Ag Dak Pilots

[dakman]

Hey rhyno can I second that ? The DC3 era was a unique part of our aviation hiistory .
Like you I think I am very lucky to have been involvved in it .

[kiwibeavers]

Thanks Ryan and Allan, I too feel very fortunate to have been involved with loading and riding in the Dak's whilst topdressing. My first ride was with Basil Martin in BKD in 1980, up to Mangatu, North of Gisborne which has some very steep hillsides and it frightened the life out of me. I thought the wings were going to bang into the side of the hills and wondering how the heck we were going to get out of here. All the while, Bas was grinning. Another day, Bill Luther & I were flying back to Gisborne in Fletcher EUH and Bill pointed to the Airport as we saw a huge cloud of dust at the far end. Bruce Thompson had taken off in BBJ and dumped the load just after he got airborne. He circled around and landed just after we did and lo and behold here is a cylinder head through the cowl on the port engine which had blown. I also had the privilege of loading Bill Luther on his last flight in a DC3 which I also video-taped from the cockpit. It was an awesome time, sadly something we will never see again that is why I feel it is important to salvage as much info and as many photos as we can. Cheers.

[kiwithrottlejockey]

Jul 31, 2012 18:29:57 GMT 12 kiwibeavers said:

My first ride was with Basil Martin in BKD in 1980, up to Mangatu, North of Gisborne which has some very steep hillsides and it frightened the life out of me. I thought the wings were going to bang into the side of the hills and wondering how the heck we were going to get out of here.

Funny that....it's exactly how I felt when I went for a ride with Bruce Thompson, topdressing up the Waimata Valley in BBJ only a few weeks before the last topdressing Dak spread its final load. The first sortie scared the crap out of me. By about the fifth sortie, I was feeling a wee bit less stressed, but still not totally relaxed.

[Tony]

I was on a Falcon's Roost to Gisbourne (1984??? - Please confirm the year if you know it guys) and went up with Bruce Thompson topdressing in the back blocks but I can't remember the location.

Interesting especially when on the first run down I was watching the wing v ridge line - and the little cross ridge I had spotted ahead of us was way above us when Bruce gunned the engines to go over it. My face told the story but he just grinned and went into a tight right hand turn while I watched the wing tip turn what appeared to be within the confines of a farm gate! ;D ;D

My second best flight - ever (the SBD rates No,1).

I can't remember the rego though so I hope someone can help here - P L E A S E.

That Christmas my kids gave me John King's book "Vintage Aircraft of NZ" and in it was the classic "Mind the coffee Bruce" photo.
I excitedly showed everyone telling them that's how it was. My wife just rolled her eyes and shook her head in sympathy!