Douglas DC-3 (N3006)

Had a brief tour through this one, and at the time I thought a tour was all I wanted. But ever since that day, whenever I look at my full series of clicks of "Kippie Lee," I know that a tour just wasn't enough. Oh, I very definitely appreciated the tour; however, I realize how badly I wish I was rich ... just for a day ... so I could charter her, contact some fellow aviation enthusiasts, arrange for them to be with me, and take us all up for a flight back into the propliner days of aviation. Those are days the kiddies will never experience, so I guess I'm lucky that I DID experience them ... sure would like to have one more day. But I'm not rich so it ain't gonna happen. But man, this is one fabulous classic propliner. (Wistful sigh)

Amazing, Gary... *F*I*V*E* FA stars!!!

Your comments bring back some very good memories to me... :-)

An amazing 5* click, Gary. And yes, a little jaunt in her would be good.

7-11-23-33-45 * 11, try these lucky lotto numbers Gman! wow what a classic, great angle, great sun light, awesome polish, perfect shadows and just the right clouds. Reminds me of West Coast Airlines DC-3s when my cousins arrived from Port Angeles to BFI Seattle..we could watch them arrive from the back porch, then Dad would drive the 8 minutes down to the airport and pick them up - very early 1960s before WCA started using the F-27. I remember......

Gary, I have to agree about the prop aircraft. I used to fly Frontier Airlines in Colorado when they were using Convair 580s. Those were workhorses also. Was in one that took a last minute abort on landing because the runway was too icey. Interesting view of the ground through the RH window from a LH seat. They were solid aircraft. This is a great photo of a wonderful aircraft. Thank you very much!!

Viv, Cliff, & Alien ... Hey, howdy. Thanx for the comments / complis. A ride in this isn't going to happen, but we've got the memories, eh? (Grin)
Alan ... DC-3s, the Convair propbirds (240, etc.), and the Martin 404 also. I never had a chance to be a pax in a 404 but I did get to fly in the others mentioned here. Always took the rear "lounge area" seats -- bumpiest ride, loudest engine roar. (Chuckle -- Aw, hey, I was young. Noise and bumps were a thrill. Big Smile) Also, Alan, I've got a gorgeous Bl & Wh JPEG of a Frontier 580 here. Not mine; I found it on the web but I don't recall the site or the owner / photographer so I can't give credit so I just keep it here. I'm at [email protected] if you are possibly interested in seeing it. Large size, super clean quality, definite computer wallpaper or 8 x 10 print quality. Not my pic, but a primo snap. Once again, to all of you, TYVM for the comps. Gotta say, tho, that "Kippie Lee" is such an exquisite aircraft that ANY photo of it, no matter who clicks it, will be a great photo.

5*X 5* shot Gary and thanks for the email! Thats a great catch and snap.

GREAT AIRCRAFT GREAT PHOTOS AND GREAT COMMENTS BY ALL THANKS FOR SHARING AND ALL THE NICE WORDS ON THE BEAUTIFUL GOOD OLD WORKHORSE WE LOVE THEM DOWN HERE IN AUSTRALIA THEY ARE A PART OFF OUR HERITAGE THANK YOU ALL

Gary you are so correct. Had my first solo on DC3 when I was 7 on Trans Texas Airways. Beaumont to Tyler to Dallas.
No security, no restrictions for kids , and nice stewardess brought you all the cokes you could drink.

She looks to be in perfect condition. Reflections on the aluminium skin and the odd juxtaposition of the straight windscreen next to the curved fuselage roof and undercart details really catch my eye.

Just think - these old birds first flew 84 years ago. Donald Douglas wasn't convinced of the need to scale up the DC-2 but the result was revolutionary.

Another great pic.

Gary, memories. In 1967 my wife and I were flown in a DC3 from La Paz, Bolivia, via Santa Cruz, Bolivia, to San Ignacio de Velasco, Bolivia. At the time, The Bolivian air force provided transportation between towns that did not have road connections, such as San Ignacio de Velasco. La Paz airport, El Alto, is at 13,325 ft, so the cargo of the DC3 was limited to a few tons. People returning from a market took advantage of these flights, so we shared the plane with chickens and pigs. May be I have a picture at home that I will sent you later. I am currently in Argentina.

Great pic!! 5* indeed!
I remember a jaunt to the islands I forget which one (Barbados I think) where sometime before landing the stewardess came back to my parents and asked if I would like to sit with the pilots for landing... WOW!! What an experience! That'll never happen now.

While in the U. S. Army I once caught a flight on a DC3 from Olmsted AFB to Wright-Patterson. What I remember was the unheated cabin was like flying in a refrigerator.

Great pic !

Oh man! How I truly love these old birds. Super great pic.

