DC-3

[Level bust]

Two memorable flights on a DC3. My first flight was in 1972 as a spotty teenager from East Midlands, British Midlands first Boeing 707 was being delivered and as my Dad worked for them we were there to see it arrive. Kestrel Airways were doing pleasure flights on their DC3 and Dad managed to get a free ride. As he knew hostess, I got to go up the front, when I got there the captain was trying to get his pipe going, complete with handle bar mustache, when he finally got it going he opened the window and tossed the match out! The second was one quiet January evening at Luton, an Air Atlantique called up and asked if he could do a couple of circuits, which we approved. I cheekily asked if he had a spare seat, he replied he could take one. I won the toss arrived at the aircraft to find there was no seat, so I just stood in the doorway between the pilots. The Captain did say as they were only doing go-arounds he was happy for someone to stand up the whole time! Happy days!

[Jhieminga]

No, never in a DC-3. Does this count though?

[Expatrick]

Originally Posted by Level bust

Two memorable flights on a DC3. My first flight was in 1972 as a spotty teenager from East Midlands, British Midlands first Boeing 707 was being delivered and as my Dad worked for them we were there to see it arrive. Kestrel Airways were doing pleasure flights on their DC3 and Dad managed to get a free ride. As he knew hostess, I got to go up the front, when I got there the captain was trying to get his pipe going, complete with handle bar mustache, when he finally got it going he opened the window and tossed the match out! The second was one quiet January evening at Luton, an Air Atlantique called up and asked if he could do a couple of circuits, which we approved. I cheekily asked if he had a spare seat, he replied he could take one. I won the toss arrived at the aircraft to find there was no seat, so I just stood in the doorway between the pilots. The Captain did say as they were only doing go-arounds he was happy for someone to stand up the whole time! Happy days!

A pipe with a handle bar moustache - that is novel!

[MarcK]

PSA (Pacific Southwest Airlines) used to run a Gamblers Special between LAX and LAS. Outbound on a 727. Inbound (at around 3am) on a DC-3

[Asturias56]

That'll larn 'em to gamble.....................

[justapax]

To save me doing an exhaustive websearch, does anyone know of a flying experience in a DC-3 near a station on the ECML in England, or on a railway line from Verona?

A flight with a glass of champagne precludes driving, I'd prefer somewhere I can get to by train and then not too long a taxi ride. (I don't like driving anyway, and only do so if I really, really have to.)

[Asturias56]

I don'y think you can get a flight in the UK anymore. IIRC there was a change in UK rules that made carrying fare paying pax in a DC-3 impossible - hence the Final Tour a few years back.

[stevef]

Asturias - see #5.
The exemption was never applied for. I can't find the relating document (which also said there would have been no reason for it to be turned down), and, as mentioned, an ex-CAA employee has stated the same. It would be interesting to see what the Air Atlantique/Classic Flight past management has to say about it.

[justapax]

Originally Posted by Asturias56

I don'y think you can get a flight in the UK anymore. IIRC there was a change in UK rules that made carrying fare paying pax in a DC-3 impossible - hence the Final Tour a few years back.

How about mainland Europe? Until the UK thaws out of its current ice age I'm staying in Verona, which has excellent rail/air/road/motorail connections to just about anywhere. Anywhere I could fly from?

[Expatrick]

Originally Posted by justapax

How about mainland Europe? Until the UK thaws out of its current ice age I'm staying in Verona, which has excellent rail/air/road/motorail connections to just about anywhere. Anywhere I could fly from?

As I mentioned above, the Soviet built version, Li-2 (from 1947) gives passenger experience flights at summer month weekends from Budaörs airfield in Budapest. 30 minute flight the equivalent of €100.

[Pilot DAR]

I've been working under the wing of Polar 5 this week, and we'll be flying on Thursday, but sorry, pax not permitted in the science plane (long explanation). If you are really eager for the experience, I expect piston DC-3 pax rides can be had in Hamilton, Ontario, and Kelowna, British Columbia this summer. I'll be doing approvals three DC-3's at these two locations in the next month or so.

If you go for the experience in Hamilton, to can see the Lancaster, and pay to fly in other ex military airplanes there too. If you go to Kelowna, the flight worthy Mosquito is there too, and the scenery is very pretty...

