After Nearly 90 Years of Service, This WWII Era Aircraft Still Takes to the Air

There are a number of new aircraft in use by the U.S. Army. Over the decades, the Army has evolved and broadened its aviation capabilities from basic trainers like the T-6 to attack helicopters like the AH-64 Apache or the Black Hawk. These are just a couple of examples of the weapons the U.S. Army employs.

24/7 Wall St. is taking a closer look at the arsenal of the U.S. Army. To identify the oldest aircraft in the U.S. Army, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed the 2024 World Air Forces report from FlightGlobal, an aviation and aerospace industry publication. We ordered these aircraft chronologically. We also included supplemental aircraft type, top speed, and armament data.

Why Are We Covering This?

Understanding the combat aircraft used by the U.S. Army provides insight into joint military capabilities and defense strategies. Also, knowing what the U.S. has in its arsenal further explains its military capabilities.

Here is a closer look at the oldest U.S. Army aircraft in service.

22. UH-72 Lakota

• Type: Light utility helicopter
• Year introduced: 2007
• Manufacturer: Eurocopter / Airbus Helicopters
• Active in the Army: 478
• Top speed: 167 mph
• Armament: N/A

21. Citation Encore/Ultra

• Type: Transport aircraft
• Year introduced: 2004
• Manufacturer: Cessna Aircraft
• Active in the Army: 28
• Top speed: 490 mph
• Armament: N/A

20. Grob G120

• Type: Trainer aircraft
• Year introduced: 1999
• Manufacturer: Grob Aircraft
• Active in the Army: 6
• Top speed: 199 mph
• Armament: N/A

19. C-27 Spartan

• Type: Medium-lift tactical transport aircraft
• Year introduced: 1997
• Manufacturer: Leonardo-Finmeccanica / Boeing
• Active in the Army: 7
• Top speed: 373 mph
• Armament: N/A

18. Bell 407

• Type: Light utility helicopter
• Year introduced: 1996
• Manufacturer: Bell Helicopter
• Active in the Army: 5
• Top speed: 162 mph
• Armament: N/A

17. H125 Fennec

• Type: Light utility helicopter
• Year introduced: 1990
• Manufacturer: Eurocopter / Airbus Helicopters
• Active in the Army: 1
• Top speed: 152 mph
• Armament: 20mm GIAT automatic cannon, 12.7mm machine gun pods, 7.62mm machine gun pods, FZ220 rocket pods, BMD-71 TOW missiles

16. AH-64 Apache

• Type: Two-seat attack helicopter
• Year introduced: 1986
• Manufacturer: Boeing / McDonnell Douglas / Hughes
• Active in the Army: 824
• Top speed: 183 mph
• Armament: 30mm automatic cannon, Hellfire missiles, Hydra rocket pods, Stinger missiles, Sidewinder missiles, Sidearm missiles

15. Cessna 208 Caravan

• Type: Turboprop utility aircraft
• Year introduced: 1984
• Manufacturer: Cessna Aircraft / Textron Aviation
• Active in the Army: 1
• Top speed: 214 mph
• Armament: N/A

14. Dash 8

• Type: Transport aircraft
• Year introduced: 1984
• Manufacturer: de Havilland / Bombardier Aerospace
• Active in the Army: 9
• Top speed: 317 mph
• Armament: N/A

13. Gulfstream C-20H

• Type: Transport aircraft
• Year introduced: 1983
• Manufacturer: Gulfstream Aerospace
• Active in the Army: 1
• Top speed: 582 mph
• Armament: N/A

12. Challenger 604/650

• Type: Transport aircraft
• Year introduced: 1980
• Manufacturer: Bombardier Aerospace
• Active in the Army: 3
• Top speed: 565 mph
• Armament: N/A

11. C-26 Metroliner

• Type: Transport aircraft
• Year introduced: 1980
• Manufacturer: Fairchild Aircraft
• Active in the Army: 13
• Top speed: 331 mph
• Armament: N/A

10. AH/MH-6 Little Bird

• Type: Light attack helicopter
• Year introduced: 1980
• Manufacturer: Hughes / McDonnell Douglas / Boeing
• Active in the Army: 47
• Top speed: 175 mph
• Armament: 30mm M230 chaingun, 12.7mm GAU-19 gatling guns, 7.62mm miniguns, M261 rocket pods, Hellfire missiles, TOW anti-tank missiles, Stinger missiles

9. S-70 Black Hawk

• Type: Medium-lift multi-mission helicopter
• Year introduced: 1979
• Manufacturer: Sikorsky
• Active in the Army: 2,299
• Top speed: 183 mph
• Armament: 7.62mm machine guns, Hellfire missiles, 12.7mm Gatling guns, M134 Gatling guns, rocket pods, 30mm chain gun

8. DHC-7 Dash 7 (EO-5C)

• Type: Transport aircraft
• Year introduced: 1978
• Manufacturer: de Havilland
• Active in the Army: 3
• Top speed: 317 mph
• Armament: N/A

7. Mi-8/17 Hip

• Type: Medium-lift transport/gunship helicopter
• Year introduced: 1977
• Manufacturer: Mil Moscow Helicopter Plant
• Active in the Army: 10
• Top speed: 158 mph
• Armament: 23mm cannon pods, 7.62mm machine guns, rockets, anti-tank missiles

6. Beech C-12 Huron

• Type: Special mission aircraft
• Year introduced: 1974
• Manufacturer: Beechcraft
• Active in the Army: 3
• Top speed: 332 mph
• Armament: N/A

5. Mil Mi-24 Hind

• Type: Attack helicopter
• Year introduced: 1973
• Manufacturer: Mil Moscow Helicopter Plant
• Active in the Army: 1
• Top speed: 208 mph
• Armament: 12.7mm heavy machine guns, 23mm cannon, 30mm cannon, anti-tank missiles, rocket pods, machine gun pods, cannon pods, conventional drop bombs

4. Super King Air

• Type: Transport aircraft
• Year introduced: 1972
• Manufacturer: Beechcraft
• Active in the Army: 179
• Top speed: 348 mph
• Armament: N/A

3. CH-47 Chinook

• Type: Medium-lift, tandem rotor transport helicopter
• Year introduced: 1962
• Manufacturer: Boeing
• Active in the Army: 510
• Top speed: 180 mph
• Armament: 7.62mm machine guns

2. T-6D Texan

• Type: Trainer aircraft
• Year introduced: 1936
• Manufacturer: North American Aviation
• Active in the Army: 4
• Top speed: 209 mph
• Armament: 7.62mm machine guns

1. DC-3 (C-41A)

• Type: Transport aircraft
• Year introduced: 1936
• Manufacturer: Douglas Aircraft
• Active in the Army: 5
• Top speed: 237 mph
• Armament: N/A

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