From my point of view, the debates over favourite aircraft & best flights has just been settled. Today, I had my first flight in a C-47A (i.e. DC-3)!
A short (52 min.) circuit around Sydney, given to me as a birthday present. My first time in a large piston-engined plane and/or tail-dragger. The engine sounds … the smell of oil… leather seats, old instruments in the cockpit (alongside the GPS as well).
For those familiar w. Sydney, or if you’ve got a good map, we left Bankstown airport (Sydney’s main GA airport) and tracked north to Mona Vale, at 2000′. The east to cross the coast maybe 500m from shore, when we descended to 500′ for the trip down the coast to abeam Sydney Airport at Botany Bay. The we turned back up north, and returned to Bankstown the same way we came. The landing was wonderfully smooth and cushioned on those big balloon tyres.
Tomorrow being Monday morning, it will be back to reality as I drag my back-side on board yet another B737. While I have someone’s elbow lodged in my left or right kidney, I’ll lean back (well, recline VERY slightly anyway…), close my eyes and remember what real flying is all about!
If anyone is interested, send me an email and I’ll pass on details of the company involved. They do short scenic flights, as well as longer tours ( 10 to 12 days) around all parts of Australia.
By: Arabella-Cox - 1st January 2001 at 08:30
RE: Now THAT was FLYING!!
Well, for me, that very first trip aloft as a spotty faced kid of twelve. I was taken to West Malling Airfield in Kent, and got my first taste of flying at a RAF Volunteer Reserve Gliding School. Open Cockpit in Late November. Winch launched to 1300′ agl, and then that glorious peace, with the whole of the Kent Weald spread below me, and to the North the gilded buildings of London. Effortless, and I even got to fly the thing! That was X?!** years ago now, and I have been connected with flying ever since. More recently, a Spring Morning Flight with a Pal in a sixty two year old Tiger Moth. It reminds you what your feet are for if nothing else!
By the way, are you the same AirBear from Pprune?
Tailwinds
🙂
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November 5, 2000 at 6:02 am