Classic Wings DC-3 farewell day
The 'Last Flight'....
To David and Bill, Dave and Rob, et al,
Well guys, all I can say is 'What a Wonderful Last Flight'!!!
The sounds, the smell of hot oil, the 'nostalgia factor' and the Crew Service - OUTSTANDING!!!
Thankyou very much for a wonderful day's outing, and for your professional courtesy, patience, and understanding.
All I can add is, to wish you ALL the VERY BEST in your next venture, and 'tis indeed a pity that you are not able to continue as you would like to.
Best Regards,
Griffo and Son.............
Well guys, all I can say is 'What a Wonderful Last Flight'!!!
The sounds, the smell of hot oil, the 'nostalgia factor' and the Crew Service - OUTSTANDING!!!
Thankyou very much for a wonderful day's outing, and for your professional courtesy, patience, and understanding.
All I can add is, to wish you ALL the VERY BEST in your next venture, and 'tis indeed a pity that you are not able to continue as you would like to.
Best Regards,
Griffo and Son.............
So CASA make it hard for operators with an AOC who wish to use a DC-3 for joy flights, but then on the other hand you can operate a warbird such as a Strikemaster/NanChangs with no AOC and still charge the passenger?
How many people been killed on DC-3 joyflights in Australia?
How many people been killed on DC-3 joyflights in Australia?
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"How many people been killed on DC-3 joyflights in Australia?"
The pilots are mostly very senior Airline or Airforce guys..
What are the rooster's claim to fame?
Funnily enough, the industry is so close nit that someone always knows everyones history... and they're happy to tell when it's suitable.
The pilots are mostly very senior Airline or Airforce guys..
What are the rooster's claim to fame?
Funnily enough, the industry is so close nit that someone always knows everyones history... and they're happy to tell when it's suitable.
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Just to add my thanks to the team "Classic Wings".
Last time as a crew on DC-3 was 19 Feb 1971, VH-ANX, Dampier - Perth, 5hrs:5mins.
Today on the first of the "last" flights to be accorded the jump seat was an unexpected privilage I will cherish while I still breath.
The sounds, smells and THE NOISE brought back so many memories of my time in the right seat, "learning my trade".
Wife, pilot daughter and her fella as a bonus to see the "old girl" out.
To all who made it possible, a greatful thanks from Greybeard.
Last time as a crew on DC-3 was 19 Feb 1971, VH-ANX, Dampier - Perth, 5hrs:5mins.
Today on the first of the "last" flights to be accorded the jump seat was an unexpected privilage I will cherish while I still breath.
The sounds, smells and THE NOISE brought back so many memories of my time in the right seat, "learning my trade".
Wife, pilot daughter and her fella as a bonus to see the "old girl" out.
To all who made it possible, a greatful thanks from Greybeard.
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Skyways said:
"These things belong behind glass cases in a museum, and that's where this should be" - now she holds a certificate of airworthiness.
"These things belong behind glass cases in a museum, and that's where this should be" - now she holds a certificate of airworthiness.
Hope the old girl finds a good place to roost and not in a museum
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Just so darn frustrating! Two guys who have such a passion for aviation and the machine they fly, operating much safer than some of the dunses out there in industry, and the regulator gives you a hard time??? This is exactly why after a short time I had given the "government" the flick....... there are many, not all, who work in this department who have totally lost touch with the industry. Clean 'em out I say, start from scratch! 
Well done boys, you represent what this industry is to most of us..... a passion
Look forward to catchin' up with ya in the west soon..........
Well done boys, you represent what this industry is to most of us..... a passion
Look forward to catchin' up with ya in the west soon..........
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Worst thing is... it is the last aeroplane that passengers could walk up the front and have a look at the pilots working. The captain announced, "We may be busy on the radios and not be able to talk to you, but you're welcome to visit and take photos".
So many people got the chance to get photos of the cockpit and blurry ones of themselves near the pilots.
Also that bubble window in the last row was a hit. Everyone had a go at looking straight down and back past the tail where their eyes or camera were a foot outboard of the fuselage without getting their hair blown about.
