Oh Nooz!! Safety Concerns Over Red Bull 55 year old Seaplane

[bmc]

Have you seen the Ju-52s flying out of Dubendorf (Zurich)? They are called Ju-Air (don't get excited, Niss its YOO-Air ) and they do numerous sightseeing flights for the museum-goers.

I know, they aren't supposed to float.

Sure. They pop in here often. The Breitling Connie is a frequent machine gracing the skies. Classic Air had two DC-3's before all -3's were grounded in Europe. The KLM DC-2 pops in as well. Some interesting airplanes over here. The topless beaches are ok, too.

[beaverbob]

Sure. They pop in here often. The Breitling Connie is a frequent machine gracing the skies. Classic Air had two DC-3's before all -3's were grounded in Europe. The KLM DC-2 pops in as well. Some interesting airplanes over here. The topless beaches are ok, too.

This begs the question. Why and when were the DC3s grounded in Europe?
Time limits, or structural failures?
Bob

[bmc]

Sure. They pop in here often. The Breitling Connie is a frequent machine gracing the skies. Classic Air had two DC-3's before all -3's were grounded in Europe. The KLM DC-2 pops in as well. Some interesting airplanes over here. The topless beaches are ok, too.

This begs the question. Why and when were the DC3s grounded in Europe?
Time limits, or structural failures?
Bob

Idiot politicians in Brussels is the short and arguably most accurate answer. I can't recall the details on it, but people in the aviation community flipped out over here when it happened. It came into play in 2008. Try googling it. If that doesn't work, pm me and I'll look for it.

[Finn47]

Announcing the "death of the DC-3 in Europe" is somewhat premature, fortunately. Commercial passenger operations in the UK are over, I think, because the bureaucrats wanted the aircraft to have inflatable slides and some other new ridiculous gadgets, but the historic aircraft associations in Denmark, Sweden and Finland have an exemption when flying members. There´s a big DC-3 gathering in Roskilde, Denmark this summer, see here:

http://www.airshow.dk/program.html

I´m told the Finnish DC-association will also take part with their OH-LCH, which came off the assembly line on Christmas eve, 1942, and is still going strong. They built them to last from father to son.

[Old Dog Flying]

bmc: That is correct. He had to sell the old bird because noone would insure him without him having a f/o with at least 250 pic on type and none of us could total that much time.

[casey]

Speaking of DC-3 I have two original navigater chairs that i picked up from the YTS farm in the old Austin days.I was thinking of selling them if anyone has a interest.Makes a good fishing chair when bolted down to the end of the dock haveing a few cool ones. The seat belt keeps you safe.

[Cat Driver]

Yes it was a P51.

[Old Dog Flying]

.: Cottonmouth was the original, a P-51
Cottonmouth II was the Seafury
Cottonmouth III was the Albatross.

[bmc]

.: Cottonmouth was the original, a P-51
Cottonmouth II was the Seafury
Cottonmouth III was the Albatross.

Yep...that's how it went. Wasn't the Seafury powered with a big Wright or something. I recall it had a different prop/engine. Or am I thinking of something else?

[Old Dog Flying]

bmc: Cottonmouth II had a Wright 3350 with a modified Skyraider prop. When he asked for a low approach it was usually approved and that prop looked awfully big up real close.

[canadafreak]

In respect to the grounding story of the DC-3 in Europe. Don't forget DDA Classic Airlines out of Amsterdam. They still operate two DC-3's under full JAR OPS certificates. Being PH-PBA c/n 19434 and PH-DDZ c/n 19754 from the top of my head that is. This museum organisation is a fully licensed Airline since I think 2005 or 2006. It will be murged with Aviodrome in Lelystad (EHLE) this summer. That's also the location where the DC-2 and the CAT flown by Cat Driver are stationed. Not to forget the Lockheed 749 Constellation which is due on the airshow circuit again this year. I'm just about ready at this moment to drive to their hangar as we speak. Flight season is opening again today so the Gooney Birds are taking to the skies again

[Cat Driver]

Yes the Dutch want to see old vintage aircraft remain in airworthy condition for the public to watch fly and fly in them.

One of the most satisfying things in my career was being part of convincing the Dutch authorities that these old airplanes are as safe as any other airplane as long as they have proper maintenance and proper crew training and recurrent training.

The loss of the Dutch DC3 was almost the end of flying vintage aircraft in Europe but they now understand that with proper training and maintenance these airplanes are not a risk to safety.

Proof positive is the PBY does regular passenger flights from the Aviodrome and as part of the sightseeing flights they do water touch and goes with eighteen passengers and a crew of three.

It took three years but finally everyone agreed that there was no reason not to approve the operation, the biggest hurdle was convincing the insurance companies, fortunately I have a very good relationship with Lloyds of London which made the difference between success and failure.

[canadafreak]

Hey Cat, I didn't know that you were in it soooo deep In that case I do want to thank you for your help, it was indeed a very close call after our 1996 crash.

Today we made a good start of the flying season. PH-DDZ made 3 flights with regular paying pax on a sight seeing tour over Holland and she was hired by a family for some sort of party. They flew with I think close to 20 people on board. Anyway it was good to see and hear the good old lady in the skies. The other one had it's first seasonal engine runs last week and they found some metal parts in the oil on no. 2 so that needs a good check first. Lets hope we don't need to call in the help of precision engines again That will cost a bundle.....

Cheers from Holland!!!

[Cat Driver]

Hey Cat, I didn't know that you were in it soooo deep In that case I do want to thank you for your help, it was indeed a very close call after our 1996 crash.

Yeh I spent three years with the guys flying the Cat and also satisfied your Dutch CAA that it was a safe operation by convincing one of their inspectors that the pilots were top notch and very safe...by the way the CAA guy loved flying the Cat on the water.

Here is a picture of two of the best machines you can fly taken at Valkenburg naval station.

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e353/ ... ate028.jpg

I flew both of them on the same day.

[canadafreak]

Yes the Dutch authorities need a lot of convincing that's for sure. I'm also convinced that the people working and flying the CAT and the DC-3's are very professional people. Training in both maintenance and flying are of very high quality.

So you also flew Fifi Kate how nice!! I believe she's somewhere in California now. Being sold by (I think it was a British) owner and she went state side again. Don't tell me you ferried her overthere....... Well I'm hoping for a special year this year. It's now 75 years ago the KLM DC-2 flew in the great race London - Melbourne, so we should get plenty of DC-2 action out of that.

That's a great picture btw, The airbase is closed now They will use it to build more houses now. They sold off all the Orions, most of them to the German Navy...... nice going

Well, I'm gonna have dinner now. It's been great talking to you again!!!!
Take care,
Marc