Transatlantic Dakota/C47
 

A bit big for the average PPL (or his bank balance) but I liked the great story unfolding on Flightradar at the moment (1510 GMT 27/05/2019). Aircraft registered N24320 out of Reykjavik Iceland is going down the west coast of Scotland doing 160kt g/s at 6000ft and descending for Prestwick.

Type is not shown but DC3history.org says that N24320 was a Johnson Flying Service DC-3C, c/n 20197 built 1944, which ran out of fuel two miles short of Allegheny A/p and ditched in a river. The 23 passengers escaped but nine of them and the captain drowned in the river. The airline hauled the aircraft out of the river, dried it out and continued to use it as a sprayer.

Seventy-five years young, the old warhorse is now operated by the Museum of Mountain Flying in Montana, US. Reykjavik to Prestwick -- that's what DC3s have done for decades ...

One of a dozen or more making the crossing to take part in the D Day 75th anniversary - some 30 C-47s will be flying from Duxford to Caen on Wednesday week accompanied by various fighters. N47TB has just arrived at Duxford.

DC3 “D-Day Doll” N45366 flew over my home in Lancashire Sunday afternoon en route to Duxford from Prestwick at 7,000ft but sadly the low ceiling made it impossible to see.