The most memorable thing for all passengers, was the joy the crew instilled into us all... the pre-flight talk about the family's and plane's history. We were here to enjoy flying in the fifties manner. The mood of feeling important, an adventurer, and part of a select band permiated the cabin.
Because people were free to move about the cabin they talked to strangers who were sharing the experience. Especially easy to break the ice was, asking if you could take a photo out their window or "take a picky of us" .
I went on a couple of flights and the remarkable thing was the mood of the passengers on alighting. They didn't want to climb in the bus and leave, but most either wanted a close look at her and did, or wanted to get away on the tarmac to get a good angle for many photos or talk to the crew who were delighted to take the time to chat, pose for a photo with us and answer questions understandably.
The greatest experiencess were, NO bloody security checks, NO roped off walk way that we had to remain on, to and from, with tarmac police watching your every move, no hurrying morons pushing to be first to the baggage claim, the leg room (Short people were too far from their table to comfortably eat their meal in the emergency exit row) and the freedom to move about the cabin and even stand in then aisle for a while without getting the evil eye from some poor harassed flight attendant.
There's only Shortstop in Melbourne left now and I enjoyed a flight with them, but they didn't get quite the same ambiance as Bill and David's operation. I guess there were more family members involved with CWS and David's young age certainly was inspirational.
If you haven't been and you're in Melbourne some time ... GO. Who knows how long we've got. The Yanks need a steel door to keep the riff raff out of cockpit and I'm not sure if anyone is fitting them. The EU require radar and emergency slides. No one has tried to fit them, so there's only Shortstop or New Zealand.
So many people got the chance to get photos of the cockpit and blurry ones of themselves near the pilots.
Also that bubble window in the last row was a hit. Everyone had a go at looking straight down and back past the tail where their eyes or camera were a foot outboard of the fuselage without getting their hair blown about.
The most memorable thing for all passengers, was the joy the crew instilled into us all... the pre-flight talk about the family's and plane's history. We were here to enjoy flying in the fifties manner. The mood of feeling important, an adventurer, and part of a select band permiated the cabin.
Because people were free to move about the cabin they talked to strangers who were sharing the experience. Especially easy to break the ice was, asking if you could take a photo out their window or "take a picky of us" .
I went on a couple of flights and the remarkable thing was the mood of the passengers on alighting. They didn't want to climb in the bus and leave, but most either wanted a close look at her and did, or wanted to get away on the tarmac to get a good angle for many photos or talk to the crew who were delighted to take the time to chat, pose for a photo with us and answer questions understandably.
The greatest experiencess were, NO bloody security checks, NO roped off walk way that we had to remain on, to and from, with tarmac police watching your every move, no hurrying morons pushing to be first to the baggage claim, the leg room (Short people were too far from their table to comfortably eat their meal in the emergency exit row) and the freedom to move about the cabin and even stand in then aisle for a while without getting the evil eye from some poor harassed flight attendant.
There's only Shortstop in Melbourne left now and I enjoyed a flight with them, but they didn't get quite the same ambiance as Bill and David's operation. I guess there were more family members involved with CWS and David's young age certainly was inspirational.
If you haven't been and you're in Melbourne some time ... GO. Who knows how long we've got. The Yanks need a steel door to keep the riff raff out of cockpit and I'm not sure if anyone is fitting them. The EU require radar and emergency slides. No one has tried to fit them, so there's only Shortstop or New Zealand.
Grandpa Aerotart
Bullet proof doors, radar and escape slides on a joy flight Dak...only a fecking 'public servant' could come up with **** like that
Interestingly the joy flight Junkers 52 in Germany doesn't require slides because the rear door is a few inches closer to the ground.
If the demand is there, and it may not be in a truly commercial sense due to the current economic woes, why not form a club and $1 from each passengers fare is instant 'membership dues' for 1 year?
Post flight each 'new' member issued with a ornate membership certificate as a souvenir...say a 12 x 10 glossy of CWS with a membership number, their name and date of flight.
They sign a form acknowledging this fact and the fact they dont feel the need for 'their' club aircraft to conform to Transport Category rules pulled out of some bureaucrat's ar$e.
