AND FINALLY: Still being built

What is the world’s longest running production passenger aircraft?

News in this issue that Pilatus is to stop production of the legendary PT6 begs the question “what is the world’s longest running production passenger aircraft?”

The Boeing 737 first flew 9 April 1967.

The Boeing 747 maiden flight 9 February 1969.

Lockheed Hercules 23 August 1954 although this is a military transport.

Viking Twin Otter 20 May 1965 as a de Havilland Canada project.

On 13 June 1965, the first prototype BN-2 Islander conducted its maiden flight, powered by a pair of Rolls-Royce/Continental IO-360B piston engines; only four days later, the prototype appeared at the Paris Air Show.  It is still in contineous production (see in this week's BTN) with 1,280 built and airlines such as Loganair and Isles of Scilly Skybus operating small fleets in the UK.  BTN believes that this British utility aircraft is the winner. 

We invite readers to who dispute the findings to comment below.

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OUR READERS' FINEST WORDS (All times and dates are GMT)

All comments are filtered to exclude any excesses but the Editor does not have to agree with what is being said. 100 words maximum

Thomas Stocker, Switzerland Vernier/Geneva

The 6-seat Beech Bonanza V35 first flew in December 1945 and entered production in 1947. 1n 2016, 25 of its practically unchanged successor Bonanza G36 were produced and sold.

Michael Boegle, Hamburg, Germany

Provided the dates shown are correct, it should be the Viking/de Havilland Twin Otter, shouldn\'t it?

Barry Moss,

The Antonov AN-2 programme was originally launched in 1946. Whilst out of production since 2001, it looks like it may make a carbon fibre comeback