Daks Over Normandy

[nuuumannn]

Although elsewhere on this page, Terry has mentioned Daks over Duxford, I thought it worthy of making another thread to acknowledge Daks Over Normandy and the enormous effort to get some 30 or more Dakotas over to Normandy in time for the 75th anniversary commemoration of Overlord. Here is a link to the Daks Over Normandy website explaining the organisations goals:

Daks Over Normandy | Daks over Normandy

And from the same pages, a list of the so far confirmed Dakotas going, including an interloper - the world's only flying civil registered Lisunov Li-2 based in Hungary!

The Aircraft that are confirmed | Daks over Normandy

It would be awesome if every one of these aircraft could make it. This is one of the confirmed attendees; N431HM in Swissair colours taken at Flying Legends last year.

DC-3 taxi

 

[Wurger]

 

[Crimea_River]

Sadly, Mikey McBryan of Buffalo Airways and "Ice Pilots" fame will not have his restored DC-3 ready to participate. It was always a challenging schedule but progress was just not quick enough. He's hoping to make it to Oshkosh but I'm not holding my breath.

 

[Airframes]

Was hoping to get to Duxford to see the Daks, before they depart for Normandy. But as it's two days before Karl and I are due to depart for northern Holland, I won't be able to make it.
Be interesting to see how big the 'sticks' would be, when para-dropping at DX, but hopefully some news coverage might show it.
Hope you get some good pics in Normandy Grant - lucky ba .... er ... person !!

 

[nuuumannn]

It's gonna be an extraordinarily humbling experience I think, Terry. They reckon this'll be the last big number anniversary that D-Day vets will attend, so worth going to.

 

[ODonovan]

Unfortunately, Kermit Weeks (of Fantasy of Flight in central Florida) won't have his plane there either. He has too much other stuff on his schedule, although I suggested he find someone he knows and trusts in the warbird community, and let them fly it over. I hate to see it missing from such a one time/last ever event for the remaining vets and their families.

-Irish

 

[nuuumannn]

Not long now. They're on their way. This picture was sent to me by our tour guide and was taken at Bradly International, Windsor.

DC3s sm

Their stalkbook page has lots of good stuff on it.

Daks over Normandy

 

[Airframes]

Looking forward to seeing them at DX next week.

 

[Gnomey]

Very cool! Not sure I'll see them in person but will be at the events here in Portsmouth next week.

 

[Airframes]

On Tuesday, 4th June at Duxford, there will be various displays on the ground and in the air, with a free fall display, and a 'mass', round canopy drop from the Daks, with 220 'paras' due to drop - given the wind direction and strength allows it.
Wednesday, 5th June, sees more activity at Duxford, before the mass formation departs for Normandy, with an escort of WW2 fighters, when all (capable) Daks will drop paras on one of the original British DZs at Ranville,, before landing at Caen Carpiquet airfield, ready for the anniversary celebrations on 6th June.
Route and timings for 5th June are shown below. (map courtesy of the D Day Squadron.)

 

[Airframes]

Already got my tickets for the Duxford part of the anniversary. Thought I wouldn't be able to go, as I'd intended to go to Holland later next week, but had to change plans. Just hoping my van will be back in time from it's service.
However, the weather isn't looking good for DX, and if the forecast is correct, it's doubtful that the Tuesday afternoon mass drop will go ahead, as it looks like rain, and wind at 12 mph, gusting to 20+ mph, from the south west.
Weather for Normandy looks marginally better for the Wednesday evening jump, although again rain, and thunderstorms on Thursday, 6th June, might cause problems.
That said, this is Europe, and things could (and hopefully will !) change !!

 

[nuuumannn]

Nine Daks will be performing at the Shuttleworth display tomorrow (Sunday 2 June):

Airshow: Flying Festival

I piccie I saw on another forum.

https://scontent.ffcm1-1.fna.fbcdn....=a345111a7dd4a681796cf038612ae5ea&oe=5D5B7195

Daks over Normandy, European a/c - Key Publishing Ltd Aviation Forums

 

[nuuumannn]

More on stalkbook.



The display program beginning at Duxford tomorrow. I'll be somewhere over the far east in an Etihad A380.

Program | Daks over Normandy

 

[Airframes]

I'm travelling down on Monday afternoon, and going to DX for the Tuesday event, specifically to see and photograph the mass para drop - if the weather holds. Forecast is up and down, showing sun one minute, and cloud and rain the next !
Should be meeting up with Gary (Geedee), and I'll post something on Tuesday evening, although photos might have to wait until I get back home.

 

[Crimea_River]

Looking forward to the pics Terry. The weather sounds rather typical....

 

[Airframes]

Latest 'guesscast' shows an improvement, but as you know, at DX, anything can happen.
I'm interested in seeing how the mass drop will be done, as the wind is from the south west, meaning that, in theory at least, the run-in should be done across the field, although a slightly cross wind approach should be OK.
But it's an odd DZ, with the M11 Motorway at one end !!

"Where's Tom ?"
"Last seen heading south on the M11 - on top of a truck !"

 

[Mainly28s]

They have been flying over my house on the way to the assembly area, and will be again on the way to Normandy. I get a grandstand view from my deck next to my kitchen. Unfortunately on Wednesday I'll be at work, but they will be flying over there on the way, so at least I won't miss everything.

 

[Airframes]

Arrived on the campsite, later than expected due to hold-up on the A14, and as I climbed out of the 'Tin Rent', a formation of 12 Daks flew past, with a Harvard circling behind.
Fantastic sight and sound, in the still, evening air.

 

[nuuumannn]

Awesome Terry, look forward to the photos. Have just arrived at Lisieux where we are staying for the next 6 days. Tomorrow we go to Gold Beach then in the afternoon go to watch the parachute drop at Ranville (at this stage). It's pretty busy in Normandy, have come across quite a few Americans and other nationalities here for the same reason. On the 7th we go to Caen Carpiquet to get a close look at the Daks and go up in one.

 

[Airframes]

I hope the weather is better than here !
Today at Duxford, there were 23 DC-3/C-47/Lisunov, but it rained most of the day, with a cold, stiff breeze.
There was still some flying, although the first display of the morning, a five ship formation, proved to be a sort of omen, as the Norwegian Dak had problems, and did a precautionary return and landing on one engine.
Some of the fighters put on a good show in rain, but the mass para drop didn't happen. The jumpers got airborne, overflew the field in trail, in five aircraft, and the Jumpmaster in the lead aircraft threw a 'widdy' (WDI - Wind Drift Indicator), which probably landed in Royston !!
The wind was way above limits for round canopies (and probably for modern, 'square' canopies), so after a few individual passes by the five Daks, that was it.
I'll post a report, with what pics I managed to get, in a separate thread, when I get back home, probably Thursday.