What piston airliners flying these days?
Join Date: Jul 2009
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I actually flew from Coventry to Hamburg and back by DC3 (Air Atlantique) in September 2007, via Lelystad going, direct on the way back.
For me of course, as a dedicated propliner enthusiast, the trip was an absolute dream-by far the longest flight I have ever done in a pistonliner. Also, although obviously it took much longer than the equivalent flight by jet, it wasn't actually as slow as you might think, because we flew at 1500/2000 feet, (at 125 mph), but in a DC3 flying at this height, you simply take off, set course for your destination (no hills in Holland or, I presume, on the north German plain), climb to 1500 feet, then fly straight to your destination. No messing around following airways or stacking.
It would give today's air passengers initially, a rude awakening to travel in such an aircraft, but I think they would come to appreciate its charm and the fantastic views. Mind you, that last bit's probably just wistful thinking.
Here is the aircraft I flew on:
JetPhotos.Net Photo » G-AMPY (CN: 26569) Air Atlantique Douglas C-47B Skytrain by Michael Blank
And for a real taste of nostalgia, take a look at this interior shot:
Flickr Photo Download: 668 16-9-07 in flight Hamburg-Coventry in AA DC3 G-AMPY No smoking sign
Bring back the pistonliners!
For me of course, as a dedicated propliner enthusiast, the trip was an absolute dream-by far the longest flight I have ever done in a pistonliner. Also, although obviously it took much longer than the equivalent flight by jet, it wasn't actually as slow as you might think, because we flew at 1500/2000 feet, (at 125 mph), but in a DC3 flying at this height, you simply take off, set course for your destination (no hills in Holland or, I presume, on the north German plain), climb to 1500 feet, then fly straight to your destination. No messing around following airways or stacking.
It would give today's air passengers initially, a rude awakening to travel in such an aircraft, but I think they would come to appreciate its charm and the fantastic views. Mind you, that last bit's probably just wistful thinking.
Here is the aircraft I flew on:
JetPhotos.Net Photo » G-AMPY (CN: 26569) Air Atlantique Douglas C-47B Skytrain by Michael Blank
And for a real taste of nostalgia, take a look at this interior shot:
Flickr Photo Download: 668 16-9-07 in flight Hamburg-Coventry in AA DC3 G-AMPY No smoking sign
Bring back the pistonliners!
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Yes but a Trislander is hardly an "airliner," it's too small to qualify for that title in my opinion. I think you would have to go to Holland to fly on the Dutch Dakota Association's DC3.
Proplinerman...........
Wonder why you exclude the Trislander? It operates a public passenger transport service i.e. anyone can buy a ticket, not a charter or private service. A small airliner, granted, but nonetheless an airliner.
Planemike.........
Wonder why you exclude the Trislander? It operates a public passenger transport service i.e. anyone can buy a ticket, not a charter or private service. A small airliner, granted, but nonetheless an airliner.
Planemike.........
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I haven't seen any mention of this fine machine;
http://cdn-www.airliners.net/aviatio.../4/1652426.jpg
The AVRO Nineteen was certainly built as an airliner and the original AVR 652 was deigned as one.
If GKY no longer flies, I'm sure someone will quickly set me straight.
http://cdn-www.airliners.net/aviatio.../4/1652426.jpg
The AVRO Nineteen was certainly built as an airliner and the original AVR 652 was deigned as one.
If GKY no longer flies, I'm sure someone will quickly set me straight.
Gnome de PPRuNe
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'HKY is based and flies with the Shuttleworth Collection. Air Atlantique's Classic Flight operate G-BFIR.
DC-3s are presently barred from carrying passengers in the UK due to some regulation or other but there was talk about this being overturned in some way...
DC-3s are presently barred from carrying passengers in the UK due to some regulation or other but there was talk about this being overturned in some way...
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"Are Air Alantique not operating any more then?"
Sorry, forgot about them: you can still fly with them, on a regular basis, in their Dragon Rapides-pleasure flights across the UK.
Sorry, forgot about them: you can still fly with them, on a regular basis, in their Dragon Rapides-pleasure flights across the UK.
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LH are supposed to be refurbing a Connie for nostalgia flights, there was a thread on here, that was getting updates from someone involved in the project, can't remember the title
Now that I'd love to do
Now that I'd love to do
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Try Loganairs inter-Island flights in the Orkneys.
Fair deal, it´s an Islander but I got Kirkwall-Westray-Papa Westray-North Ronaldsay-Kirkwall for £30 along with a certificate commemorating my trip on the "Worlds shortest scheduled flight" and a small bottle of Whisky.
Unfortunately I had to drink the whisky before my flight to Edinburgh due to the liquid restrictions...
Fair deal, it´s an Islander but I got Kirkwall-Westray-Papa Westray-North Ronaldsay-Kirkwall for £30 along with a certificate commemorating my trip on the "Worlds shortest scheduled flight" and a small bottle of Whisky.
Unfortunately I had to drink the whisky before my flight to Edinburgh due to the liquid restrictions...
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Re the Lufthansa Connie project: it's actually a Starliner they're refurbishing and here is a link to the project's website.
Return of the "Super Star" | Deutsche Lufthansa Berlin Stiftung
Return of the "Super Star" | Deutsche Lufthansa Berlin Stiftung
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Australia
We still have a Connie flying in Oz. It's a regular visitor to airshows around the country. It landed a couple of years ago at Hamilton Island in the Whitsundays where I live. Sorry I only found out about it after the event. In addition there are quite a number of DC3's still flying in Australia.
Bring back the props !!!
Bring back the props !!!
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As a guy who has actually flown a DC-6B in airline service (many years ago) I will tell you that...the DC-6B was absolutely the most economical 4-engine piston type to ever have been used in airline service.
A combination of 'just the right size' and extremely reliable engines.
400 US gallons/hour whilst cruising at 260 knots TAS.
NB.
My Dad was engineering project manager on the type at Douglas...DC-7, too.
The DC-7 was a bit of a disappointment.
Yes, it was a fast cruiser and a long ranger, however....it burned more oil than a Stratocruiser and the engines were not that reliable, sadly.
However, it was fast, 300 knots, plus.
A combination of 'just the right size' and extremely reliable engines.
400 US gallons/hour whilst cruising at 260 knots TAS.
NB.
My Dad was engineering project manager on the type at Douglas...DC-7, too.
The DC-7 was a bit of a disappointment.
Yes, it was a fast cruiser and a long ranger, however....it burned more oil than a Stratocruiser and the engines were not that reliable, sadly.
However, it was fast, 300 knots, plus.
Something of an understatement there ! It seems the DC7 (whose achilles heel was the Wright engines) was even worse than the comparably-engined Constellation. The Connie seemed to have a lot of emotional support (still does) and operators persevered with it, whereas the DC6 operators who moved on to the DC7 just got hacked off with it in short order. Some operators (like American) scrapped their whole substantial fleets of them after 5 years service when the jets came along, whereas older DC6s lasted much longer and had resale value for years beyond.
The Wright engine was known by the mid 1950s to be second rate compared to Pratts. Why ever did Douglas, market leaders at the time, make the change ? Notably the DC6 continued in production throughout the DC7's build time.
The Wright engine was known by the mid 1950s to be second rate compared to Pratts. Why ever did Douglas, market leaders at the time, make the change ? Notably the DC6 continued in production throughout the DC7's build time.
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Why ever did Douglas, market leaders at the time, make the change ?
It was the only engine available capable of the fuel economy and BHP able to lift the weight required, and provide the long range desired.
The only other engine that had the BHP was the R4360, and it was...
a) too heavy
b) consumed too much fuel.
