An aircraft should be operable for about 30 years before reaching the cycle limit
The lifetime can be stretched by special inspection and maintenance programs
It is however also worth noting that there are still some (unpressurized) aircraft manufactured 1940-1945 still in scheduled service
How often should aircraft be inspected?
Inspection requirements differ with the various uses of aircraft
For example, aircraft being used for compensation or hire must have a thorough inspection every one-hundred hours
Most aircraft, including those used for compensation or hire are required to have a complete inspection every year (see annual inspection )
What is the design life of an aircraft?
Therefore the design life of an aircraft is typically given in cycles
For long haul aircraft, that make relatively few cycles, the design lifespan is in the order of 40 000 cycles
For short haul the number is higher, sometimes up to 111 000 cycles
For example, the Boeing 747 has a design number of cycles of 35 000, the MD-80 has 110 000
In order to provide a reasonable assurance that aircraft are functioning properly, the FAA requires a series of aircraft inspections; s…
How long does an aircraft annual take
US military standardized aircraft nomenclature
The Tri-Service aircraft designation system is a unified system introduced in 1962 by the United States Department of Defense for designating all U.S. military aircraft. Previously, the U.S. armed services used separate nomenclature systems.
Incident involving unlawful seizure of an aircraft in operation
Aircraft hijacking is the unlawful seizure of an aircraft by an individual or a group. Dating from the earliest of hijackings, most cases involve the pilot being forced to fly according to the hijacker's demands. There have also been incidents where the hijackers have overpowered the flight crew, made unauthorized entry into the cockpit and flown them into buildings – most notably in the September 11 attacks – and in several cases, planes have been hijacked by the official pilot or co-pilot; e.g., Ethiopian Airlines Flight 702.
Liaoning is a Chinese Type 001 aircraft carrier
Chinese aircraft carrier
Liaoning is a Chinese Type 001 aircraft carrier. The first aircraft carrier commissioned into the People's Liberation Army Navy Surface Force, she was originally classified as a training ship, intended to allow the Navy to experiment, train and gain familiarity with aircraft carrier operations. Following upgrades and additional training in late 2018, Chinese state media announced that the ship would shift to a combat role in 2019.
Homebuilt aircraft
Aircraft constructed by amateurs
Homebuilt aircraft, also known as amateur-built aircraft or kit planes, are constructed by persons for whom this is not a professional activity. These aircraft may be constructed from scratch, from plans, or from assembly kits.
The Tri-Service aircraft designation system is a unified system
US military standardized aircraft nomenclature
The Tri-Service aircraft designation system is a unified system introduced in 1962 by the United States Department of Defense for designating all U.S. military aircraft. Previously, the U.S. armed services used separate nomenclature systems.
Incident involving unlawful seizure of an aircraft in operation
Aircraft hijacking is the unlawful seizure of an aircraft by an individual or a group. Dating from the earliest of hijackings, most cases involve the pilot being forced to fly according to the hijacker's demands. There have also been incidents where the hijackers have overpowered the flight crew, made unauthorized entry into the cockpit and flown them into buildings – most notably in the September 11 attacks – and in several cases, planes have been hijacked by the official pilot or co-pilot; e.g., Ethiopian Airlines Flight 702.
Liaoning is a Chinese Type 001 aircraft carrier
Chinese aircraft carrier
Liaoning is a Chinese Type 001 aircraft carrier. The first aircraft carrier commissioned into the People's Liberation Army Navy Surface Force, she was originally classified as a training ship, intended to allow the Navy to experiment, train and gain familiarity with aircraft carrier operations. Following upgrades and additional training in late 2018, Chinese state media announced that the ship would shift to a combat role in 2019.
Homebuilt aircraft
Aircraft constructed by amateurs
Homebuilt aircraft, also known as amateur-built aircraft or kit planes, are constructed by persons for whom this is not a professional activity. These aircraft may be constructed from scratch, from plans, or from assembly kits.
