old C/D models are being phased out.

The type remains in production as the Boeing F-15EX, although it is substantially a new aircraft with superficial resemblance to the original aircraft. This is similar to how the Super Hornet is essentially a new aircraft compared with the Hornet.

The US is currently working to ramp up production of the F-15EX. Not only are the USAF and Israel purchasing more of the jets, but Saudi Arabia is also reportedly negotiating to purchase another 60 examples. It will remain in production well into the 2030s.

9

Lockheed C-5 Galaxy

First introduced in 1970

The Lockheed C-5M Super Galaxy remains the largest aircraft in USAF service. The type was first developed by Lockheed in the 1960s before entering service in 1970.

All but two of the original C-5As have been retired, with the USAF operating two former C-5A airframes specifically modified for carrying outsized cargo; the rest are all C-5B airframes built in the 1980s.

The Super Hercules is expected to remain in service for decades to come, and there are no current programs to find a replacement. Despite Lockheed’s efforts, the C-5 never came in a civilian variant and was never exported.

8

Boeing E-4 « Doomsday »

First introduced in 1970 (as 747-200) / 1974 as E-4

Like the Air Force One VC-25As, the E-4 « Doomsday » strategic command and control military aircraft is based on the Boeing 747-200. The military aircraft was first introduced in 1974, making it a little older than the F-16 Fighting Falcon and A-10 Warthog in USAF service.

These are command centers for the US President and other top officials and are designed to operate in the event of a nuclear war, enabling the President to remain in command of US forces and coordinate the response.

SNC is currently developing the replacement for these aircraft based on ex-Korean Air Boeing 747-8 Jumbos. The successor is called the SNC E-4C Survivable Airborne Operations Center, but is not expected to enter service until 2032.

7

Northrop T-38 Talon

First introduced in 1961

The Northrop T-38 Talon is a two-seat twinjet supersonic jet trainer variant of the Northrop F-5 light fighter. The aircraft remains in use as the USAF’s primary advanced trainer, although it is set to be replaced by the incoming T-7A Red Hawk.

As a trainer, it first flew in 1959 and was introduced in 1961, while the F-5 light was first introduced in 1954. The F-5 was smaller and simpler compared with contemporaries like the McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II, and became a popular choice by air forces with constrained budgets.

While the USAF is the T-38A’s main operator, it is also used by NASA and the US Navy. Separately, the Navy has also begun efforts to find a replacement for the jet. The type has been in service for more than 60 years now.

6

Bell UH-1 Iroquois

First introduced in 1959

While the US Army was always the primary operator of the Bell UH-1 Iroquois helicopter made famous by the Vietnam War, the aircraft was also in service with the US Air Force.

The UH-1 remained in USAF service until September 2025. The last flight was ceremonially flown by the 459th Airlift Squadron at Yokota Air Base in Japan. While it is now retired, at the time of writing, it is still listed, having been retired so recently.

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The « Huey » utility helicopter was first introduced in 1959 and remained in production until 1987. Over 16,000 of the ubiquitous helicopters were produced.

5

Boeing E-3 Sentry

First introduced in 1958 (as 707) / 1977 as E-3

The E-3 Sentry fleet is the ‘eyes in the skies’ and the primary AWACS aircraft of the USAF. It is expected to be replaced by the E-7 Wedgetail, although that program is now in doubt after the Air Force announced it wanted to cancel it.

The E-3 was first introduced in 1977 and is based on the Boeing 707. Notably, the Boeing 707 airliner first flew in 1857 before entering service with Pan Am in 1958.

The Boeing 707 remains in service with the US Navy as the Boeing E-6 Mercury. One variant, the Boeing C-137 Stratoliner, was even used as the VIP Presidential « Air Force One » transport aircraft before they were replaced by the current Boeing 747 VC-25 transports.

4

Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker

First introduced in 1957

The Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker aerial tanker has a few notable attributes. While some old aircraft types are on the verge of retirement (like the Lockheed U-2) or occupy a somewhat niche role (like the B-52), the KC-135 is central to the USAF’s ability to project power.

Not only is the type one of the oldest in the United States Air Force, but also the airframes are the oldest. The oldest KC-135 in active service has the tail number 57-1419 and was built in 1957, the same year the type entered service.

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While the Boeing KC-46A (based on the 767) is currently partially replacing the KC-135, it will not fully replace it. Some old KC-135s are being gradually phased out, but the type may not be fully retired until after 1950. It seems that the KC-135 is one of the very rare aircraft types that has a non-zero chance of reaching 100 (although that might be unlikely).

3

C-130 Hercules

First introduced in 1956

The Lockheed C-130 Hercules is another aircraft type that first entered service in the 1954s. The Hercules first flew in 1954, ahead of entering service in 1956. The type became « the » tactical airlifter of the US military and its allies and partners.

An extremely versatile aircraft, the Hercules has been modified into electronic warfare aircraft, aerial tankers, gunships, Hurricane Hunters, and much more. Over 2,500 C-130 Hercules were produced, plus more than 500 C-130J Super Hercules.

The Super Hercules is expected to remain in production until long after 2030 and will continue to be the backbone of many countries’ tactical airlift capacities for decades. The C-130/C-130J is perhaps the only aircraft type on this list that is all but guaranteed to be in service for over 100 years. It has been in production for over 70 years and will remain in production for the foreseeable future.

2

Lockheed U-2

First introduced in 1956

The Lockheed U-2 « Dragon Lady » is one of the most iconic spy aircraft of the Cold War, and it rose to fame by photographing the Soviet missile launch sites in Cuba that triggered the Cuban Missile Crisis. For years, the remaining Dragon Ladies have been flirting with retirement, but for now at least, they remain in service.

Multiple U-2s were downed by enemy surface-to-air fire (including in 1960 and 1962). This means they are thoroughly obsolete in contested airspace, but they remain useful and relevant in low-threat environments over parts of the Middle East or even patrolling the southern border.

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The Lockheed U-2 was a black box program that first flew in 1955 and entered service in 1956. The Dragon Ladies remaining in service are not the old original airframes, but are the later examples built in the 1980s. The last U-2 aircraft was produced in 1989, meaning that the newest U-2 airframe is not exceptionally old.

1

Boeing B-52 Stratofortress

First introduced in 1955

The Boeing B-52 Stratofortress is remarkable not only for its age, but also that the Air Force has no intention of giving them up any time soon. They are currently set to be upgraded, including with new Rolls-Royce engines, to the B-52J variant. This variant is expected to enter service in 2033.

The type first flew in 1952 and entered service in 1962. B-52s remained in production between 1952 and 1962, with the airframes today being the later production models. While B-52s are no longer able to operate over contested airspace, they are able to carry large amounts of standoff munitions and fire them from outside contested airspace.

As the next-generation B-21 Raider enters service and is delivered in large enough numbers, the B-52s’ erstwhile successor, the B-1 Lancer, will be retired in the 2030s. Beyond that, the B-52’s on-time successor’s successor, the B-2 Spirit, is expected to retire in the 2040s. Finally, the B-52 is expected to serve alongside the B-21 into the 2050s.