Chalk another one up for Gail and her Social Living consumer shopping habits :-)
Dad, Joshua, Hannah and I were able to take a ride in the Southern Cross C-47 - part of the Greatest Generation Aircraft's fleet! It was awesome!!!
"The DC-3 is given most of the credit for an almost 600% increase in airline
passenger traffic between 1936 and 1941. Recognizing its great potential as a
military transport, the United States Army specified a number of changes needed
to make the aircraft acceptable for military use, including more powerful
engines, the removal of airline seating in favor of utility seats along the
walls, a stronger rear fuselage and floor, and the addition of large loading
doors. A large order was placed in 1940 for the military DC-3, which was
designated C-47 and became known as "Skytrain," a name it would soon be asked to
live up to."
...waiting patiently...
What a beauty!
Gun ports - created so that the soldiers could aim directly out when they came under fire rather than busting out the windows! This is the only plane that still has the gun ports intact.
16 passenger seats on the left side - bench seats remain like the paratroopers used on the right side.
Troops that flew on C-47 planes in combat are allowed to sign their names inside the plane. Our cousin Sandy is married to a Ron Quaintance - don't know if it's any relation...
Hannah holding on tight to Grandpa's leg during takeoff!
...ready to go - incredibly loud in there so they provide these...
Amazing views all the way around!!!
Once the loud alarm sounded (normally used to tell the paratroopers to jump!) we were able to walk all around, check out the cockpit, and take pictures.
All that old equipment but a modern GPS - hehe!
Some of my most favorite peeps!
...coming into metro Denver...
...Mile High City that we love...
...the State Capitol and the Art Museum, too...
...Coors Field - Go Rockies!
...Sports Authority Field at Mile High - home of the Denver Broncos...
The kids loved checking everything out!
Love this of Dad watching over the kiddos :-)
Just had to get a picture here to show the immense size!
Afterwards Mom met us for a late breakfast at our favorite little place in Lakewood :-)
Thanks again, Gailie, for our ride of a lifetime!