There is nothing like hearing the huffing and puffing of a prop starting up, and then with a bang, and cloud of smoke it ignites into a thunderstorm of power. Used to fly Connies on Western as a kid, soooooo nice. Lived in Brazil and Argentina for several years, and we would fly all over Brazil in VARIG DC3 tail draggers. As you got on the plane they would hand you a white box with your lunch in it, usually sandiwches, fruit and cookies. We would fly from Sao Paulo out to Iguazu, leave about 6:00 am from the downtown airport, and would get to the falls about 3 pm, half a dozen stops along the way. Used to fly on Aereolineas Argentinas from Mendoza to Cordoba in Argentina, and then up to Tucuman, Salta and Jujuy. And more flights down to Buenos Aires, and then also out to Bariloche. All on DC3s, but I don't believe those were tail draggers. One time at Jujuy it had just rained like crazy, and the airport runway had 3" of water on it, so the pilot landed the plane on the street outside of the airport. PANAGRA from Buenos Aires to Santiago, Chile, a number of times on the old DC4's and DC6's.

So much fun.

There is something about a DC=3 that just screams Aviator.

Hello to all, and many Thanks to all of you for your comments. First, a note to Mr. R. Atkinson -- I received your email request. I have already replied and attached the photo of the Frontier CV-580. if you do not receive it, please contact me via this COMMENT SECTION and I'll try it again. It is a pleasure to have received your email. (Thumbs Up) To all others who have commented ... I truly enjoy hearing about your experiences and memories in old propliners .... AND as passengers in airlines from the past. Wayne >>> OMG! TTA? I thought I was the only person who could remember Trans Texas Airways. I never flew with TTA; however, I had an old plastic Revell plane model that came with decals for United, but I threw the decals away and handpainted the TTA livery on it. (Came out pretty dang lousy but I was 12 or 13 when I did it. Also tried handpainting the Mohawk livery on another model -- same lousy results. There's no Rembrandt in me, I guess. lol) And Richard L >>> I flew on a THY (Turk Hava Yolari) F-27 Friendship from Trabzon to Ankara in 1970. Shared the pax cabin with a goat and a sheep. Heckuva different atmosphere from the Pan Am 707 I flew on from Ankara to NYC. (lol) Ward >>> You are SO right. No more invitations for kids (or aviation fans) to drop in to the front office for a visit during a flight. Remember that scene in AIRPORT when Peter Graves is chatting with the kid who visits the cockpit? Frickin' hilarious! Anyway, my sincere Thanks to everyone who has shared a memory or a comment here. I wish we could all go up in one of these just once more. (Waving to all)

I was a very lucky young pilot back in 1973. I was enrolled in the Aviation Program at the local Jr. College. The Chairman of the program (Bob) was an ATR with more type ratings than I had ever seen. The field trip that year was a trip to the Reading PA. Air Show, and Bob would rent us a DC-3 for the trip. In this first class in the aviation program there were only two licensed pilots. Me and one other fellow. Bob had us draw straws for who would 'right seat' the flight down and back. Luckily, I got the flight down. What an amazing airplane. The DC-3 is like a very large Piper Cub. The airplane nearly flies itself. For 3 days the students camped out under the wings on the 3, and were by the airplane for the whole show. In addition, I rented a piper at the Reading Airport and together with 2 other class members we headed to N.Y. Well actually we landed in Teterboro NJ. I'll never forget that awesome experience.

Wow! You guys made me travel back in time. The first time I was on an airplane was as a young reporter for a Mexico City newspaper c.1969. We went on the DC3 "El Sembrador" ("The Sower") owned by the Ministry of Agriculture (who else!) to cover the inauguration of a big collective cattle ranch in Zacatecas. I was sitting at the front by the window on the left side and I saw a black stain slowly spreading over the wing. I knew nothing about airplanes so I was curious and not afraid. I pointed it out to the stewardess who quickly went into the pilot's cabin and in a few seconds the engine was shut off, the plane went into a steep descent, everybody started to scream (I remember a mature lady, a star reporter, praying to God that she would quit smoking and be faithful!) and we landed in the middle of an agricultural field. When the DC3 came to a halt after a very bumpy run, the pilot, a short, stocky fellow with a big black mustache, showed his face and with a great laugh exclaimed, "You're the sissiest bunch of reporters I have ever flown!" Then he calmly got off the plane followed by the copilot and the stewardess -all three giggling! Only much later, after some trucks came for us and we eventually got to the press room (way after the event had finished) did I realize the danger I had been in when I reached my Dad and told him the adventure. Since then I have flown all over the world in all kinds of air vehicles, but I'll never forget how I was introduced to these magical machines!

Very nicely composed photo. I'll give it a 5.

1946 DOUGLAS DC3D Serial Number 42961
THANK YOU! to everyone who help keep these Ol birds flying