Airliners-India Flickr Group & Facebook    FAQ   Search   Memberlist   Usergroups   Register   Profile   Log in to check your private messages   Log in  Flying the Dakota: The oldest Douglas DC-3 in the world          Airliners-India Forum Index -> Trip Reports View previous topic :: View next topic   Author Message 747-237 Member Joined: 11 Jun 2007 Posts: 11129 Location: Gordon Gekko's Boardroom Posted: Tue Nov 05, 2013 5:02 am    Post subject: Flying the Dakota: The oldest Douglas DC-3 in the world I was fortunate enough to have the oportunity to fly aboard the oldest Douglas DC-3 in the world : the Flagship Detriot Foundation's 1937 built former American Airlines "Flagship Detriot". This was my first DC-3 ride, finally fulfilling a boyhood dream of flying the Dakota, an airplane which my father once flew for the Indian Air Force, and derelicts of which at Santa Cruz airport I admired. I was lucky enough to fly the oldest flyable one - she is also the second oldest airliner I have flown, after the 1929 Ford 4-AT-E Trimotor ( report here : Flying the Oldest Airliner: 1929 Ford 4-AT-E Trimotor http://airlinersindia.s4.bizhat.com/viewtopic.php?t=12205 ) I'll let the pictures do the talking ........ November 04, 2013 Witham Field Stuart, FL SUA - SUA More to come ......... Back to top 747-237 Member Joined: 11 Jun 2007 Posts: 11129 Location: Gordon Gekko's Boardroom Posted: Tue Nov 05, 2013 3:56 pm    Post subject: Pre-flight briefing by one of our pilots for the day. Boarding the Flagship Detroit. Lucked out and got bulkhead seats. Always good to have the air sickness bag close at hand. View from those distinctly square (but a little dirty) windows. _________________ 11000 posts (and counting) on Airliners-India. Back to top 747-237 Member Joined: 11 Jun 2007 Posts: 11129 Location: Gordon Gekko's Boardroom Posted: Wed Nov 06, 2013 1:55 am    Post subject: Firing up those engines one more time ..... And taxiing out ..... Another classic on the ramp _________________ 11000 posts (and counting) on Airliners-India. Back to top sumantra Member Joined: 28 Oct 2007 Posts: 4685 Location: New Delhi Posted: Wed Nov 06, 2013 12:52 pm    Post subject: Re: Flying the Dakota: The oldest Douglas DC-3 in the world 747-237 wrote: I was lucky enough to fly the oldest flyable one - she is also the second oldest airliner I have flown, after the 1929 Ford 4-AT-E Trimotor At this rate Deb, the National Air and Space Museum at Washington DC will refuse you admission, even though their Wright Brothers' Flyer is a replica Great going, and lovely pictures. Thanks for sharing this with us. And wow...a Lockheed Electra. Any plans of flying on this one? Cheers, Sumantra. Back to top 747-237 Member Joined: 11 Jun 2007 Posts: 11129 Location: Gordon Gekko's Boardroom Posted: Wed Nov 06, 2013 6:27 pm    Post subject: Re: Flying the Dakota: The oldest Douglas DC-3 in the world sumantra wrote: At this rate Deb, the National Air and Space Museum at Washington DC will refuse you admission, even though their Wright Brothers' Flyer is a replica Haha ! I'm glad I've already been there, then sumantra wrote: And wow...a Lockheed Electra. Any plans of flying on this one? Someday, perhaps ... you never know ! _________________ 11000 posts (and counting) on Airliners-India. Back to top 747-237 Member Joined: 11 Jun 2007 Posts: 11129 Location: Gordon Gekko's Boardroom Posted: Wed Nov 06, 2013 6:32 pm    Post subject: And it's time to lift off ..... _________________ 11000 posts (and counting) on Airliners-India. Back to top jbalonso777 Member Joined: 05 Jul 2012 Posts: 1501 Location: Never, never land Posted: Wed Nov 06, 2013 6:41 pm    Post subject: Brilliant stuff! Do you have videos by any chance? Would