Nice Ride on WWII C-47 "Southern Cross"

[Bailey Guns]

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:

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










Taxiing for takeoff


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!

A few in-flight photos






Leaky engies! You could see the oil streaming out of the engines during flight...interesting to say the least (but quite normal).

[Fmedges]

That's so awesome. I want to take a ride in a b17 sometime during my life.

[Bailey Guns]

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]

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]

Yeah, we talked about that. How a ride in 2012 was probably way more fun than a ride in 1944.

[spleify]

Looks awesome.

Thanks for sharing

[BlasterBob]

Many thanks for posting those pictures!!!

[anaphylaxis]

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]

That is freakin awesome!

[Marlin]

Cool, that must be the one I have seen a couple of times last week.