Are any pure turbojet aircraft still operated?

[Ayahuasca]

I saw an old B-737 the other day and with its long thin engines I thought they might be turbojets. Turned out they are low bypass turbofans. Are any pure turbojets still operating today?

[FourWheelDrift]

Ayahuasca said:

I saw an old B-737 the other day and with its long thin engines I thought they might be turbojets. Turned out they are low bypass turbofans. Are any pure turbojets still operating today?

Older business jets like the Sabreliner and older Learjets? Any HS-125s still flying with private operators (they were in 2009, last crash).

[Eric Mc]

Some historic jets - such as the Hunter, Meteor, F-86 Sabre, MiG 15.

[Ginetta G15 Girl]

FourWheelDrift said:

Any HS-125s still flying with private operators (they were in 2009, last crash)?

Given that the HS125 Series 700A / 700B (which first flew in 1976) onwards were fitted as standard with the Garret TFE731-3R-1H turbofan engine, and that all variants from the Series 3A / 3B and Series 3A/RA / 3B/RA were offered the Garret as a retro fit (at minimal cost), I would suggest there are few (if any) still flying with the Viper 511, 520, 521, 522 or 601 engines.

Bear in mind also that the RAF retired its Dominies (Viper 301 engines) at the end of January last year.

The Garrets give marked increases in fuel efficiency / range and are very much quieter (as anyone who has ever stood in front of a Viper engined 125 will attest).

Indeed, there are several Airports that specifically banned Viper engined a/c operation (for all but emergencies) owing to their noise abatement requirements. eg Southampton/Eastleigh.

[davepoth]

Vulcan is Rolls Royce Olympus. Most of the middle east is still flying MIG 21s and 23s which are turbojet powered too. Turkey still flies the F-4, which is also turbojet.

Edited by davepoth on Tuesday 14th August 01:58

[Eric Mc]

Germany and Greece fly Phantoms too - and there are some still flying in the US.

[FourWheelDrift]

Knowing about the early nacelle style on the 737 I'd say the OP knows about old military jets still flying and was probably asking about any turbojet powered airliners or aircraft operating out of commercial airports.

[Eric Mc]

It's up to the OP to let us know what he knows I suppose.

Early low bypass turbofans were only marginally broader in diameter compared to the even earlier turbojets. These are all turbofans of a sort -

Pratt & Whitney JT3D



Pratt and Whitney JT8D



Rolls Royce Conway



Rolls Royce Spey

[eharding]

Ginetta G15 Girl said:

FourWheelDrift said:

Any HS-125s still flying with private operators (they were in 2009, last crash)?

Given that the HS125 Series 700A / 700B (which first flew in 1976) onwards were fitted as standard with the Garret TFE731-3R-1H turbofan engine, and that all variants from the Series 3A / 3B and Series 3A/RA / 3B/RA were offered the Garret as a retro fit (at minimal cost), I would suggest there are few (if any) still flying with the Viper 511, 520, 521, 522 or 601 engines.

Bear in mind also that the RAF retired its Dominies (Viper 301 engines) at the end of January last year.

The Garrets give marked increases in fuel efficiency / range and are very much quieter (as anyone who has ever stood in front of a Viper engined 125 will attest).

Indeed, there are several Airports that specifically banned Viper engined a/c operation (for all but emergencies) owing to their noise abatement requirements. eg Southampton/Eastleigh.

..and slightly O/T, but yesterday was the 50th anniversary of the first flight of the DH.125...

Anno Dominie

[Ayahuasca]

FourWheelDrift said:

Knowing about the early nacelle style on the 737 I'd say the OP knows about old military jets still flying and was probably asking about any turbojet powered airliners or aircraft operating out of commercial airports.

My initial musing was about airliners but all contributions are welcome!

Here is a JT3C turbojet powered B-707.

[Eric Mc]

And an Irish International Airlines - Aer Lingus Boeing 720



Compare the engines to an Irish International - Aer Lingus Boeing 707

[FourWheelDrift]

My first thought was Travolta's 707 but that's JT3D-3B turbofan powered.

Must be a DC-8 in South America or Africa or perhaps an old ex-Soviet aircraft being used in one of the ex-Soviet states.

[Eric Mc]

Most DC-8s had the turbofan JT3D too (and a few even had the Conway).

Pure jet airliners were almost completely withdrawn by 1980. Only a small number soldiered in into the 1990s.

Concorde, of course, was a pure jet design.

[FourWheelDrift]

Found that Hewa Bora Airways of the DR of Congo operated a turbojet engined HS-125-600A up until they ceased trading last year.

Waltair in the DR of Congo operated Sud Aviation SE 210 Caravelle's up until 2004!


This is a good source to have a look around for any that are still used - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_airlines_of_A...