You could also offer type rating training...I did a few hours in a Dak 25 odd years ago but somehow never ended up with the rating on my licence...went off to PNG instead...I'd come and do one just for the hell of it.
You could even take appropriately licensed chaps who have paid for a type rating and let them fly the thing a few times a year ICUS for the same fare as their fellow club members are paying for a ride in the back. Hell I'd do that.
Don't give up yet...there are still bureaucrats needing to be taught their true worth in the grand scheme of things..their real value to society.... fecking zero!!!!!
Interestingly the joy flight Junkers 52 in Germany doesn't require slides because the rear door is a few inches closer to the ground.
If the demand is there, and it may not be in a truly commercial sense due to the current economic woes, why not form a club and $1 from each passengers fare is instant 'membership dues' for 1 year?
Post flight each 'new' member issued with a ornate membership certificate as a souvenir...say a 12 x 10 glossy of CWS with a membership number, their name and date of flight.
They sign a form acknowledging this fact and the fact they dont feel the need for 'their' club aircraft to conform to Transport Category rules pulled out of some bureaucrat's ar$e.
You could also offer type rating training...I did a few hours in a Dak 25 odd years ago but somehow never ended up with the rating on my licence...went off to PNG instead...I'd come and do one just for the hell of it.
You could even take appropriately licensed chaps who have paid for a type rating and let them fly the thing a few times a year ICUS for the same fare as their fellow club members are paying for a ride in the back. Hell I'd do that.
Don't give up yet...there are still bureaucrats needing to be taught their true worth in the grand scheme of things..their real value to society.... fecking zero!!!!!
Last edited by Chimbu chuckles; 13th Jan 2009 at 13:05.
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Damn, I read this post two days late. I would have loved to celebrate with you on Saturday. Well done,
FRQ CB
FRQ CB
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Even though I now live and work in the 'eastern states', I let an engineer mate know about the last flights. He went along and here is his unedited reaction - and if someone can tell me how to post photos I will . . . Cheers.
Thanks for the info on the last flight it was great – the old girl really gets up a hum on takeoff. It had more seat room that Qantas cattle class and in flight we walked around while sipping champagne. Windows were small but we also had a long gawk out the front cockpit windows. The pilot even had the sliding window open so he could see the white pointers at Swanbourne beach .
While taxi-ing out he announced that he didn’t give a Shiite about any electronic devices, laptops, phones, games or whatever as he jabbed the brakes and jerked the plane around straight on the runway.
We had a few dips in flight to get the stomach moving and nearly spilt my bubbly, the pilot also bounced the plane a few times on landing but I had the impression it was all done to impress the troops.
Few phone photos of trip. More proof of how flat Perth is kept my mind off the right hand engine that had oil leaks! Also liked the papier-mâché rear control surface and all the those bicycle brake type control wires in the wheel well.
Thanks for the info on the last flight it was great – the old girl really gets up a hum on takeoff. It had more seat room that Qantas cattle class and in flight we walked around while sipping champagne. Windows were small but we also had a long gawk out the front cockpit windows. The pilot even had the sliding window open so he could see the white pointers at Swanbourne beach .
While taxi-ing out he announced that he didn’t give a Shiite about any electronic devices, laptops, phones, games or whatever as he jabbed the brakes and jerked the plane around straight on the runway.
We had a few dips in flight to get the stomach moving and nearly spilt my bubbly, the pilot also bounced the plane a few times on landing but I had the impression it was all done to impress the troops.
Few phone photos of trip. More proof of how flat Perth is kept my mind off the right hand engine that had oil leaks! Also liked the papier-mâché rear control surface and all the those bicycle brake type control wires in the wheel well.
Sat up in seat 1D for the T/O to enjoy the SOUND! and watch that little oil trail streaming across the engine cowl, (Normal) - and after reaching the cruise we were all invited to 'move around' and share the 'Viewmaster' bubble window, and sip the champers....
For the approach and landing, sat down the back with No1 son, and he was laughing all the way in...
