Book Now: 12 Rare and Historic Flights to Take This Summer

The world of aviation is turning increasingly towards modern airliner types, like those from the stables of Airbus, Boeing and Embraer.

It is more common now to see an A320 or 737 family aircraft than any other type at most of the world’s major airports.

Whilst these aircraft are incredibly modern, efficient and offer the best in comfort and technology, it’s not quite the same as the old days of noisy engines, unusual designs and the treat for the senses that came with flying on an older jet or prop.

With countries like Iran and Russia largely out of reach for most travellers, the opportunities to fly on some of these older types – especially those from Soviet design bureaus – are now much more limited.

But there are still some interesting flights on older airliners that you can take this summer. We’ve put together these 12 suggestions:

Airbus A318

Air France is still the largest operator of the smallest in the A320 family. With its aircraft being retired in favour of modern Airbus A220s, now is the time to book a flight on an A318.

Air France currently flies the type on routes out of  Paris Charles de Gaulle to Amsterdam, Florence, Milan Linate, Venice and Zurich, as well as Paris Orly to Toulouse and Marseille.

TAROM also still flies the A318 for the time being!

Antonov An-24

With Russia and Ukraine out of the picture, one of the best opportunities to still fly on an Antonov An-24 turboprop airliner is in Kazakhstan.

Welcoming to foreigners and fairly easy to get to, once there you can book domestic legs on Southern Sky, a partner of SCAT Airlines, and fly their historic aircraft on routes between Balkhash, Semey and Urzhar from Almaty and Astana.

Beechcraft 18

Photo (c) Jack Snell

A pioneering small passenger transport aircraft, the Beech 18 could once be found in great numbers around the world.

One place where you can book a flight on one of these classic aircraft is with Vintage Aircraft based in Stockton, CA. You can book a scenic flight at http://www.twinbeech.com/

Beechcraft 99

Another rarer Beechcraft type is the Model 99, which was once a popular commuter aircraft but has now largely disappeared from our skies.

Flamingo Air in the Bahamas, however, still flies the type from Grand Bahama Airport on scheduled and charter services around the island group.

Boeing 737-200

Photo (c) Aero Icarus

Avior Airlines in Venezuela just refurbished one of its Boeing 737-200 aircraft, introducing a smart new livery and reintroducing the now historic type into its domestic network.

Tracking it down can be difficult when the airline’s schedule is mixed up with other types, but it is possible.

Other Venezuelan airlines also fly the type, like Venezolana Airlines.

British Aerospace 146

Few BAe 146 aircraft are still in service, but it is possible to find them.

In South America, you’ll find an airline called Aerovias DAP which uses both the BAe 146-100 and -200 on domestic routes out of Punta Areanas, as well as on some international services to destinations in Argentina like Ushuaia.

The airline is also often contracted to use these aircraft on charters between South America and Antarctica in the summer months. So if you want to visit this continent, this is a great way to do so. It flies the services under the brand Antarctic Airways.

de Havilland DH.89 Dragon Rapide

A classic early airliner from Britain. The Dragon Rapide was used on early international services out of places like Croydon Airport, as well as on domestic routes.

Today Classic Wings keeps some of these vintage aircraft alive and offers pleasure flights in the summer months out of Duxford Airfield near Cambridge, UK. See www.classic-wings.co.uk

Duxford in itself is worth a visit, as home to the Imperial War Museum and its amazing collection of aircraft.

Douglas DC-3

Photo (c) Bill Geoghegan

There are thankfully still a few operators around the world with heritage DC-3 aircraft offering pleasure and sightseeing flights, even if none fly schedules any more.

This summer marks the last season for the Dutch Dakota Association’s DC-3 in the Netherlands, but it seems all flights are fully booked.

Another option, based with the Yankee Air Museum, offers flights from various airports across the US. You can book flights here: https://yankeeairmuseum.org/fly/#c47

Embraer 120 Brasilia

Another aircraft which once dominated commuter fleets around the world, but is now sadly much rarer.

The Embraer 120 Brasilia can still be found with a few airlines in Africa and the Caribbean, as well as with AirNorth in Australia.

In Europe, you can book to fly the Brasilia with Aeroexpress Regional which flies between Budapest, Hungary and Cluj-Napoca in Romania. See https://aeroexpress-regional.hu/

Fokker 50

populAir is the regional passenger airline brand of AmapolaFlyg in Sweden. It operates the Fokker 50 on essential services to remote destinations from Malmo and Stockholm Arlanda, as well as Helsinki in Finland.

Elsewhere, it’s still common to find the Fokker 50 operating in Africa, particularly in Kenya.

Ford Tri-Motor

Photo (c) D. Mille

A true icon of early air travel, the Ford Tri-Motor was an all-metal, three engine piston aircraft which was once used on flights around the country.

Today, the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) maintains one of these classic aircraft and offers pleasure flights in it. Based at Oshkosh, WI, if you’re visiting the world famous airshow this year, you could tie-in a flight on the aircraft. Otherwise, see its schedule and book here: https://www.eaa.org/flight-experiences/fly-the-ford-eaa-ford-tri-motor-airplane-tour

Xian MA60

The Chinese license-built variant of the Antonov An-24 is the Xian MA60. Never built in large numbers (even though the type is still technically production), a few are still in service in Asia.

Lao Skyway flies the type on its domestic schedules in Laos. They fly from its base in Vientiane and flights are inexpensive. Research and book here:  https://www.laoskyway.com/flight_schedule

Last Chance to Fly

Our book, Last Chance to Fly, lists details of all rare and historic airliner types that are still in use and still possible to fly on around the world.

Updated regularly and available to download exclusively for our Premium Members, you can use this guide to book flights on some of the airliners of yesteryear, be it older piston props or rarer jet types.

If you’d like a copy, why not sign up for Premium membership today at this link and get instant access: https://www.airportspotting.com/member/