be great to see a few of them, and hear those propellers go! It such a pleasure to see this beauty fly in a modern day scenery, as your pictures have shown. We sure do look forward to more of the upcoming parts! Regards Jish _________________ http://www.youtube.com/c/JishnuBasu777 Back to top 747-237 Member Joined: 11 Jun 2007 Posts: 11129 Location: Gordon Gekko's Boardroom Posted: Wed Nov 06, 2013 6:47 pm    Post subject: jbalonso777 wrote: Do you have videos by any chance? Would be great to see a few of them, and hear those propellers go! Unfortunately, I do not - I had too many things going on, to carry a handycam with me. But I agree, videos would have been good - those engines do sound great. _________________ 11000 posts (and counting) on Airliners-India. Back to top 747-237 Member Joined: 11 Jun 2007 Posts: 11129 Location: Gordon Gekko's Boardroom Posted: Wed Nov 06, 2013 9:14 pm    Post subject: Climbing out over the Treasure Coast of Florida _________________ 11000 posts (and counting) on Airliners-India. Back to top 747-237 Member Joined: 11 Jun 2007 Posts: 11129 Location: Gordon Gekko's Boardroom Posted: Thu Nov 07, 2013 1:27 am    Post subject: And finally, views from the cockpit as we fly over the edge of the Atlantic. _________________ 11000 posts (and counting) on Airliners-India. Back to top 747-237 Member Joined: 11 Jun 2007 Posts: 11129 Location: Gordon Gekko's Boardroom Posted: Thu Nov 07, 2013 4:47 pm    Post subject: Flying over Tiger Woods' mansion in Jupiter, Florida. Sadly, no mistresses were spotted from the air. _________________ 11000 posts (and counting) on Airliners-India. Back to top shivendrashukla Member Joined: 21 Dec 2006 Posts: 1354 Location: Mumbai, India Posted: Thu Nov 07, 2013 7:09 pm    Post subject: Amazingly Rare TR there Sir. I hope you enjoyed each and every moment in that Old lady. Incidentally, the pilot did look as old as the plane itself. Cheers Shivendra Back to top 747-237 Member Joined: 11 Jun 2007 Posts: 11129 Location: Gordon Gekko's Boardroom Posted: Thu Nov 07, 2013 7:52 pm    Post subject: shivendrashukla wrote: Incidentally, the pilot did look as old as the plane itself. LOL .... yeah, that guy looked like an old 70s movie star All the pilots at the Flagship Detroit Foundation that fly the DC-3 are former AA pilots, who do this as a hobby. _________________ 11000 posts (and counting) on Airliners-India. Back to top 747-237 Member Joined: 11 Jun 2007 Posts: 11129 Location: Gordon Gekko's Boardroom Posted: Thu Nov 07, 2013 7:58 pm    Post subject: I don't recall the last time I saw the flight deck door wide open on any airliner ! We even had a Stewardess on board .... not a Flight Attendant, but a Stewardess as we were told; who handed out candy (sweets) on a tray. Lisa is a current serving AA FA who does this as voluntary work for the Flagship Detroit Foundation. She had to work a regular flight later that evening, but was nice enough to be there that morning. Truly, a window into the past. _________________ 11000 posts (and counting) on Airliners-India. Back to top 747-237 Member Joined: 11 Jun 2007 Posts: 11129 Location: Gordon Gekko's Boardroom Posted: Fri Nov 08, 2013 4:16 pm    Post subject: Views from the starboard side. _________________ 11000 posts (and counting) on Airliners-India. Back to top himmat01 Member Joined: 19 Dec 2006 Posts: 1392 Location: DEL Posted: Fri Nov 08, 2013 5:14 pm    Post subject: Lovely pictures. Thanks for posting this TR. I have been inside a Dak twice but never had the opportunity to fly. _________________ Save Maharashtra! Back to top Theairplaneguy4ever Member Joined: 26 Sep 2012 Posts: 191 Location: Kochi, Kerala, India Posted: Fri Nov 08, 2013 6:15 pm    Post