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All modern large aircraft (as far as I know) use turbine engines (jet or turboprop). What's the largest aircraft that's still flying that uses AvGas (or, rather, has radial IC engines)? I know there are still plenty of DC-3s that fly regularly, but is there anything larger that's still in use?

If it makes a difference, by "largest" I mean "heaviest", and by "in use" I mean "flies at least annually" - the Spruce Goose is, I believe, technically airworthy, but it's not flown since 1947.

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  • $\begingroup$ I'm sure there's museum planes, but most if not all of the "working" DC-3s are turbine conversions. $\endgroup$ Commented yesterday
  • $\begingroup$ Plenty of DC-3 with piston engines still flying around the world. $\endgroup$ Commented yesterday
  • $\begingroup$ Spruce Goose is not, and never was, airworthy. It was never certified and the only flight it did was illegal (ehm, I mean, unintentional). It was supposed to be a high-speed water roll test. $\endgroup$ Commented yesterday
  • $\begingroup$ DC-3s aren't particularly large. DC-6s are bigger, and still in service in some places, Alaska being one I'm familiar with. $\endgroup$ Commented 7 hours ago

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There are the B-29's FiFi and Doc. They obviously don't fly fully loaded anymore, but the B-29 had a MTOW of 135,000 lb. They have 4xR-3350's. There are also some flying Lockheed Constellations that used the same engine configuration and had about the same gross weight.

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Not currently flying right now (so failing the "in use" criteria) but worthy of mention:

The C-97 "Angel of Deliverance," Empty weight 82,500 lb (37,421 kg), Max takeoff weight: 175,000 lb (79,379 kg). It has flown from 2017 through 2019, and of March 2025, it is being restored it to flying status (BAHF news, scroll down to page 7),.

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  • $\begingroup$ If wingspan qualifies as a criterium: The Grob G 850 Strato 2C measured 56.5 m. Sadly, also retired. $\endgroup$ Commented 13 hours ago
  • $\begingroup$ 2019 is probably recent enough for what I need. Would you happen to know what sort of fuel it uses? Ordinary 100LL, or does it need some special high-octane fuel? $\endgroup$ Commented 13 hours ago
  • $\begingroup$ A quick search doesn't reveal anything about fuel, but I suspect it used ordinary fuel $\endgroup$ Commented 11 hours ago
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In February 2025, the Philippine Mars, a Martin Mars flew from Vancouver down to Lake Pleasant for its last flight. It was hauled out of the water and trucked to the Pima Air Museum for display.

It had a MTOW of 165,000 and used 4xR3350's as well.

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