History Douglas DC-3's in Rock Falls ILL.

Well, I'm not really sure if this belongs here or not, since it's not really automotive related, but there are alot of military/history people on this board, so this might be of interest.

Anyway, I just read in the local paper that there will be 40+ DC-3's & C-47's flying into Whiteside County Airport, just south of Rock Falls ILL. on July 23, 24, and 25. This is to celebrate the 75th aniversary of these historic airplanes. It is supposed to be one of the largest gatherings of these planes, perhaps since WW II. More info can be found at www.thelasttime.org .

Just to add some automotive content, that Sunday is also the day for the Turning Back Time car show over in Sycamore ILL.

 

I live in Peru, not too far away....might have to take a ride up to see the old birds!

 

Thanks for posting this information. We will plan a trip for this!

 

I love Gooney Birds! I was all over them at Yellowknife last year, and Commando's too, at Buffalo Air. Wish I was closer, 40 of 'em would be awesome!

 

I envy people on the flight path, that will be something to see.

 

They won't quit flying-saw where BP is using one to drop dispersants on the oil spill in the Gulf. Got to be the greatest plane ever.

 

The website's schedule says that all of the planes will take off, on Monday July 26, and join up to fly to Oshkosh Wis. together. 40+ DC-3 & C-47's all flying together will be quite a sight, and it should sound really good, too.

 

I work on modern turbine aircraft now but back in the day I was licenced on the 3. Did an engine change once, it took us two days but I don't think I was clean for a week afterwards. Those Pratt & Whitney 1830 cubic inch radials oozed black oil out every pore. The joke was if there wasn't a pool of oil under the engine after it sat overnight then there couldn't be any oil in it! A true American cl***ic.

 

The C-47 was the first plane I jumped out of in Jump School. The second one was a C-119 Fairchild "Flying Box Car"... "Long ago, in a land far, far away"...

 

Neat. But why was Rock Falls chosen? Was there a plant in that area? Gary

 

Excellent! I'm in Yorkville, I'll check 'em out if I can.

 

The "goony bird" was the old chevy truck of the sky.They very durable.

 

A DC-3 ride is on my 'bucket list', and I'm not getting any younger. I just put this on my calendar, and I plan on being there. Many thanks.

 

one of the greatest planes , maybe? But don't forget the longevity of the feerless B-52 (Pic taken in Tulsa a few weeks back)

 

i may have to check that out

 

I have no idea why Rock Falls was chosen. There used to be a steel mill and an ordinance plant in the area, but as far as I know, there was not any aircraft manufacturing there. There might have been some aircraft parts suppliers, though?

 

Since they are going to Oshkosh (Annual EAA Convention) and are scheduled to arrive as a group, they have to stage somewhere a reasonable distance from OSH. Other aircraft "type" clubs/groups do the same thing. Smaller, low use airports are ideal for this sort thing because it isn't disrupting commercial users.

I had the great pleasure of flying in a DC3 in 1985 during the year of it's 50th anniversary. It was in Kenya, Africa and was operated by Sun Airlines. A highly polished fuselage, with red striping and lettering, and outfitted inside just like they were in the old days. Got to fly THREE trips in that lovely old bird and I was so thrilled I couldn't believe my good fortune.

As someone pointed out, many are still in use around the world.......Grand Old Lady of The Skies.................


Ray

 

The DC-3/C-47/Dakota was built in two plants during WWII - Long Beach, CA, and Bldg 3001 at Tinker AFB, OK (then Tinker Field).

I got to see five of these aircraft at an airshow at Hanscom AFB, MA in the mid-'90s. One was a restored RCAF Dakota in period colors; another was one painted in then-current USAir livery, yet another was in PanAm colors, a fourth was in original USAAF green, and the fifth was painted in the old Frontier colors. Somewhere, I have pics of all five. I was absolutely in DC-3 heaven! What a fine, fine aircraft!

Other than the data plate, the only way to tell a California-built DC-3 from an Oklahoma-built DC-3 is in the way the tail ***embly is attached to the main fuselage. A little DC-3 trivia for you.

