The Boeing 757 is the aircraft airlines are trying to replace. This plane could do short-, medium-, and long-haul missions. However, some airlines are hanging on to these planes a little longer. Here’s a look at the oldest Boeing 757s currently in operation.
The oldest Boeing 757s fill unique roles
A list of all Boeing 757s ever produced can be found at Planespotters. The first Boeing 757 to ever roll off the assembly line, N757A, is still in operation. Although, it is not quite what you may think. Boeing retains the 38-year-old aircraft as a testbed. According to The Aviationist, this aircraft is used to test fighter jet avionics and sensors. If you see the plane, you’ll notice that it has a few accessories compared to a traditional 757.
Another 37-year-old Boeing 757, registered as N757HW, flies as a testbed for Honeywell International. Known as the “Connected Aircraft,” the 757 helps Honeywell develop new technologies to support decision-making processes and reduce operational costs for airlines.
Plenty of old 757s are freight aircraft
Much like old aircraft around the world, most of the oldest Boeing 757s still in service are flying as freight aircraft. FedEx has a 37-year-old Boeing 757 (N935FD) that first flew for Monarch Airlines before being turned into a freighter. The next oldest FedEx 757 is a 35-year-old plane that also first flew for Monarch Airlines. This aircraft is registered as N936FD.
The oldest passenger 757s
The largest passenger operator of the Boeing 757s is Atlanta-based Delta Air Lines. However, Delta does not operate the oldest passenger 757s. Jet2, a British airline, flies a 33-year-old Boeing 757 registered as G-LSAH. This aircraft is currently stored, but it was still flying passengers before the crisis in March. Next up is G-LSAI, which is also the same age as the preceding aircraft and has also currently been stored. Slightly younger at 32-years-old are G-LSAE and G-LSAB.
The oldest Boeing 757s at Delta do not regularly fly passengers. Instead, N649DL, N650DL, N651DL, and N652DL are all 31-year-old 757s in an all-business configuration that are available for charter.
The oldest 757 in passenger operation in the United States flies for United Airlines. N502UA is a 31-year-old Boeing 757. However, it is currently stored at Roswell, awaiting its final fate. Just a few months younger is N505UA that is also presently stored.
The oldest Boeing 757 flying commercial passenger services for Delta is N658DL. This aircraft is 30 years old and has been with the airline for its entire life. Other 30-year-old 757s include N659DL and N660DL.
Overall
Most of the older Boeing 757s have gone on to be scrapped or stored – unlikely to fly passengers again. One 757, in particular, is N608DA that is preserved and housed at the Delta Flight Museum as a testament to the aircraft’s history and presence in the airline’s fleet.
The 757 has served plenty of roles. It is a trusty short- and medium-haul aircraft that is perfect for more dense configurations. However, the jet can also support premium configurations on long-haul routes.
But, as the current crisis continues to unfold, it is unclear exactly how many of these aircraft will be flying in a year.
What are your earliest memories of the 757? Do you like the aircraft? Let us know in the comments!