DC-3 story in WaPo

[tonyb]

Here 'tis ...

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world...mbia/2012/03/07/gIQATlOz6R_story.html?hpid=z2

 

[Undertow]

Awesome! Thanks Tony!

Kinda chokes you up a bit to think of these beautiful machines flying around. I wish I could step on board and cruise across the US!

 

[BigFitz]

I fantasized about flying the DC-3 a dozen years ago. I'd been instructing for about five years at the time and my boss at my "money" job was really unpleasant to work for so I started looking through the online classifieds. There was a freight outfit in NC that flew the DC-3. Not saying I would have gotten hired but it certainly was the most interesting equipment to dream about flying as a starting gig in the aviation business (aside from instructing). But then a couple things happened. 1) My boss retired out of the blue and 2) September 11th happened. Who knows? Maybe someday.

 

[Story]

Also on NPR
http://www.npr.org/2012/03/13/148520410/cruising-over-colombia-in-a-plane-from-another-era

 

[Stearmen]

Ice Pilots

Ice Pilots is now showing on the Weather Channel here in the states. They fly DC3s and the bigger C-46s. Great show! My dad was in the 9th Air Force, C-47s, so I will always be partial to them. My biggest regrets was when my boss and I went to Tucson, Arizona to look at a couple, I had to make the decision not to buy, two much work on our budget. Remember, no DC3-C47 has ever had an in flight structural failure!

 

[Story]

August 3rd, 1944 crash


http://www.naper28.com/The_Crash.php

http://www.angelfire.com/ks/phxbrd/fullreport.html

 

[Espee]

Hard to believe it was way back around '01 (but seemed MODERN, NEW MILLENIUM! then) .... I saw a DC-3 on two different days, apparently following the same route, at the same time of the afternoon. I guessed it had come from Long Beach (CA) airport so I contacted their info desk. They said "Catalina Flying Boats" was carrying the New York Times to Phoenix every day...
(I never looked into whether they were redistributing a big shipment of papers from NY, or if possibly some NYT's were being printed here, to cover the western U.S.)

 

[Stearmen]

August 3rd, 1944 crash


http://www.naper28.com/The_Crash.php

http://www.angelfire.com/ks/phxbrd/fullreport.html

I am not sure this is the best example. If there was tornadic winds as stated, then no aircraft would severe that. There were also two witnesses that reported lightning just before the engines stopped, a terminal dive would cause one or both wings to come off. Also remember, both experienced pilots and accident investigators in WWII were not even close to the skill level of today. I remember a WWII Army instructor telling me he learned more about instrument flying on a 15 minute flight after the war, then both his prewar and war time flying combined!

 

[Story]

I am not sure this is the best example. If there was tornadic winds as stated, then no aircraft would severe that. There were also two witnesses that reported lightning just before the engines stopped, a terminal dive would cause one or both wings to come off.

Huh? An in-flight structural failure is an in-flight structural failure; plane stops flying and people die.

Really well-built? You betchya, but I have a problem with the blanket term "never".

 

[Stearmen]

Your right, common sense tells us that at least one of the C-47s missing in the Pacific during WWII probably flew into one of those giant storms and was ripped to peaces. I know of a Spitfire pilot that had to fly into one of those storms. He had passed the point of no return and had burned precious fuel trying to go under and over the storm. He said, next thing he new, he was floating down under his parachute, with no recollection of how he got there. I should have said, DC3s don't seem to crash in still air like some of the modern aircraft do. Since they are not pressurized, that helps allot, but still, every few years there seems to be a rash of crashes or near crashes by modern jets.

 

[1930artdeco]

In my opinion that is THE BEST aircraft evermade due to its simplicity, longevity, durability and versions made. They are still flying them down at the S. Pole, albiet with turbines. I work on C-130's and I rank it a close second-very close.

Mike

 

[kyboots]

Tony that is a great article. My dad and my Uncle ( his brother ) were the pilots in our family and they loved those planes. Thought they were very easy to fly. When my father died 15 years ago he still had a 46 Stenson and a 37 J3 cub so a DC-3 is not that old.--John

 

[bonnieprince]

I was in Puerto Rico a few yars ago and they still had a bunch around the airport.

 

[kyboots]

Still a staple in South American air craft.--John