|
Post by amitch on Oct 18, 2007 13:22:08 GMT 12
|
|
|
Post by flyjoe180 on Oct 18, 2007 14:43:03 GMT 12
Magnificent photos! Doesn't look like there's a lot of rudder left, I bet the crew were relieved to get the DC3 parked and secured.
|
|
|
Post by corsair67 on Oct 18, 2007 15:13:47 GMT 12
They are great photos, Alex.
Bit of a Nor'Wester over there today?
|
|
|
Post by rotoruian on Oct 18, 2007 15:56:00 GMT 12
My God the DC-3 is a purdy Bird.
Great photos Amitch!
Too bad they're not local to me, I'd use the in my upcoming DC-3 DVD.
|
|
|
Post by Dave Homewood on Oct 19, 2007 15:23:56 GMT 12
AMY looks lovely in those shots Alex, thanks for sharing them.
|
|
|
Post by phaedrus on Feb 24, 2008 19:14:00 GMT 12
Alex, I've just come across this site and had a look in my logbook to see that I was one of the pilots flying AMY that day (18 Oct 07), I see I have marked down EFATO as one of the exercises we did...
I think there were three of us doing circuits, amongst other things, and we'd be interested in a copy of the photo's at some stage if that were possible? They look spectacular on the site but I imagine the full resolution version would print better. I'll claim the best looking landing before passing them on eh ;D
|
|
|
Post by Dave Homewood on Feb 26, 2008 12:27:04 GMT 12
Welcome to the site phaedrus. We'd love to hear more about operating ZK-AMY please.
|
|
|
Post by phaedrus on Feb 26, 2008 22:26:29 GMT 12
Hi Dave, I'm probably not the best person to talk about operating AMY per se, but I can give some info regarding flying and working (ie. maintaining) her. Presently AMY, as we affectionately call her, is in Palmerston Nth undergoing a major (6yr) inspection. This includes wings/tail off, interior strip, tanks out etc. It's a seriously big job with time originally quoted at around 4000hrs. With a lot of enthusiastic and experienced volunteers up from ChCh (many ex & current ANZ engineers) this (chargeable) time component has been markedly reduced. We're hoping to see her back in ChCh within the next two or three weeks. AMY is operated by a charitable trust which has recieved tremendous support from all sorts of people and organisations. Most of us are just happy to be able to do something useful and positive in order to keep her running. There are some seriously experienced people involved and we have an ATO cert so it's also a very professional organisation. It's hoped that eventually the operation will be reasonably self-sustaining - we're doing charters and joyrides at present with some other unique daytrips in planning. Amongst other things we want to expose as many people as possible, in particular children, to what DC-3 flying is like - and so what it was like for people 70-odd years ago when the design first flew. AMY herself was made in 1943 and saw service in the war so she's a C-47 in fact. I'm sure most of you will know this already. Personally I feel very priviledged to have flown AMY, the photo's that prompted my comment on this site were taken just a few days after I recieved my rating if I recall correctly. Three of us were doing a little more practice/training. I don't particularly remember the crosswind (although it's very obvious from the photo's) but the EFATO is still fresh in my mind . To fly a machine that has so much history really gives one goosebumps at times. From a very advanced civilian airliner, to workhorse of WWII, the indefatigable and initial machine of the Berlin Airlift and later stalwart of many airlines or even as an ag machine there's not too many operations that haven't used a DC-3 at some stage and I'm very mindful of this - it makes one feel very small at times. If anyone's interested I guess I could put a few jottings down about what AMY's actually like to fly - although I'm sure others on here will be far more qualified to do that than me - but in the meantime I'll see if I can locate a couple of photo's showing just how disassembled she has been...
|
|
|
Post by corsair67 on Feb 26, 2008 22:33:32 GMT 12
Thanks for the info about AMY, Phaedrus; she sure is a beautiful girl. I think it says a lot about the DC-3/C-47 design that so many are still flying today in various places around the world. Douglas sure did build great planes - just a pity Mr McDonnell didn't realise that!
|
|
|
Post by flyjoe180 on Mar 4, 2008 12:33:01 GMT 12
I flew to Palmerston North twice last night, and noticed AMY outside the Fieldair Hangar with not a lot of it left. Similar I guess to the work that was done on DAK a few months back.
|
|
|
Post by Dave Homewood on Mar 6, 2008 14:18:55 GMT 12
Thanks for the great information phaedrus. Please keep us up to date with AMY's movements if you can. It's be nice to see some photos of her in her maintenance state if anyone can get a camera there.
|
|