 

When I was a kid I had a ride in a DC-3 here in Oshkosh. They were giving rides for a penny a pound. Now Basler Turboconversions in Oshkosh rebuilds them and oufits them with turboprops.

 

Belair...gets the prize...yes they are STILL(runners) being used...great catch - Belair!

 

And... used by quite a few drug runners in places like Columbia. Gary

 

The deafest that I have ever been from flying was in a C-47 in 1952, had just joined the Air Explorer Boy Scouts and we took a trip down to Randolph Air force Base in San Antonio, Texas. Spent the night and had the big tour, then a big lunch, then off into the air. My very first flight, guys barfing into barf bags everywhere, riding sitting sidways on the canvas bench seats with two chutes on and scared all to hell. Set at the wing root next to the big Pratt & Whitney, boy are they noisy. Was three days after I got back home before my ears pressurized and I could hear again.

 

The BUFF does have some longevity, but I'd put the C-130 up against it - the modern day DC-3 - longest continuous production line ('53-present) and in use in far greater numbers and more variants, performing more missions, than any other aircraft.

The first production Herk was flying until the early-mid '90s as an AC-130A gunship at Duke Field. The "First Lady" was finally retired and is at the Eglin Armament Museum.

But, I'd love to have my own DC-3 one day...if I ever win the lotto....

 

>>>>>,When i graduated from Jet Mechanic Tech School ,,Amarillo,TX , in '61 ,,my only way home to Des Moines Iowa on leave was on a Ozarks Airways DC-3 ,,i was on standby,,,all the flights were booked from 8;00 am to the last flight at midnite ,,the stewardess noticed me sitting in the waiting area ,,told me to follow her ,,got on the plane and she gave me her seat at the tail ,,just before take off ,,she readjusted the seat belt and sat on my lap ,,and did it again when we landed in Kansas City ,,and again when we took off for Des Moines ,,out of ALL the hops i took in the 7 years in the Air Force ,,C-123's/C-130's/KC-135's/KC-97's/H-19 choppers/ not to mention stand by on 707's/,,,,,,,that was the Very best ,,love those DC-3's ,,,

 

Today I heard a Throaty Slow Moving plane and when out to see what it was, but I couldn't see anything trough the trees. Last summer, I ran out to check and saw a B-17 headed southeast from the Valparaiso Area. I came in and checked google, and damn it if it wasnt on the ground for 2 days with tours. Today when I heard it I ran straight in and did some checking. I didn't see anything about a B-17 being at Valparaiso Air Port, but I did find this link with Dates all around the country.

http://www.b17.org/tour/

Several are close to me, worth a tank of gas to check them out.

 

>>>>>,When the new Branson Airport opened last year ,,there was a Huge Air Show ,,and the B-17's /B-25's flew right over me ,,,Nuthing like those awesome sounds ,,,,

 

B***lers known about this "STOUT Airframe" for years and has been rebuilding as well as refitting them with new powerplants increasing their service life for another generation!

 

This is coming up next month.

 

I bought an "almost flyable" DC3 back in 1972 for $3500!
I really thought I could get her up to FAA specs for cheap.
After searching for parts and "flying" her a few months on the tarmack, I sold her to some hippie Nam vet for even money and he got her flying for some low level "recon" in the little lat***udes.

Probably sitting in shallow water off shore now.

 

We used a C-47 to haul equipment between seafood plants in Alaska. Took some retort carts over to the plant in Kenai, then went back empty for another load. Sent the truck driver out in the early am to stage some more carts and he drove the forklift mast right into the starboard wingtip - crumpled it in about 6" or so. I looked to make sure that there was no popped rivets on any control surfaces or anything else that could catch some air. Looked OK...he finished loading up...we took off again...had to adjust the trim tabs a little bit to bring it into yare. Didn't get it fixed till end of salmon season (made about four or five more flights).

Bulletproof aircraft - literally and figuratively

dj