The DC-3 and Me

"The DC-3 and Me"
A great book about DC-3 operations by a friend and DC-3 fan.

About the Author:
Born and raised in a small town in northern California’s Sierra Nevada mountains, he started flying during WW II and at age 19 became a B- 17 Flying Fortress pilot.
After the war he found work flying for nonscheduled airlines
until called back to active duty in the Air Force to fly C-54’s on the Berlin Airlift.
At the outbreak of the Korean War it was off to fly C-47’s and C-54’s in the Combat Cargo Command until his return to civilian life in 1953 and returning to civil air carriers, finishing his commercial piloting career as personal pilot
to the president of a major US corporation based in San Francisco in 1990.
The author and his wife, Genevieve, have made their home in the US Pacific Northwest.

For those that are intrested this book can be purchased through Amazon via this link: The DC-3 and Me

1941 C-47 "Judy"

Just in from Mount Joy, Iowa during the 23rd annual Quad-City Air Show at Davenport Municipal Airport
Ozark Airlines hosted a live museum with a 1941 Douglas C-47, a military version of the passenger DC-3. The camouflage-colored aircraft named "Judy," for its owner, has a wingspan of 95 feet.

DVD Quantum of Solace

I just watched the DVD Quantum of Solace (2008)
The flight scene of James Bond "007"... flying a DC-3 was great... and the downing of a "bad-guy" airplane with the DC-3 while doing great canyon flying was a joy...

1942 DC-3/R4D available.

We Heard from Ken Watson today

"We have a 1942 DC-3C ex Marine Corp aircraft surplus to our needs.
This plane has a very interesting history as it served Guadalcanal during the war.
If you know of anyone who might be interested in this plane please contact.

Thank you
Ken Watson

"If interested, leave a comment with your contact information.
Since comments are moderated, we will not make your post public."

General Aviation Serves America

We must remember that the DC-3 and all its variants are a part of General Aviation.

General aviation is facing the greatest challenges of its 100-year history.

• A budget proposal for costly new user fees
• Efforts to dramatically increase taxes
• Onerous security regulations
• Urban pressures on small airports
• Negative image of private aircraft as “toy for the rich”

These challenges could financially cripple pilots, threaten more than 1 million jobs, shut down airports, and economically isolate thousands of communities across the United States.

Join this epic battle to protect who we are, what we do, and what we love! We are friends, family members, and neighbors who serve America from the air every day!

ItsTime for Oshkosh again.

I received a call asking me if I could fly down to Texas … I said yes and asked what was up… The reply, “It’s a secret” …I said OK,and checked my Itinerary on my computer… with the obvious curiosity, I tried to figure out what the event might be… but none rang true… then I received another call asking if I had a sleeping bag and a tent,,, because we would be sleeping out on the ground… suddenly I realized that it was the last of July …meaning that Oshkosh was about to start… I knew better then to get my hopes up because I had been trying to get to Oshkosh for the Biggest Fly-in, in the world for the last 12 years…

…so I packed my new sleeping bag and my tent and headed to PDX … I soared across the US to Denver then on to Houston … When I arrived and was met in Houston …They asked me if I had figured the secret yet… I told him Yes …I think its Oshkosh… They laughed and said they were sure that the sleeping bag comments would let me know what it was… and we all knew that it was still tentative based on business and weather…

Then it was take-off time for Oshkosh … When we arrived … It was overwhelming to see the thousands of aircraft of every make and model …DC-3s and C-47s lined up in a row… Warbirds standing proudly …antiques. some being the only example left in the world… on display for all to enjoy…and the countless number of other aircraft that were spread in every direction with colorful tents and awnings in their shadows… a wondrous sight indeed… as we went to register for the several days that we would be there … the sheer pleasure of hearing and seeing various groups and individuals talking aviation and sharing where they were from and "what did you fly in with"… it was great….

