... with no less than five DC-3/C-47’s at Flabob this afternoon. Sorry about the low definition images. Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Above pics taken atop of the hill (Mt. Rubidoux) seen behind this grand lady (she can been seen on the left side of the second photo). Image Unavailable, Please Login
Nice. Who else has flown on a DC-3 as a regularly scheduled airliner? Bob, I would imagine, but there have to be others. My last flight was from Love to Roswell in 1965.
yes, Taz, I flew several times on C-47's and also C-60's and B-34's in the service. Then with West Coast when I was traveling intra-state for Boeing. Then, I was fortunate to fly one from Felts Field to Pasco-Kennewick (spl) to an air show where the airplane was going to offer rides. The airplane was registered as a short hall airliner and had "stews" aboard. It was the biggest twin that I ever flew but it was a docile bird and a pleasant experience. I may have mentioned it before but after I got the airplane trimmed , the nose started to come up. I re-trimmed and then had to trim again. I no sooner got things stabile when I had to re-trim, not so much the second time. The pilot and owner, Bruce S., asked if I was having trouble and I said that I seem to have a little problem chasing things and he said, " That first time was Jerry going aft to the can, the second time was Tracy....she's lighter than Jerry." My son was in a T-6 waiting for us to arrive at Pasco and he flew along side us taking pictures as we approached. The "stews" went nuts when the T-6 came in close and one said, "I can see even his beard!" Something that they had never experienced in mid air, close formation with another airplane. After we landed and partook in the show, my son arranged to give a flight in an open cockpit PT-23 to Jerry and she had to remove her antique earrings so that they wouldn't be blown away. So, I took them and put them in a safe place....on my ears. I attempted to walk over to the DC-3 when I was stopped by a typical fat-bellied sheriff's deputy that told me that I couldn't approach the airplane . I told him that I was part of the crew but he obviously didn't;t believe me with those beautiful earrings on and he turned beet red when I began a very believable performance as a gay. My younger son who's there, also, almost wet his pants at my performance accusing the deputy of being the same old "Pot bellied BIG MAN who threw his weight around and harassed people ". He never did allow me to get to the airplane. The was one of the most enjoyable air shows. I had fun flying and playing a little game, getting and open cockpit ride to a nice gal, and watching Delmar Benjamin perform in his Gee Bee. The flight back was just as enjoyable flying at 1500 feet, cracking up the owner when I hand signaled a right turn at the Ritzville traffic light to pick up I-90 to Spokane. Can't get much better than this. Memories like this always neutralize the bad things that are going on now and my wife always knows when "I'm back there" or somewhere else flying or having fun with something or someone. Some treasures aren't laced with jewels or gold. Seek one or two, no matter how small. You can keep them in a place in which no one can violate.
Bob- Your flight was more interesting than my Love Field one. I did fly from Oslo to Wiesbaden in a C-47 with Dad as the pilot and me sitting in a sort of jump seat. The Russians tried to meacon us, but Dad had seen that trick before, so just ignored it and switched radio aids.
I flew one in the early 80's, Comair in South Africa. It was from JHB to Londolozi near the kruger park, the plane landed on a bumpy dirt strip. The inetrior was more or less modern airliner for the time. Also flew in a JU52 for a ride. That plane few slow and felt like it slowly levitated. DC3 was generations ahead.
I flew in a Convair C-131 Samaritan. On take off it sounded just like a WW II movie with hard-rock concert loudspeakers. really kewl.
The C-131/T-29 was powered by PW R2800s, just like a P-47, Hellcat, Corsair, etc. Leaked oil just like them, too. I have about 200 hours in T-29s from nav school in the early 70s.
I last flew into San Juan around 2003 or so, and there were still quite a few DC-3s across the ramp. Also a few Convairs that were probably ex-Caribair. Those aircraft had been delivered in the '60s with R-2800s, and were then converted to Dart turboprops while I was still living there. I understand that when they left Caribair service, the Darts were removed and they went back to the recips!
I imagine that the "Tin Goose" was not much different than the "Tin Donkey". Slow, noisy, and not much more than 105 in speed. I got a right seat ride in Harrah's Ford tri-motor and what a difference between that and the DC-3.
Due to cloudy/drizzly/windy weather (i.e. no crowds), had a chance to exercise (hiking up-&-down) Mt. Rubidoux yesterday and looked like Flabob was hosting at least 6 (maybe 7 ?) DC-3s/C-47s. Unfortunately, I didn't have a way to capture photo(s).
My neighbor's husband flew for General Airways in the late 1950s and early 1960s. I actually started out my flying career as his copilot in the 1980s-- sadly, he's passed on now but I still remember hearing his stories about flying the DC-3 in the pacific northwest. He felt the Turbo Commander we were flying at the time was a huge improvement!
I've probably told the story somewhere here before, but I and a friend "almost" bought one about +/-35 years ago, although didn't know at the time that the "sealed" bid we were considering submitting would've been highest, but likely wouldn't had landed the plane (pun intended) for us anyway, since the "winning"(?) bidder probably had a "fix in" (as I found out 5-6 years later).
Are you aware that Flabob is now the new home of the American Aviation Historical Society? I've been a member of AAHS since 1977 and they put out a gorgeous Journal four times a year, and have a large collection of slides that you can order prints from. Anyone here who has an interest in historical American aviation should be a member! (It's much cheaper than the Ferrari Club!)