DC3 used in clean up on Gulf of Mexico slick.

Run_to_da_hills

I can't believe they are still useing these planes as work horses.



http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2010/04/oil_spill_approaches_louisiana.html#photo9

dogmatix

There's life in the old dogs yet... these things have been around since the late 30's, amazing. Just goes to show how successful and reliable the design was.

Run_to_da_hills

Since the banning of pax joy flights in the EU we may see a lot more of them being put to similar work.

Skyknight

Dogmatix,
Your so right. Its an beautiful piece of work.The picture reminded me of a ballad/poem(especially the the chorus) I heard some years ago, by the well known Canadian folk-song and Ballad writer, Oscar Brand and his band,the Roger Wilco Four, called Tribute to the DC-3 and it goes something like this:

Tribute to the DC-3

In '51 they tried to ground the noble DC-3,
And so some lawyers brought the case before the CAB,
The Board examined all the facts behind their great oak portal,
And then pronounced these simple words, "The Gooney Bird's immortal."

They patch her up with masking tape,
With paper clips and strings,
and still she flies, she never dies,
Methuselah with wings.

The Army toasts their SkyTrain now in lousy scotch and soda,
The Tommies raise their tankards high to cheer the old Dakota,
Some claim the C-47's best, or the gallant R4D,
Forget the claim, they're all the same, the noble DC-3.

They patch her up with masking tape,
With paper clips and strings,
and still she flies, she never dies,
Methuselah with wings.

Douglas built the ship to last, but nobody quite expected
The crazy heap would fly and fly no matter how they wrecked it.
While nations fall and men retire and jets get obsolete,
The Gooney Bird flies on and on, at 11,000 feet.

They patch her up with masking tape,
With paper clips and strings,
and still she flies, she never dies,
Methuselah with wings.

No matter what they do to her, The Gooney Bird still flies,
One crippled plane was fitted out with one wing half the size,
She hunched her shoulders, then took off, and I know this makes us laugh
One wing askew, and yet she flew ... The DC-2 and a half.

They patch her up with masking tape,
With paper clips and strings,
and still she flies, she never dies,
Methuselah with wings.

She had her faults, but after all, who's perfect in this sphere?
Her heating system was a gem, we loved her for her gear.
Of course, her windows leaked a bit when the rain came pouring down,
She'd keep you warm, but in a storm it's possible you'd drown.

They patch her up with masking tape,
With paper clips and strings,
and still she flies, she never dies,
Methuselah with wings.

Well now she flies the feeder routes and carries mail and freight,
She's just an airborne office or a flying twelve ton crate,

They patch her up with masking tape,
With paper clips and strings,
and still she flies, she never dies,
Methuselah with wings.

There is are plans afoot for a big DC-3/C-47 meet at AirVentrue,in Oshkosh, WI., on 27th of July this year, a couple of months before the 75th Anniversary of the types first flight on December 17th, 1935. I think some were in the region of 40 Classic, adaptable, and Iconic birds are due to take part.

donkey balls

turbo props are mostly used when there is an oil spill at sea the c130 herc is the prefered choice by OSRL,i knew a few lads that used to drive one they told me that they go about 100/200ft above the sea with two booms hanging over the ramp of the herc spraying the chemicals.

Run_to_da_hills

donkey balls wrote: »

turbo props are mostly used when there is an oil spill at sea the c130 herc is the prefered choice by OSRL,i knew a few lads that used to drive one they told me that they go about 100/200ft above the sea with two booms hanging over the ramp of the herc spraying the chemicals.

donkey balls

Run_to_da_hills wrote: »

its a term used for crews of a certain acft type you have herc drivers,bus drivers etc in the future i will use flying instead of driving:D

Run_to_da_hills

donkey balls wrote: »

its a term used for crews of a certain acft type you have herc drivers,bus drivers etc in the future i will use flying instead of driving:D

I have a Suzuki GSXR 750. I Pilot that bike.

donkey balls

Run_to_da_hills wrote: »

I have a Suzuki GSXR 750. I Pilot that bike.

ah what ever floats your boat:D