Basler Flight Services provided our aircraft tie down and camping area as well as transportation that would take us to the main show area.
Then it was "off to the show" We started looking at the various Show sections … The entire operation was well organized and efficient…the show used John Deere tractors to pull the passenger carts and they would take you to a section of the show …and you could ride these then board another and in this way get to where you wanted to get to in the show grounds… the venders had various area tents and show areas and the main exhibition areas were crammed with various product representatives… all extremely well organized… in yet another area they had great exhibition tents for the various seminars with everything from how to rebuild engines to several areas that build a complete homebuilt aircraft in the week of the show… with areas to encourage youngsters to gain an interest in this type of building… The food courts were well placed and although expensive they did their job of feeding the mass…

(Special thanks to Ernie Greenwood for the Guided tour..."Bear")

The following day we decided to make a trip if possible to see the conversion plant of Basler’s fantastic DC-3 conversion to turbo-prop engines and increased pay load and fuel capacity the “The BT-67”… at first contact we were told that Basler no longer gives tours during the air show… But the DC-3 museum was invited to join a Australian tour that would begin in about an hour if we could get there… We grabbed a cab and soon were at their office… When the “Ozzies” arrived we began the tour… we started our tour with a short movie telling about the company and then a look out of second story observation windows at the hanger operations below. It is a very neat and orderly operation… the “Ozzies” were being treated to a “hands on, touchy feely” tour and there we were, right in the middle of it all…
The Quality of workmanship At Basler is really outstanding and although we were not allowed to take pictures inside because one of the aircraft being worked on was a state department project, and others were being set up for Foreign heads of state…and we honored the secrecy required… it was the highlight of the trip for me…

If you are able and are a fan of Aviation …I would highly recommend that you attend OSHKOSH… and also support EAA and AOPA…These are the people who are fighting to save our rights in General Aviation to fly...

C-47 pilot honored 57 years later.

C-47 Pilot — Korea vet honored 57 years later

Mechanicsburg, PA man gets distinguished Flying Cross.

By Joseph Cress, Sentinel Reporter,

Grady Miller made it a personal policy never to count the bullet holes in his aircraft on returning to base.
“I was in the habit of forgetting every mission,” the Mechanicsburg man said Tuesday. “You tried to dispense it from your mind. Otherwise, you would go crazy.”
But the memories flowed back for the 81-year-old retired captain who received a Distinguished Flying Cross — second only to the Medal of Honor as the highest award for bravery bestowed on Air Force personnel.
Friends, family and current military came together at the LeTort View Community Center to honor the Korean War veteran who survived 144 combat missions.
Col. Rod Zastrow, senior Air Force service representative, presented the award to Miller who flew C-47 transport planes behind enemy lines in the face of intense enemy fire.

DC-3 in the 21st Centry

The Folks at AVON have made an outstanding presentation of the DC-3 at its best …doing the work that it was designed to do… this is a must have if you’re a fan of the DC-3…”Bear”

There's a close-up look at the DC-3's Pratt & Whitney R-1830 radial engines: cylinders, pistons, crankcase.... This film will thrill you with exclusive stunning close-ups of engine starts, taxiing, take-offs, landings, and all the sights and sounds of the Douglas DC-3. Hear the roar of 2400 Pratt & Whitney horses with full power engine run-ups! Join the pilots of the Pionair DC-3 for a short cockpit flight and see what happens on the flightdeck of this classic DC-3 propliner.

Veterans Airlift Command

The Veterans Airlift Command provides free air transportation to wounded warriors, veterans and their families for medical and other compassionate purposes through a national network of volunteer aircraft owners and pilots.

10 DC-3's for sale

Just in from Glenn Mounsey Director: Helicorp SA

"Good Day

We have available for sale, on behalf of owner, a fleet of 10 x C-47 Dakota’s. The aircraft have been grounded for approx 9 years and are in various states of repair, although more or less complete. We can provide sample pictures of the fleet if required.

there is also a substantial spares package including engines, props, etc, details of which will be available shortly.

The aircraft are located in Africa.

We are seeking to either find a buyer for the complete package, or will split. We are also considering refurb if no buyers for the package, and would be interested in contact with potential partners.

If you require any further information please do not hesitate to contact us."

Regards

Glenn Mounsey

Director

Helicorp SA

+44 7850 849803

new from LOGBOOK

News from Dave Powers of LOGBOOK
New D-Day Exhibit at Warner Robins, Georgia
More than 40 veterans of the 507th Parachute Infantry Regiment (PIR) met and shared the 6,000 square foot exhibit with a C-47 mounted 22 feet over the exhibit...

Carolinas Aviation Museum.

Great news from Dave at CAM:

The Carolina Historic Aviation Comm. is now just the
Carolinas Aviation Museum.

and the new web site is : http://www.carolinasaviation.org/

we just finished the annual on our DC-3,
not sure if we're going to take it Oshkosh this year...
money's tight, I guess you've heard that before...

ck out the new web site, we got a bunch of new planes.

Dave
CAM