Ultra-low flyby of a DC-3!

**paturoa** · 5th March 2012, 11:36

Originally Posted by Macontour

Years ago I managed to get to the Reno Air Races..... It was late 80s when I was there

Me too, went in 87. The open class pylon racing was mostly mustangs, a few yaks, a couple of F4Us and from what I remember a seafang (or similar)

There were flybys by B52, B1B, SR71, U2 and various dispalys by marine, air farce and navy dispaly teams. Managed to take in a couple of air bases like pensacola which was fun and saw a shuttle launch too. Lots of fossile fuels burnt on that trip!

**Zedder** · 5th March 2012, 11:39

Originally Posted by Macontour

I love aircraft low flying. The sound of the old WW2 aircraft sends a shiver up the spine as does the skills and cojones and speed of modern jets and pilots.

Years ago I managed to get to the Reno Air Races, dozens of highly worked over Mustangs, Corsairs and so on all getting thrashed around pylons out in the desert. A special visitor was an SR71 Blackbird that was returning from "a secret mission with a round trip of about 6000 miles" or something similar. It was late 80s when I was there so the guess was that was the old Russia the aircraft haad been visiting.

The USA is "aircraft city". I'd never seen so many planes in number and type in my life before I went there. There were Warbirds, military and civilian aircraft literally coming out of the woodwork.

**ducatilover** · 5th March 2012, 12:02

Cool stories!

I love planes, but have only ever been in one, a Cessna 172S from Feilding to Taupo and back. Not the fastest winged vehicle... nor the most agile... but I was in love.
Was like a bike on a different level.

**ellipsis** · 5th March 2012, 12:34

...I visited a decommissioned USAF base in the Mojave, to see the Voyager which had just flown around the planet on a single tank of gas...I was blown away by the huge amount of aeronautical stuff going on there....so many people doing so many different aeronautical types of pastimes ...and very little of the PC/safety stuff that would probably make it impossible anywhere else...only in America...

**bungbung** · 5th March 2012, 12:51

Originally Posted by Kickaha

DC3 have a fairly long airframe life a lot of this is apparently due to not be a pressurised aircraft, the guys at Ashburton Aviation museum reckon you can keep one flying pretty much for ever as spares are readily available from the USA and they don't expect that to dry up any time soon

There's also a turboprop conversion for them but I reckon it spoils the looks

Here's one at Pegasus ice field with a twin otter

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**bungbung** · 5th March 2012, 13:07

Lands on the snow using skis, which are retracted for take off on wheels.
Not much of a view from inside the back though

http://youtu.be/Xabr8n3bOQc

**quickbuck** · 5th March 2012, 16:45

Originally Posted by nudemetalz

hahaha...all I was issued was a couple of earplugs and cargo to rest my feet on while sitting next to a window seat.
.

Eh??? The loadie just gave me a plastic bag with 2 marshmellows in it, and said. "Take these for the noise"....
Not really an inflight meal, but had me chewing for ages....

Were they to stop your ears popping?

**FJRider** · 5th March 2012, 16:50

Originally Posted by quickbuck

Eh??? The loadie just gave me a plastic bag with 2 marshmellows in it, and said. "Take these for the noise"....
Not really an inflight meal, but had me chewing for ages....

You guys get it easy ... On one of my longer flights on a Herc ... we had an outside tiolet ..

**FJRider** · 5th March 2012, 16:55

I was involved with a supply drop to Raul island ... In a Bristol Freighter (40,000 rivets in loose formation)

The rear door couldn't be opened in flight. So it was removed ... and my seat was next to the door.

Not the most fun flight I've had.

**Zedder** · 5th March 2012, 18:24

Originally Posted by FJRider

You guys get it easy ... On one of my longer flights on a Herc ... we had an outside tiolet ..

You were lucky. We lived for three months in a paper bag in a septic tank......

**pete376403** · 5th March 2012, 21:52

Originally Posted by Kickaha

DC3 have a fairly long airframe life a lot of this is apparently due to not be a pressurised aircraft, the guys at Ashburton Aviation museum reckon you can keep one flying pretty much for ever as spares are readily available from the USA and they don't expect that to dry up any time soon

There's also a turboprop conversion for them but I reckon it spoils the looks

I read somewhere that there is a piece in the fuselage that the wings bolt to that takes most of the stresses and which can be readily replaced. Once this is done the frame can be certified for xx more hours. Or something.

Is the CookieTime DC3 still at Mangaweka?

**Macontour** · 6th March 2012, 22:23

Yep still there but if I remember correctly, it has had a repaint.

**Macontour** · 6th March 2012, 22:33

I've done a Herc a few times. Auckland to the RAAF Base near Melbourne was a long one. As we came in to land all the ice that had formed in the top of the aircraft melted and rained on us. Did a Herc from Darwin to Suai in East Timor for NZBATT6 after the jet flight(can't remember if it was 727 or 757 now) from Whenuapai to Darwin.

In 1991 I went Auckland to Crete in an RNZAF 727 with overnights in Darwin, Singapore and Dubai. 3 days to get to Greece and the same on the way back. Trip of a lifetime though.

Have also done a few Iroquois flights, usually sitting in the side seats if I can wangle it but the last one I was sitting on the floor with no-one at my back. Made the sharp banked turns pretty interesting!!!

I guess soon they will be gone too and people won't get that buzz. Shame.

**quickbuck** · 6th March 2012, 23:04

Originally Posted by Macontour

I've done a Herc a few times. Auckland to the RAAF Base near Melbourne was a long one. As we came in to land all the ice that had formed in the top of the aircraft melted and rained on us. Did a Herc from Darwin to Suai in East Timor for NZBATT6 after the jet flight(can't remember if it was 727 or 757 now) from Whenuapai to Darwin.

In 1991 I went Auckland to Crete in an RNZAF 727 with overnights in Darwin, Singapore and Dubai. 3 days to get to Greece and the same on the way back. Trip of a lifetime though.

Have also done a few Iroquois flights, usually sitting in the side seats if I can wangle it but the last one I was sitting on the floor with no-one at my back. Made the sharp banked turns pretty interesting!!!

I guess soon they will be gone too and people won't get that buzz. Shame.

Funny how the memory is.... As you were Batt 6 I think it was the 727 you went to Darwin on.... 757 came in to service in 2003.
Crete in the 727 would most definatly been an awesome trip. Many fuel stops on the way.

Been on a few Huey flights myself, but I always get a comfortable seat

Still, down the back on most occasions though.
Also been in the Sioux. I even used to engine run it.
Very soon, not too many more people can say they have done that!

S[eaking of thngs that can't be done anymore, I have had a few rides in a Macchi... Used to engine run those too.

Oh, the 757 is one very awesome aircraft to fly in too.....