Gary, airplane lifespan question

[Formerly Rockymtnole]

I was on an MD-90 yesterday that was built in 1995.

I understand airplanes can last a long time, particularly long haul planes that don't undergo as many pressurization cycles. But a plane like that... aren't we getting near the end of its life (at least for daily passenger use)?

 

[FSUTribe76]

I was on an MD-90 yesterday that was built in 1995.

I understand airplanes can last a long time, particularly long haul planes that don't undergo as many pressurization cycles. But a plane like that... aren't we getting near the end of its life (at least for daily passenger use)?

There are 70+ B-52’s still in service where the newest one is from 1962.

 

[LesClaypool]

There are 70+ B-52’s still in service where the newest one is from 1962.

I don’t want to fly on any of those either.

 

[Formerly Rockymtnole]

There are 70+ B-52’s still in service where the newest one is from 1962.

Right, but I doubt those all are doing 3-4 takeoff/cycles a day.

 

[F4Gary]

All airplanes go through numerous inspections every so many flight hours. At about 2 years they go through a pretty thorough C check that takes the a/c out of service for a few days, and around 5-6 years, they go through a heavy D check. A D check it like a ground up restoration. Everything is taken apart and inspected. That takes a month or two. Usually gets a new paint job too.

 

[FreeFlyNole]

The planes in my club are from 1973, 1983, and 1986. All are in impeccable condition.

I routinely fly with my buddy who has a 1943 Stinson, it's like driving in a sweet Caddy!

 

[F4Gary]

Stinson 108 Stationwagon? Thought about buying one of those a few years back. 165 hp.

Getting some good taildragger time.

 

[Urban Cryer]

1995? That's young compared to most of the current USAF jets!

 

[RangerNole]

As someone who has flown 1000's of hours in military fixed and rotary aircraft; as well as a person who fly's commercial about 40 weeks a year. I would fly military aircraft over commercial any day of the week. The maintenance level and checks IMO are much better. Not saying commercial aircraft are unsafe or that their maintenance is sub standard; I just know more about what the military does when it comes to maintenance. I say that as a guy who has been in 3 helicopter crashes (all pilot error) and several major issues in fixed wing. Even when there was a major issue with the aircraft the military aircraft seemed to have stability to continue the mission.

 

[seminole97]

I say that as a guy who has been in 3 helicopter crashes (all pilot error) and several major issues in fixed wing.

I would like to hear your helicopter crash stories.

 

[RangerNole]

I would like to hear your helicopter crash stories.

Well only because I like you. 2 of them were nothing more than hard landings that left the helo un-flyable and gave a bunch of bruises and stiffness to those in the bird.
The major one sucked it killed a guy and trashed 2 other guys and all because some a$$ wipe pilot was trying to be cool. In SOF we do what is called a CAPEX (Capabilities Exercise), not sure if the conventional side does this too. Anyways it is basically a canned demo where we show what we can do with the various missions we are tasked with. At a CAPEX you often have politicians, a few selected reporters, legislative staff etc. Just so happened this CAPEX was during the Regan/Bush transition and incoming President Bush was present at some of the events. This put the pucker factor a little higher than normal and we were all trying to really to showcase our skills. One of the missions was a fast rope onto an objective and then hit it quick. Fast roping is essentially sliding down a fire pole; except it is a rope and you can do anywhere from 15-90 feet. It is an insertion technique that puts a bunch of Soldiers on the ground quick and replaced rappelling. We were using MH53's and CH47's the CH47 is pretty easy you go out the back ramp and no real issues, the MH53 has a tail rotor and there are some other concerns. So the pilot of the MH53 kept flaring ( this is when you come in real fast and drop the back end of the bird so when you kick the fast rope it falls naturally). A side note is back in the day you used to kick the rope and go, you didn't look to see if it hit the ground; nowadays you have a guy make sure the fast rope is on the ground. Anyways the pilot of the MH53 kept flaring really hard, he was young and wouldn't listen to us telling him you are real close to bouncing the tail boom off the ground.
Sure enough during the actual demo he bounced the tail boom off the ground and we kicked the ropes without knowing this. Between kicking the ropes and getting on them the MH53 went into an uncountable spin. First guy went out and right into the tail rotor (he gets cut in half), next guy goes out and the only thing that stopped him from getting cut in half was his SAW (Squad Automatic Weapon M249). By now the pilot realized he had an issue and did a controlled crash. The bird next to the MH53, the CH47 realized this and did everything he could to get away but he had guys on the rope so he did his best to put his bird down safely and for the most part he did it. Not that anyone dying is good but the guy that died was 90 days from getting out and this was basically his last mission.

 

[F4Gary]

I didn't think military maintenance was really any better than commercial airline maintenance.
If the jet ain't safe, I'm not flyin' it.

 

[TMDManor]

Thanks for the reassurance

 

[seminole97]

Well only because I like you.

Appreciate the recap.
Found a YouTube of a similar mishap. I was imaging the fast rope happening from a higher altitude:

 

[RangerNole]

Appreciate the recap.
Found a YouTube of a similar mishap. I was imaging the fast rope happening from a higher altitude:

View embedded media

How high is really dependent on the circumstances the ropes can range from 15 to 90 feet and I didn't see any ropes on that bird. That flair was really slow too.

 

[RangerNole]

I didn't think military maintenance was really any better than commercial airline maintenance.
If the jet ain't safe, I'm not flyin' it.

That is probably accurate and I tend to think my opinion is based on seeing the maintenance being done and knowing people that do it etc. It probably also helps that before we fly we talk to the crew, get a safety brief etc.