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View Full Version : Nice Ride on WWII C-47 "Southern Cross"


Bailey Guns
08-26-2012, 17:02
Maybe it wasn't the "thrill of a lifetime", but it ranked right up there as one of the most enjoyable experiences I've ever had. Sharpienads and I took a 30-minute flight on the C-47 "Southern Cross" out of the Springs airport today.

Here's some background info from the website www.douglasc47.org (http://www.douglasc47.org/History.html):


Southern Cross

This aircraft was ordered by TWA for passenger service with Wright Cyclone engines and was completed in December of 1941. Due to the attack on Pearl Harbor, many aircraft were pressed into military service and 6315 was no exception. It's first job in service was as a troop carrier and para troop trainer. Its official designation by the Army Air Corps was C 49J.

After the war, it changed hands many times. Immediately following the war, it was returned to its original purpose of passenger carriage. It was owned by Chicago and Southern Airlines until 1953 when the airline and all its planes were bought by Delta. It flew under Delta colors until it was sold to the President of Mexico. At this time the interior received a makeover to suit presidential status, including upgrades such as a wrap-around couch, a bathroom, complete galley, and the portrait windows. The engines were also updated at this time to the higher horsepower 1820-72 engines.

Following its presidential service, it was purchased by a skydiving operator who immediately ripped out all the interior upgrades in an effort to make the plane as light as possible and installed even larger engines, a pair of 1820-76Ds, (1475hp each) the same engines that are installed on the HU 46 Albatross.

Since the skydivers, it has been owned by several private parties until it finally ended up in the Greatest Generation Aircraft family.

Here are a few photos from our adventure:

On the ramp at Colorado Jet Center
http://i625.photobucket.com/albums/tt337/baileyguns/Southern%20Cross%20C47%20Flight%2026Aug2012/493ab2d0.jpg

http://i625.photobucket.com/albums/tt337/baileyguns/Southern%20Cross%20C47%20Flight%2026Aug2012/c407fcce.jpg

http://i625.photobucket.com/albums/tt337/baileyguns/Southern%20Cross%20C47%20Flight%2026Aug2012/ddc1be3a.jpg

http://i625.photobucket.com/albums/tt337/baileyguns/Southern%20Cross%20C47%20Flight%2026Aug2012/6cc57961.jpg

http://i625.photobucket.com/albums/tt337/baileyguns/Southern%20Cross%20C47%20Flight%2026Aug2012/ec55408c.jpg

Taxiing for takeoff
http://i625.photobucket.com/albums/tt337/baileyguns/Southern%20Cross%20C47%20Flight%2026Aug2012/b73c5b43.jpg

Just after takeoff, looking towards Pike's Peak (almost centered inside the window vent). I got lucky in this picture as I was just holding the camera towards the window and pointing it outside, hoping for a good shot of Pike's Peak!http://i625.photobucket.com/albums/tt337/baileyguns/Southern%20Cross%20C47%20Flight%2026Aug2012/0a76927c.jpg

A few in-flight photos
http://i625.photobucket.com/albums/tt337/baileyguns/Southern%20Cross%20C47%20Flight%2026Aug2012/8050ffe4.jpg

http://i625.photobucket.com/albums/tt337/baileyguns/Southern%20Cross%20C47%20Flight%2026Aug2012/b57ea4be.jpg

http://i625.photobucket.com/albums/tt337/baileyguns/Southern%20Cross%20C47%20Flight%2026Aug2012/67deb8f4.jpg

Leaky engies! You could see the oil streaming out of the engines during flight...interesting to say the least (but quite normal).
http://i625.photobucket.com/albums/tt337/baileyguns/Southern%20Cross%20C47%20Flight%2026Aug2012/bec13bda.jpg
Fmedges
08-26-2012, 17:04
That's so awesome. I want to take a ride in a b17 sometime during my life.
Bailey Guns
08-26-2012, 17:06
Oh, yeah. Me, too! But I can't afford a ride in the 17. This one was through a LivingSocial daily deal and was only $85. The B-17 rides are like $400 or $500.
theGinsue
08-26-2012, 17:37
Just think of how many other folk took off in that very plane and weren't with it when it landed.

