My first flying with Dakota DC-3

My first flying with Dakota DC-3 was on the 4th September 2016 to the Telemark Airshow in Norway. I didn’t expect anything special from the flight. In fact, I thought it would be boring. Big and old machine – what’s the fun? But the experience surpassed my hopes and dreams.

Danish Dakota DC-3

In Denmark there is only one DC-3 that is owned by the Association For Flying Museum Aircraft and kept airworthy by the Danish Dakota Friends, an organization which purpose is to keep this legendary aircraft flying. Danish Dakota Friends has about 2400 members, publishes a magazine, offers many interesting trips to its members, and promotes interest to this historic aircraft internationally.

Our trip started from a warm welcome from the pilots and crew in Roskilde airport (EKRK), a home airfield to our DC-3. That was very different from a scheduled flight! How often did you have a chat with a pilot before a flight with a commercial airline?

Shortly after the take off coffee and cakes were served. We got a briefing about the trip, and were encouraged to move around the cabin, and to see from the cockpit how our pilots controlled the aircraft.

Crew only – but all members are welcome

The OY-BPB is operated by volunteers with extensive experience from military or/and civil aviation. The crew knows this DC-3 to their fingertips and happily shares their knowledge.

This aircraft was rolled out on the 3rd April 1944 and served in the USA and Canada before moving to the Royal Norwegian Air Force in 1945, and later to SAS. It was purchased by the Danish Royal Air Force on the 1st October 1953 for 588.200 dkk. After some years in service and storage it was taken over by The Association for Flying Museums Planes/Danish Dakota Friends in 1992, and since then many people have enjoyed flying this historic aircraft.

On our way to the Telemark Airshow we had a short stop in Sandefjord airport in Torp which is a home base to the Norwegian Dakota Friends. We had a very warm welcome with coffee and cakes, and enjoyed the time together on their sun terrasse.

With our Norwegian friends in ENTO

As it was my first flight with DC-3, I got permission to fly further to the airshow in the Norwegian one. It has a dramatic history: the aircraft was purchased from the Finnish Air Force, but didn’t have the permission to get to Norway! With the help from enthusiasts from different countries it was registered in the UK, later in the USA, and first on the 30th of May 1985 could be flown to Torp, Norway. It took 16 months – longer than it took Douglas to design and build the first DC-3!

Norwegian Dakota DC-3

And here is the group photo in Torp:

It was interesting to observe how much people love DC-3. The crowd waved and applauded us on arrival and departure. Our Danish aircraft had Open House, and many people came to see it. The Norwegian DC-3 did sightseeing flights, and people were queuing up to get one.

As a member of the DC-3 association you are also welcome to help with some small things, as long as it doesn’t compromise the safety. I was allowed to hold our pitot covers which I was very proud of 🙂

With pitot covers

Flying back I had a pleasure of sitting in the flight engineer’s seat right behind the pilots, and could listen in on radio communications.

In the cockpit

It was a day with many exciting happenings and discoveries. It was also for the first time I tried formation flying with such big aircraft, in a company of two DC-3 and a Harvard:

Unforgettable experience! On Saturday 24th October 2016 the Association For Flying Museum Aircraft and Danish Dakota Friends are celebrating 25 years of flying with this legendary aircraft. Dakota Norway is attending. We welcome all interested in vintage aircraft and aviation to join us.