So depressing... (goodbye to a special airplane)

[TheSoccerMom]

Well, I just told Pepe', my little stuffed skunk, that the last of his beloved DC-4s was up there....  he wasn't too happy to hear it....  here he is, getting his Initial Attack Type I Airtanker Card in one of those birds, back when they were all on line as airtankers.....  I still have his qualification card from that momentous day, and, coincidentally, the guy who owned all those machines called a few days ago, and offered to get Pepe' carded in his CL-215s, if I would stuff his little Dacron-furred-body in a Fed Ex box and ship him to where the guy is based.  He'd go fly, get some photos taken...  all that rot.  I may just have to do it!!!!  (Actually, I'd rather Fed Ex ME over there and get a good deal like that!!!!!!!!!!!)

[Baradium]

Oh, and I believe I neglected to mention previously.


I saw one of those DC-4s come in and land the other day.... on the nose gear.


Makes me cringe just thinking about it.

[TheSoccerMom]

Oh, OUCH OUCH OUCH.   

How ironic -- the guy who owned them as tankers was KNOWN everywhere for his absolutely perfect touchdowns...  no matter the wind conditions, shears, whatever...  the nosewheel was always off for SO far down the runway, people would look at each other and say "Hmmm.  Must be Matt."  No kidding.  Smooth, smooth, smooth.

I don't think I'll tell him this.....   

[Baradium]

Oh, OUCH OUCH OUCH.   

How ironic -- the guy who owned them as tankers was KNOWN everywhere for his absolutely perfect touchdowns...  no matter the wind conditions, shears, whatever...  the nosewheel was always off for SO far down the runway, people would look at each other and say "Hmmm.  Must be Matt."  No kidding.  Smooth, smooth, smooth.

I don't think I'll tell him this.....   

I shuddered at every single one of the landings that plane made off that one approach.  I thought I was going to see something break.   


Is there another one?  This is ship #3 of the ex tankers this guy has gotten.  The other one is still out of service from the tail strike (the tail stand failure), although they are apparently starting to work on that one now.   

If he has a plane left, maybe he'll reconsider letting brooks have *that* one if he does find out.


I am glad the state of Alaska has its own fleet of DC-4 tankers, so at least there will be some out here for a while yet.

[TheSoccerMom]

Well, he had one left last winter when that other one wrecked.  I'll ask him when I talk to him next..  I would guess this latest one is one of his?  Dunno.  We were too busy talking about getting old, falling apart, dropping in heavy smoke, and getting Pepe' the skunk carded.  Anyone monitoring THAT call in the NSA basement would have been pretty confused.  Heh heh.

[Baradium]

Well, he had one left last winter when that other one wrecked.  I'll ask him when I talk to him next..  I would guess this latest one is one of his?  Dunno.  We were too busy talking about getting old, falling apart, dropping in heavy smoke, and getting Pepe' the skunk carded.  Anyone monitoring THAT call in the NSA basement would have been pretty confused.  Heh heh.

Ah, that'll be it then.  It's painted exactly like the other two.   I heard brooks was going to get multiple more from down south so wasn't sure where the rest were supposed to come from.   This latest one is the only airworthy airplane he's got.



BTW, you need to drop in chat when you get on the computer.  :p