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davparlr said:The C-47 is certainly a milestone aircraft and the most significant in terms of affecting world transportation. Being an old airlifter myself, I would have to vote for the C-47 and an honorable mention for the C-54 (I got to fly in an R5D when the Navy flew me to New Orleans for a flight physical), which took the C-47 a step up into the modern aircraft era and won the first cold war confrontation, the Berlin Airlift.
I was playing golf yesterday at Skylinks in Long Beach Ca., which is right beside the airport. A DC3 flew right overhead while landing. It must have been less that 200 feet above us. What a magnificent sight and sound. That plane has been around for 70+ years of the 103 years of heavier than air flight.
FLYBOYJ said:.....
Eisenhower said it himself - the C-47 as one of the four machines that won World War II, along with the bulldozer, 6x6 truck, and the landing craft.
syscom3 said:As the saying goes, "amatures discuss tactics, professionals discuss logistics"
FLYBOYJ said:Were you a Naval Aviator? Les an I were both USN - He was a Seal, I was an Airdale....
Great to hear! I'm an old P-3 guy, I worked for Lockheed and later was in the Reserve working on them. My father in law has a bunch of T-38 time, was an IP in the early 70s - he finished up on the B-1 at the factory...davparlr said:I was accepted for both AF and Navy pilot training. But, because the Navy flight surgeon in New Orleans failed to sign my physical, which had to be re-accomplished, by the time I got my acceptance, I had already signed up to the AF (they only gave 5 days to agree). It worked out well since I got to fly a future classic, T-38, and a great plane, C-141, with a great mission. Since I was only in the top third of my pilot training class, I probably would have ended up in the Navy in helicopters or P-3s flying lazy circles in the sky. Also, met my wonderful wife at pilot training. Had I had the choice, I probably would have chosen the Navy since I grew up on the approach end of Sherman Field in Pensacola and cut my teeth on Naval aviation.
Nonskimmer said:Bastard.
FLYBOYJ said:Great to hear! I'm an old P-3 guy, I worked for Lockheed and later was in the Reserve working on them. My father in law has a bunch of T-38 time, was an IP in the early 70s - he finished up on the B-1 at the factory...
davparlr said:P-3 a great old plane. like the C-130, its been hard to replace. Just not a great mission. I have visited a few P-3s bases in my 141, maybe you've been there. First theres a delightful island in the middle of the sea that has wonderful bread and perpetual crosswind and a base called Lajes. The second, there's an island in the sea that has an interesting history and a base that is all rock and always at minimums call Keflavik. Ever hear of those?
FLYBOYJ said:Great to hear! I'm an old P-3 guy, I worked for Lockheed and later was in the Reserve working on them. My father in law has a bunch of T-38 time, was an IP in the early 70s - he finished up on the B-1 at the factory...