After gaining independence in August 1965, one of Singapore’s primary goals was to establish itself as an international trading hub and tourism destination, relying heavily on its then-growing aviation industry. The country also founded its own air force shortly after, and soon, a wide array of Singapore-registered aircraft was sprouting through the decades.

As of January this year, Singapore has exactly 206 registered aircraft across six different operators, indicating how well-grown the country’s aviation sector is. While it’s unlikely any aircraft have been within the industry since the 1960s, several aircraft have been around for more than three decades. Let’s pinpoint some of the oldest active aircraft in Singapore.

The oldest military aircraft

Although turboprops are admittedly a rarer sight if passengers are spotting from Changi International Airport, it’s one of the more common sights within the various bases of the Singapore Air Force. And within these bases house nine of the oldest Singapore-registered aircraft, a handful of Fokker F50 turboprops.

The oldest of the nine is registered 710 and was delivered to the military unit in December 1993, making the turboprop just over three decades old. On the other end of the straw, the youngest of the nine is registered 718 and was delivered in July 1995, making it a few months shy of turning 28 years old.

On average, the…