subject: Nice one! And great pictures, you're quite the photographer! But, how does one get to fly on these flight? I'd love to fly on the DC3 someday! Thanks for sharing this, I really enjoyed your photos! Cheers! Adi, Theairplaneguy4ever _________________ India's first HD Video Trip Report Channel : www.youtube.com/Theairplaneguy4ever Back to top 747-237 Member Joined: 11 Jun 2007 Posts: 11129 Location: Gordon Gekko's Boardroom Posted: Fri Nov 08, 2013 7:12 pm    Post subject: Theairplaneguy4ever wrote: But, how does one get to fly on these flight? I'd love to fly on the DC3 someday! Well, to fly aboard this particular DC-3, you have to be a member of the Flagship Detroit Foundation. Membership gets you flights on board this old bird. _________________ 11000 posts (and counting) on Airliners-India. Back to top 747-237 Member Joined: 11 Jun 2007 Posts: 11129 Location: Gordon Gekko's Boardroom Posted: Fri Nov 08, 2013 7:16 pm    Post subject: Before landing, I was given my membership documents and other membership paraphernalia, by the crew. Technically, I now own a part of this airplane, though that might be just a rivet ! _________________ 11000 posts (and counting) on Airliners-India. Back to top 747-237 Member Joined: 11 Jun 2007 Posts: 11129 Location: Gordon Gekko's Boardroom Posted: Sat Nov 09, 2013 5:03 pm    Post subject: And finally, we make our way back into SUA..... And in for a (rather bumpy) landing. _________________ 11000 posts (and counting) on Airliners-India. Back to top PAL@YWG Member Joined: 22 Dec 2006 Posts: 438 Location: YWG, Canada Posted: Sun Nov 10, 2013 9:28 am    Post subject: Many thanks for delivering yet another unique TR! It's mind boggling to see that the vintage aircrafts like this one still lift off the ground! Not very far from the place where I live, every summer I see vintage single seater aircarfts do the rounds to spray fertilizers/pesticides on vast prairie fields that grow wheat, corn etc. One farmer told me those are leftovers from WWII and modified for that purpose. Quick question from a layman: What is that GPS-type blue color navigational piece? Was that added later on or was it part of the original frame? _________________ Tally Sheet: 41 Countries ||55 Aircraft types ||60 Airlines ||75 Airports Back to top 747-237 Member Joined: 11 Jun 2007 Posts: 11129 Location: Gordon Gekko's Boardroom Posted: Sun Nov 10, 2013 9:32 am    Post subject: PAL@YWG wrote: What is that GPS-type blue color navigational piece? Was that added later on or was it part of the original frame? Added to this particular airframe in 2004 when the Flagship Detroit was restored. _________________ 11000 posts (and counting) on Airliners-India. Back to top 747-237 Member Joined: 11 Jun 2007 Posts: 11129 Location: Gordon Gekko's Boardroom Posted: Sun Nov 10, 2013 9:37 am    Post subject: Back on terra firma, the good captain thanks us for flying aboard the Flagship Detroit. (is it me or does he not look like Ricardo Montalban) ?!! _________________ 11000 posts (and counting) on Airliners-India. Back to top 747-237 Member Joined: 11 Jun 2007 Posts: 11129 Location: Gordon Gekko's Boardroom Posted: Sun Nov 10, 2013 5:24 pm    Post subject: One last look around the old bird.... _________________ 11000 posts (and counting) on Airliners-India. Back to top 747-237 Member Joined: 11 Jun 2007 Posts: 11129 Location: Gordon Gekko's Boardroom Posted: Mon Nov 11, 2013 3:38 am    Post subject: The classic view upon deplaning the taildragger at the end of the flight. _________________ 11000 posts (and counting) on Airliners-India. Back to top Nimish Member Joined: 16 Dec 2006 Posts: 9757 Location: Bangalore, India Posted: Mon Nov 11, 2013 4:24 am    Post subject: