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The Dakota Society
Ardmore Airport
Sunday 11 June 2006
Douglas DC-3
ZK-DAK
Seat No assigned seating
The Dakota Society operate their DC-3 on joyflights on many weekends each year. While visiting Ardmore I took a flight in this aircraft. This is my first ever flight on a DC-3.
MyAviation.net:
Photographer © Ryan Hothersall
MyAviation.net:
Photographer © Ryan Hothersall
The flight was NZ$80 for 30 minutes that goes out over Auckland city, the airport, down the coast a bit and back to Ardmore.
After a talk by the crew on the history of the aircraft. This aircraft started out with the US Army Air Force, was operated by Ansett and various airlines over the years before being put into a museum. When the museum went broke, the Dakota Society bought it, make it airworthy and flew it over to New Zealand.
We boarded for the flight. After the sole F/A did the safety demo, which consisted of pointing where the exits were etc, the engines were started.
With the engines started it was noisy but not as noisy as I had expected.
MyAviation.net:
Photographer © Ryan Hothersall
MyAviation.net:
Photographer © Ryan Hothersall
MyAviation.net:
Photographer © Ryan Hothersall
At takeoff power the engines were quite loud. As the aircraft took off I was expecting to feel the tail rise off the hround, but I did not feel it.
MyAviation.net:
Photographer © Ryan Hothersall
MyAviation.net:
Photographer © Ryan Hothersall
MyAviation.net:
Photographer © Ryan Hothersall
MyAviation.net:
Photographer © Ryan Hothersall
MyAviation.net:
Photographer © Ryan Hothersall
MyAviation.net:
Photographer © Ryan Hothersall
MyAviation.net:
Photographer © Ryan Hothersall
The Interior had been modernized with modern seats and fittings. The windows are lower and smaller than those on modern aircraft, which lead to dad and I competing for the window at times.
MyAviation.net:
Photographer © Ryan Hothersall
During the flight, starting at the back to the front we were allowed to have a quick look at the flight deck in flight. A thing that is so rare these days. My impression of the flight deck was it looked cramped and since it was between the engines it was very noisy up there.
MyAviation.net:
Photographer © Ryan Hothersall
MyAviation.net:
Photographer © Ryan Hothersall
We were only flying at 1500-2000 feet and the air was quite rough so the aircraft was bouncing around a bit. Walking to the flight deck during all this turbulence, the floor kinda dissappeared from under my feet. I had the feeling of a drunk trying to walk in a straight line.
The flight went over Auckland city, the harbour, Auckland airport and up the coast and back.
MyAviation.net:
Photographer © Ryan Hothersall
MyAviation.net:
Photographer © Ryan Hothersall
MyAviation.net:
Photographer © Ryan Hothersall
MyAviation.net:
Photographer © Ryan Hothersall
MyAviation.net:
Photographer © Ryan Hothersall
MyAviation.net:
Photographer © Ryan Hothersall
After around 30 minutes we landed back at Ardmore. Landing was good, but unlike modern airliners there are no thrust reversers.
MyAviation.net:
Photographer © Ryan Hothersall
MyAviation.net:
Photographer © Ryan Hothersall
MyAviation.net:
Photographer © Ryan Hothersall
MyAviation.net:
Photographer © Ryan Hothersall
MyAviation.net:
Photographer © Ryan Hothersall
MyAviation.net:
Photographer © Ryan Hothersall
It was a great experience to fly in a classic aircraft, but I would not want to do it any longer than a couple of hours.
I would like to thank The Dakota Society for a great flight.
For anyone visiting New Zealand I would recommend it.
Ardmore Airport
Sunday 11 June 2006
Douglas DC-3
ZK-DAK
Seat No assigned seating
The Dakota Society operate their DC-3 on joyflights on many weekends each year. While visiting Ardmore I took a flight in this aircraft. This is my first ever flight on a DC-3.
Photographer © Ryan Hothersall
Photographer © Ryan Hothersall
The flight was NZ$80 for 30 minutes that goes out over Auckland city, the airport, down the coast a bit and back to Ardmore.
After a talk by the crew on the history of the aircraft. This aircraft started out with the US Army Air Force, was operated by Ansett and various airlines over the years before being put into a museum. When the museum went broke, the Dakota Society bought it, make it airworthy and flew it over to New Zealand.
We boarded for the flight. After the sole F/A did the safety demo, which consisted of pointing where the exits were etc, the engines were started.
With the engines started it was noisy but not as noisy as I had expected.
Photographer © Ryan Hothersall
Photographer © Ryan Hothersall
Photographer © Ryan Hothersall
At takeoff power the engines were quite loud. As the aircraft took off I was expecting to feel the tail rise off the hround, but I did not feel it.
Photographer © Ryan Hothersall
Photographer © Ryan Hothersall
Photographer © Ryan Hothersall
Photographer © Ryan Hothersall
Photographer © Ryan Hothersall
Photographer © Ryan Hothersall
Photographer © Ryan Hothersall
The Interior had been modernized with modern seats and fittings. The windows are lower and smaller than those on modern aircraft, which lead to dad and I competing for the window at times.
Photographer © Ryan Hothersall
During the flight, starting at the back to the front we were allowed to have a quick look at the flight deck in flight. A thing that is so rare these days. My impression of the flight deck was it looked cramped and since it was between the engines it was very noisy up there.
Photographer © Ryan Hothersall
Photographer © Ryan Hothersall
We were only flying at 1500-2000 feet and the air was quite rough so the aircraft was bouncing around a bit. Walking to the flight deck during all this turbulence, the floor kinda dissappeared from under my feet. I had the feeling of a drunk trying to walk in a straight line.
The flight went over Auckland city, the harbour, Auckland airport and up the coast and back.
Photographer © Ryan Hothersall
Photographer © Ryan Hothersall
Photographer © Ryan Hothersall
Photographer © Ryan Hothersall
Photographer © Ryan Hothersall
Photographer © Ryan Hothersall
After around 30 minutes we landed back at Ardmore. Landing was good, but unlike modern airliners there are no thrust reversers.
Photographer © Ryan Hothersall
Photographer © Ryan Hothersall
Photographer © Ryan Hothersall
Photographer © Ryan Hothersall
Photographer © Ryan Hothersall
Photographer © Ryan Hothersall
It was a great experience to fly in a classic aircraft, but I would not want to do it any longer than a couple of hours.
I would like to thank The Dakota Society for a great flight.
For anyone visiting New Zealand I would recommend it.
Member's Choice !
. Damn Ryan, you sure are a lucky guy, flying floatplanes and a DC-3 within just 3 days of each other, that's something most of us probably don't manage in 3 decades 
.
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