United States Air Force Aircraft Fleet Retention Trends: A Historical Analysis (Technical Report)

This report provides historical contextual information on the ages of aircraft designs operated by the Air Force. The authors find that, since the end of World War II, there has been a consistent trend for the Air Force to keep aircraft designs in operation for ever-longer periods. While the mean age of aircraft designs currently in operation is at an all-time high, this has been true throughout the history of the Air Force.