Looking up the aisle and out thru the front window, it looked like the approach from a crazy movie - blue sky , ground, tilted sky again, straight sky, tilted ground...then the 'round out'....and a gentle 'wheeler'..
From the perspective of being on the 'end of the seesaw' down the back - its LUVLY!!
Cheers and Thanks again guys
For the approach and landing, sat down the back with No1 son, and he was laughing all the way in...
Looking up the aisle and out thru the front window, it looked like the approach from a crazy movie - blue sky , ground, tilted sky again, straight sky, tilted ground...then the 'round out'....and a gentle 'wheeler'..
From the perspective of being on the 'end of the seesaw' down the back - its LUVLY!!
Cheers and Thanks again guys
One of the vivid memories from my childhood is my Father running to "catch" a DC3 flight from Mackay to Brisbane.
He was late, and the aeroplane had its engines running, door closed, and had started to taxi. It stopped, the door opened, and Dad ran across the apron threw his bag in and shinnied up through the doorway - no boarding stairs required!
My recollection is that he knew the pilot, having been a wireless operator (ex-RAAF WWII aircrew) with ANA on post-war military contract run from Brisbane to Manila and back each week.
Kinda hard to imagine that happening today!
As kids growing up in Brisbane, my brother and I used to rock up to the maintainance hangars at Eagle Farm and ask if we could take a look through the aircraft in the hangars - DC3s, DC4s (?), Convairs, Vicounts etc. Can't remember ever being refused.
Dr
He was late, and the aeroplane had its engines running, door closed, and had started to taxi. It stopped, the door opened, and Dad ran across the apron threw his bag in and shinnied up through the doorway - no boarding stairs required!
My recollection is that he knew the pilot, having been a wireless operator (ex-RAAF WWII aircrew) with ANA on post-war military contract run from Brisbane to Manila and back each week.
Kinda hard to imagine that happening today!
As kids growing up in Brisbane, my brother and I used to rock up to the maintainance hangars at Eagle Farm and ask if we could take a look through the aircraft in the hangars - DC3s, DC4s (?), Convairs, Vicounts etc. Can't remember ever being refused.
Dr
Last edited by ForkTailedDrKiller; 13th Jan 2009 at 07:38.
..... and watch that little oil trail streaming across the engine cowl .......
I remember the little oil trail - plus the sights, sounds and smells of flying in a true classic.
It got me thinking about flying (particularly regular conversations with the crew over dinner) and was probably one of the experiences that led me to take up flying (albeit a little late in life, but then they say it's never too late!).
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Was that oil leak in the right hand engine spillage when she was filled.
Often there's a bit slopped when one fills the oil filler with a five gallon oil drum and can't get the last bit down the bottom wiped up.
Oil smears spectacularly down the nacelle and wing
FT Dr K - talk of running after the plane you want to catch, is a reminder of one of the late Terry (Captain Perspex) Burn's stories. He was a newbie ANA DC3 F/0 to a crabby old skipper, taxying Mascot for Essendon. Hostie comes up and says there's a bloke on board who says he's on the wrong plane. His ticket's for Brisbane and he's cutting up real bad that he has to get off. Says he can see his bag in easy reach in the back locker. Skipper pulls up near the holding point. Says to the girl, let him out and chuck his bag after him. Tell him to keep a good eye out walking back to the terminal. Terry reckoned it was one of the funniest sights of his life, lining up for take off and seeing this little figure sloping off across the grass lugging his port. Terry's last DC3 doings were flying Paradak's VH-CAN on skydiving at Corowa and elsewhere. He lost one just as the gear was coming up. 40 degree day, 50 skydivers on the floor or strap hanging. Terry eases her round the circuit, heading for the cross runway, only just holding her in the air. His co-joe is fresh out of flying school with hardly any time on type. As they turn final, very low and about half a mile to run, out of the corner of his eye Terry sees the young fella's hand go for the gear lever. Terry bellows 'LEAVE THAT ALONE'. Only when sure of clearing the fence does he call for it. Terry said he damaged his vocal chords to the extent he couldn't speak right for a week.
Last edited by Fantome; 19th Jan 2009 at 01:05.
This one has digital props tinpis. 
