Archive · 19 Jun 2025
How To Find Out The Age Of The Aircraft You Are Flying
Want to know how old the plane you're flying on is?
Every plane has a special number, like a license plate, called a tail number.
You can find this number on the plane's body.
Using this tail number, you can then use websites and apps like Airfleets.net, FlightAware, and Flightradar24 to find out the plane's age and how it's been used.
Older planes aren't necessarily unsafe if they're well-cared for.
However, checking the plane's age can give you insight into its condition and maintenance history.
Knowing an aircraft's age can provide fliers with useful information regarding its maintenance.
The unique tail number, similar to a vehicle's number, identifies each plane.
Online resources like Airfleets.net and FlightAware can be used to find aircraft age and history.
Flight tracking apps like Flightradar24 can display aircraft age, type, and sometimes pictures.
Aircraft age reflects wear-and-tear and technological evolution, but maintenance standards vary.
- Who
- Fliers who wish to be more informed about the aircraft they are traveling on.
- What
- Methods for determining an aircraft's age.
- When
- Information is available as of June 2025, following the Air India Flight 171 crash.
- Where
- Information applies to aircraft globally, with specific examples for the US and India.
- Why
- To allow fliers to be more aware of the age of aircraft and potentially assess the wear and tear and technological updates.
Safety Concerns
Airline Maintenance
Age and Safety
Safety Concerns
Aircraft age relates to wear and tear and is a good indicator of safety concerns, although maintenance standards are critical.
Airline Maintenance
A 20-year-old plane isn't necessarily unsafe or old if it's well maintained.
- Tail Number Location
- Fuselage near the tail or above the nose wheel
- US Tail Number Prefix
- N
- India Tail Number Prefix
- VT
- Online Resources
- Airfleets.net, FlightAware
- Flight Tracking App
- Flightradar24
- Aircraft Type
- Can be found on airline schedules