Hello all,

Unfortunately not able to get more free time this year,
but I am going to ask a question: What rare types are available to fly over the next, say, five years? Anything kind of "unusual" will do, from 747s and MD80s to really rare stuff.

I would like to fly on Russian and Soviet planes and trijets(especially tu154) , but I don't know will all the tupolevs be retired next year or if there will ever be another opportunity to fly on one, commercially or not.

Any replies would be appreciated. Thanks

DC-9 series (MD80, B717), 747-8i, 757, A340

A340-500 (already now)

Actually, any A340 will be rare enough.

If we're talking 2022, I'd say the DL 717 and any 747, A340, or MD80. UPS also has a huge fleet of A300's which are still fairly common as well. In theory 757's and 767's would also be part of this list for their age, but they're such niche aircraft that with no serious replacement, I don't see them being retired any time soon.

Cubana still has a TU-204 and a few IL-96.

the original 777-200
current operators: UA/BA/TG/JL/NH/CX
it will probably be gone by that time

TheEuphorian wrote:

the original 777-200
current operators: UA/BA/TG/JL/NH/CX
it will probably be gone by that time

Not for UA for sure, that will hang tough for a while; and probably won't for NH and JL (but that might change).

Michael

762 passenger version (4 active)
762ER passenger version (13 active)
762ER cargo version (4 active)
763 passenger version (30 active)

A318
B757-300
B773 (No ER)
F100

Motor Sich still flies An-24s out of IEV

eamondzhang wrote:

TheEuphorian wrote:

the original 777-200
current operators: UA/BA/TG/JL/NH/CX
it will probably be gone by that time

Not for UA for sure, that will hang tough for a while; and probably won't for NH and JL (but that might change).

Michael

CX one will definitely be gone by then - they are being replaced by second hand 773A literally right now.

JL one will probably be gone by 2022 with A359 and older 772ER replacing them.

neomax wrote:

If we're talking 2022, I'd say the DL 717 and any 747, A340, or MD80. UPS also has a huge fleet of A300's which are still fairly common as well. In theory 757's and 767's would also be part of this list for their age, but they're such niche aircraft that with no serious replacement, I don't see them being retired any time soon.

717 are likely to be still around. Even if DL start to retire them, either HA or some Austrlian airlines will buy them up (in the latter case, replacing those F100s). MD80s and MD90s, though, will get extremely rare.

zakuivcustom wrote:

CX one will definitely be gone by then - they are being replaced by second hand 773A literally right now.

JL one will probably be gone by 2022 with A359 and older 772ER replacing them.

Yep CX will be gone. JL not too sure as 772ERs will most likely not replacing them (being refurbished with new international cabin fleetwide right now and they publicly said they need more intl birds). I've heard A359 could be domestic birds (first A350-942s) but we still have to wait for the birds to roll out to see.

Michael

In addition to those types mentioned, by 2022 I anticipate that the following will also be rare in pax service:

Airbus 300-600
Airbus 310-300
Airbus 321-100
ATR 72-200
BAe Jetstream Family
BAe 146 / Avro RJ Family
Boeing 737-200
Boeing 737-600
CRJ 100 / 200 / 440
ERJ 140
Fokker 50

I don't fully agree that the A340 (300 or 600) will be *that* rare by 2022, or the F100, but later in the decade yes they will be.

The BAe-146/RI few left in passenger configuration in Europe. Only two operators in Canada none in the US except for fire fighting version. Wish the two operators in Canada flew scheduled flights and not just charters so one last chance at flying the 146 can be had.

I'm always surprised how infrequently the A310 is brought up in this sort of topic. There's only one airline flying it in the west in a passenger configuration.

jed747 wrote:

The BAe-146/RI few left in passenger configuration in Europe. Only two operators in Canada none in the US except for fire fighting version. Wish the two operators in Canada flew scheduled flights and not just charters so one last chance at flying the 146 can be had.

First Air(7F) has a flight operated by RJ85/100 from Summit Air YZF-YRT-YFB-YRT-YZF 4 times weekly. Prices aren't cheap, $1500 or so YZF-YFB, not to mention getting to those two stations. However, looks like they also operate the occasional YEG-YZF or YZF-YEG, most likely as positioning legs, or as a final leg on their YFB-YRT-YZF run. For example, looks like on 21AUG you can fly YEG-YZF for $410, or YZF-YEG on 22AUG for $385. Flight number on the 21st is 7F959, 22nd is 7F956, which originates in YFB. Looks like there's another 959 YEG-YZF on the 23rd, 29th, and 30th and another 956 to YEG on the 27th and 29th.

So, not entirely frequent, and it will take a bit of logistical planning, but you can still fly one if you really desire. You'd need to get to YEG or YZF first, but YEG has decent service, and YZF you'll likely have to connect through YEG anyways-believe the main carriers are AC, WS, 7F and 5T -though I believe AC and WS serve it all with Q400's at this point, whereas 5T you get the 737-200 or -300 (More frequently the 300, though the 200 did operate AUG 6+13 if Flightaware is to be trusted) and 7F operates it on the ATR42, which is a bit of a rare type in Canada compared to the ubiquitous Q400. So if you're going out of your way to fly oddball types, might as well try and avoid a Q400

eamondzhang wrote:

TheEuphorian wrote:

the original 777-200
current operators: UA/BA/TG/JL/NH/CX
it will probably be gone by that time

Not for UA for sure, that will hang tough for a while; and probably won't for NH and JL (but that might change).

Michael

BA's three are due to be withdrawn in 2020.

The 737 classic (300/400/500) will become pretty rare the following years. The ones that are left are quickly approaching their retirement age.

B738 non winglet.

Saab 340
Saab 2000
Will become very rare as well.

FlyRow wrote:

Saab 340
Saab 2000
Will become very rare as well.

At least it will be done here for a while as Rex will fly them to the ground.

Michael

Yes the Saabs will fly until they are 30-40 years old - still loads of life left in them. One of the big considerations is just what you can replace them with, if you actually need a 30 seater, and an upgauge to 50-70 seats is not viable.

PatrickZ80 wrote:

The 737 classic (300/400/500) will become pretty rare the following years. The ones that are left are quickly approaching their retirement age.

I've been on a few of those, and I've been on the 777-200 and A310.

After this year, will there be a chance to fly on a Tu-154? I've never been on this one before. Thanks

embraer420 wrote:

PatrickZ80 wrote:

The 737 classic (300/400/500) will become pretty rare the following years. The ones that are left are quickly approaching their retirement age.

I've been on a few of those, and I've been on the 777-200 and A310.

After this year, will there be a chance to fly on a Tu-154? I've never been on this one before. Thanks

TU-154 is already tough to get on - now -
But other "Soviet/Russian" types may be around for some time.
Don´t know where you´re based but in Ukraine there´s an airline called Motor Sich that operates AN-24/AN-140/AN-74/YAK-40 on scheduled flights although AN-74 and YAK-40 are more kind of a substitute if the need arises ...
If you´re from the U.S. going to Ukraine might be a solution to avoid the visa hassle of going to Russia and Motor Sich has a proper working website in English where you can book their flights without trouble.

P.S.: Last september 2017 I flew on their 1971 AN-24 (in really good and well maintained shape ...) and I am going to fly M9 again in 4 weeks trying to score their AN-74 and AN-140.