Five -3s in Five Days
In Search of the Elusive Gooney
In this dream, I retire from my advertising career early, and set out to fly five DC-3s in five days. Here was my dream itinerary:
1. Before trying to fly any DC-3, I had better get a type rating. So off to Chino CA I jaunt to Dreamflight. After my multi-rating and about eight hours of dual, I'll be ready for the FAA 2.5 hour check ride. And the folks in Chino say this is not just a "paper" ratng, no, they actually teach you to fly the Gooney.
2. Delta's Ship 41
Quite possibly the most beautiful -3 on the planet, this bird was built at Santa Monica as DC-3-357 December 23rd 1940, and was restored ground up in 1999 by Delta, and is still registered to them as N28341.
3. Russian Lisunov Li-2
Next, I'm on the overnight Eastbound redeye to Budaörs Airport in Budapest, Hungary, where the very last known flying Li-2 (This is RA-01300, c/n 23441605) was seen a few years back. I want to fly this Russian knockoff of a Gooney and compare the two ships.
4. Ozark Airlines DC-3
Back in the USA, next stop is Griffin, GA, to find the last known sighting of the world's oldest DC-3, N133D. She was the sixth DC-3 off the line and was delivered to American Airlines on July 12, 1936 as a Douglas Sleeper Transport (DST).
5. Basler BT-67
I end my five in five day dream trip at Basler Turbo Conversions at Wittman Regional Airport in Oshkosh, WI where I fly their BT-67, a modern, updated -3 with P & W PT6A-67Rs (1424 SHP) that produces these improvements over the original:
• 35% more interior volume
• 43% more useful load
• 24% more speed
• 76% more productivity
• Up to 100% more fuel capacity
• Lower stall speed
• Lower approach speed
Of course, this was all just a dream. A really far-out, wild, wooly dream. Five DC-3s in five days. Whew. But wouldn't this be a rush to do...for real?
Next dream, I fly all the remaining Beech Starships I can find that haven't been, um, recycled.
Published by Dan Pimentel
Dan Pimentel is Co-Owner and Art Director of Celeste/Daniels Advertising and Design, Inc. In Eugene, Oregon. He has been active in photography, writing, printing and graphic design/layout since 1974, and is... View profile
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