Lovely pictures - thanks for posting. Sounds like a real fun flight! _________________ We miss you Nalini! Back to top 747-237 Member Joined: 11 Jun 2007 Posts: 11129 Location: Gordon Gekko's Boardroom Posted: Mon Nov 11, 2013 4:38 pm    Post subject: One final look at her sitting outside the terminal building at SUA, getting ready for her next flight - a ferry to Tulsa, Oklahoma. _________________ 11000 posts (and counting) on Airliners-India. Back to top sumantra Member Joined: 28 Oct 2007 Posts: 4685 Location: New Delhi Posted: Tue Nov 12, 2013 12:27 am    Post subject: PAL@YWG wrote: Not very far from the place where I live, every summer I see vintage single seater aircarfts do the rounds to spray fertilizers/pesticides on vast prairie fields that grow wheat, corn etc. One farmer told me those are leftovers from WWII and modified for that purpose. Mr. Pal, can these lines fertilise the idea of a photo-report on such vintage aircraft? We would to see them through your camera lens, and read your lovely descriptions! In eager anticipation, Sumantra. Back to top 747-237 Member Joined: 11 Jun 2007 Posts: 11129 Location: Gordon Gekko's Boardroom Posted: Tue Nov 12, 2013 2:20 am    Post subject: Last couple of pics to wrap this up.... In 1953, my father flew DC-3s over north eastern India with Squadron 11 of the Indian Air Force. 60 years later, in 2013, I was lucky enough to fly aboard the DC-3 as well. Here's to a great little airplane, and all the men (& women) who've flown her over the years! _________________ 11000 posts (and counting) on Airliners-India. Back to top stealthpilot Member Joined: 19 Dec 2006 Posts: 2325 Location: BLR, DXB Posted: Wed Nov 13, 2013 1:58 pm    Post subject: Wow must have been some experience ..... lucky lucky lucky!!!!! _________________ eP007 Back to top HAWK21M Member Joined: 19 Dec 2006 Posts: 8132 Location: Mumbai, INDIA Posted: Thu Nov 14, 2013 11:56 am    Post subject: Amazing pictures.......nice to note the door was leashed open A video would have been great, just to hear the sound of the powerplant. Nice TR. _________________ Think of the Brighter side !!! Back to top sri_bom Member Joined: 22 Dec 2006 Posts: 2365 Location: Singapore Posted: Sun Dec 08, 2013 3:03 pm    Post subject: Great Report and lucky that you could ride on one of these old beauties. Back to top The_Goat Member Joined: 03 Mar 2007 Posts: 3260 Location: South of France Posted: Sun Dec 08, 2013 6:06 pm    Post subject: Thank you for the great TR and pics , 747-237. Lucky that you got to ride on the gooney bird. I have been aboard several DC-3s but have never flown on one. I will change that sometime. That dedication to your dad was very touching. I'm sure he would have loved to fly with you on that airplane. It would have brought back so many of his memories. _________________ I don't know which is the more pampered bunch : AI's widebodies (the aunties) or Jet's widebodies (the planes). -Jasepl Back to top Display posts from previous: All Posts1 Day7 Days2 Weeks1 Month3 Months6 Months1 Year Oldest FirstNewest First         Airliners-India Forum Index -> Trip Reports All times are GMT + 5.5 Hours Page 1 of 1   Jump to: Select a forum New Members----------------Sign-up Guidelines Airliners-India----------------Civil AviationNon AviationTrip ReportsMilitary Aviation & SpaceInternationalAviation Polls & PreferenceTech/OpsAviation PhotographyEditorial/Analysis/ArticlesAviation HobbyAviation LawAviation Questions & CareersSite Related Flickr Group----------------Photo of the Month My Message Board----------------Pin Up  You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum Powered by phpBB © phpBB Group. 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