Definitely a part of history.
Bailey Guns
08-26-2012, 17:40
Yeah, we talked about that. How a ride in 2012 was probably way more fun than a ride in 1944.
spleify
08-26-2012, 17:52
Looks awesome.

Thanks for sharing
BlasterBob
08-26-2012, 18:05
Many thanks for posting those pictures!!![Beer]
anaphylaxis
08-26-2012, 18:07
Wow, you had access to the cockpit? What if a terrorist... </sarcasm>

Lots of cool aircraft at Centennial today. Almost wish I would have cancelled my flight lesson to see them depart. Had a B25 there that had taken off from probably a half dozen (or more) aircraft carriers!

Of course, I also had the opportunity to be in the air, in the pattern the same time the Aluminum Overcast was around... Not too many people can say they've heard the instruction "caution wake turbulence B-17" from ATC these days...
lead_magnet
08-26-2012, 18:10
That is freakin awesome!
Marlin
08-26-2012, 18:23
Cool, that must be the one I have seen a couple of times last week.
Bailey Guns
08-26-2012, 18:27
Not too many people can say they've heard the instruction "caution wake turbulence B-17" from ATC these days...

Yeah...that's gotta be pretty rare. Definitely something to remember.

[Beer]
tmleadr03
08-26-2012, 18:28
That is so cool!

Must be like the CH46s, if it stops leaking then you worry!
Troublco
08-27-2012, 02:29
I've seen several of these sitting around in various places in Africa...not in that kind of shape, though. I've also seen several recently down in South America that were flying, although they had all been converted to turboprops.

Very cool!
divideman
08-27-2012, 06:11
Saw this flying around town yesterday, looked great!
MCarp71
08-27-2012, 09:10
Thats awesome! My son and I rode in a B-17 here in Greeley about 6 years ago. It ran $450 each. He was in 6th grade at the time, when I pulled him out of school that day. They asked why I was pulling him. All I had to say, was He was about to get more of a history lesson, than they could ever teach him. It was the Sentimental Journey from the Arizona Confederate Air Force. That is something that my boy and I shared, that we still talk about today. It was freakin' awesome! My Grandpa was a pilot in the Phillipines during WW2. He flew the P47 Thunderbolt, then the P38 Lightning. He is my Hero!![Salute]
Fmedges
08-27-2012, 09:21
Speaking of classic planes I just walked outside here and there was an Avenger doing laps around downtown.
Chad4000
08-27-2012, 09:33
very cool.. thanks for sharing!
wyome
08-27-2012, 09:36
Did u guys make it over castle rock....coulda swore i saw this plane over my house...
Bailey Guns
08-27-2012, 18:41
We didn't make it that far north. We took off to the south, turned west, turned north and flew along the mountains for a bit, turned back towards the airport near the AFA and landed. It was only about a 20 min flight but it was fantastic.
Bailey Guns
08-27-2012, 18:42
Thats awesome! My son and I rode in a B-17 here in Greeley about 6 years ago. It ran $450 each. He was in 6th grade at the time, when I pulled him out of school that day. They asked why I was pulling him. All I had to say, was He was about to get more of a history lesson, than they could ever teach him. It was the Sentimental Journey from the Arizona Confederate Air Force. That is something that my boy and I shared, that we still talk about today. It was freakin' awesome! My Grandpa was a pilot in the Phillipines during WW2. He flew the P47 Thunderbolt, then the P38 Lightning. He is my Hero!![Salute]


Yeah...I'd pretty much give my left nu...kidney to ride in a B-17.
rondog
08-27-2012, 18:48
How awesome! I'd love to ride in a warbird of any kind. I get a thrill out of just being near any birds from WWII. I'd certainly cough up $85 to ride in a Gooney Bird.

But this would be the ultimate, skydiving out of the bomb bay of a B-17.

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b150/rinselman/planes/B-17diver.jpg
Bailey Guns
08-27-2012, 18:51
Oh, man. If I could do that I wouldn't even care if the chute didn't open. Life would be complete. No way to top that.
Fmedges
08-27-2012, 22:35
amazing