[justapax]

Originally Posted by Pilot DAR

I've been working under the wing of Polar 5 this week, and we'll be flying on Thursday, but sorry, pax not permitted in the science plane (long explanation). If you are really eager for the experience, I expect piston DC-3 pax rides can be had in Hamilton, Ontario, and Kelowna, British Columbia this summer. I'll be doing approvals three DC-3's at these two locations in the next month or so.

If you go for the experience in Hamilton, to can see the Lancaster, and pay to fly in other ex military airplanes there too. If you go to Kelowna, the flight worthy Mosquito is there too, and the scenery is very pretty...

Thanks for that. My other obsession apart from civil aviation is long-distance trains, and after I've done the Indian Pacific and a Rovos Rail Pretoria-Cape Town I want to go from Halifax to Vancouver on The Canadian and The Ocean. These link the two destinations you have mentioned, or nearly.

I like being served food and drinks at regular intervals as I watch the scenery go by, hence my interest in trains. I spent a lot of my childhood (and adulthood) in planes, but the DC-3 wasn't one of them. I mention it on my uncompleted website, shears.rf.gd '10 landmarks in the history of Civil Aviation' but like the Ford Trimotor I've never actually been flown in one. Are there any trimotors still about?

[pchapman]

Originally Posted by justapax

. Are there any trimotors still about?

The EAA has one and still does passenger flights with it as far as I know. Not sure where all they do that, but they do flights during Airventure / Oshkosh.

[pithblot]

Around the world in…..N8336C

My quiet work outside was interrupted this morning by a DC3 rumbling overhead. DC3 sightings are rare now in Alice Springs. I heard her before she passed about 1,000ft above and what a lovely sound she makes. P&W symphony!

It turns out to be N8336C, on a world-wide trip celebrating the DC3 and it’s designer, Donald Douglas.

FlightAware shows she did a short local flight this evening and has a planned sector tomorrow Alice Springs to Leigh Creek.

Bon voyage!

pithblot

[treadigraph]

Originally Posted by pithblot

It turns out to be N8336C, on a world-wide trip celebrating the DC3 and it’s designer, Donald Douglas.

She gets about a bit, crossed the Pond last August I think, and was over in the UK the previous summer, at one point paying me a brief visit overhead!

[WHBM]

Originally Posted by Zionstrat2

Couple of hours later they walk us out to board on an ancient I mean ancient DC-3. Totally lit me up coolest thing I'd ever seen.

It was the cargo variant with the humongous side door and my mom was hesitant from the beginning.

The vast majority of what is around as a "DC3" is actually the US military variant, the C-47. These had the large rear cargo door, whereas the passenger DC3 didn't, and most of these were turned out before WW2 and didn't last too long afterwards. There were a wide range of postwar modifications, though most kept the basics of the freight door as this impacted later resale value, or even the ability to hire them out as freighters..

Originally Posted by expatrick

As I mentioned above, the Soviet built version, Li-2 (from 1947) gives passenger experience flights at summer month weekends from Budaörs airfield in Budapest.

This turned up at Duxford a few years ago in the D-Day commemoration flights, with lots of other examples, in (postwar) Hungarian airline Malev colours, and indeed was the aircraft the US army parachute display team used as a jumpship, but glossed over that in WW2 and at D-Day Hungary was on the Axis side ! Although it looks the same as a DC3 the Li-2 was built with Soviet tooling, instead of the US tooling that Douglas used of course, so little is interchangeable.

[pithblot]

Be a fly-on-the-wall, chase or Follow N8336C around the world.

Thank you First Principle, from another thread:

Turns out there's a website here that tells all, seems to be quite a well-organised mission. Shame they're not coming to my part of the world…..it looks as if one could vicariously enjoy the journey via book and/or podcast...

FP references a really good website, Spirit of Douglas ,that gives a Birds Eye view of the journey. I get the impression this is a team of competent, professional enthusiasts on mission to celebrate, remember and share some major aviation history milestones. That Mark Stewart takes the mantle of Custodian of Spirit of Douglas, in my opinion, reflects the weight and integrity of this venture.

pithblot