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The Immortal DC3

PostPosted: Sun Jan 18, 2009 11:53 am
by Flying Trucker
Good snowy afternoon all... :)

Here is a little poem some of you might enjoy:
Written by Oscar Brand

TRIBUTE TO THE DC-3

In fifty-one they tried to ground the noble DC-3
And some lawyers brought the case before the C.A.B.
The board examined all the facts behind their great oak portal
And pronounced these simple words "The Gooney Birds Immortal"

The Army toast their Sky Train in lousy scotch and soda
The Tommies raise their glasses high to cheer their old Dakota
Some claim the C-47's best, or the gallant R4D
Forget that claim, their all the same, they're the noble DC-3.

Douglas built the ship to last, but nobody expected
This crazy heap would fly and fly, no matter how they wrecked it
While nations fall and men retire, and jets go obsolete
The Gooney Bird flies on and on at eleven thousand feet.

No matter what they did to her the Gooney Bird still flies
One crippled plane was fitted out with one wing half the size
She hunched her shoulders then took off (I know this makes you laugh)
One wing askew, and yet she flew, the DC-2 and a half

She had her faults, but after all, who's perfect in every sphere?
Her heating system was a gem we loved her for her gear
Of course the windows leaked a bit when the rain came pouring down
She'd keep you warm, but in a storm, it's possible you'd drown.

Well now she flies the feeder lines and carries all the freight
She's just an airborne office, a flying twelve ton crate
They patched her up with masking tape, with paper clips and strings
And still she flies, she never dies, Methuselah with wings.


Cheers...Happy Landings...Doug

Re: The Immortal DC3

PostPosted: Sun Jan 18, 2009 12:18 pm
by MrRooney
I agree with that completely Doug, I've heard stories and tales from many a pilots past about her, and until i got the chance to see one up close and personally at liverpool i always thought they where tales....

Lets hope for many more years of the DC3 flying :D

Re: The Immortal DC3

PostPosted: Sun Jan 18, 2009 1:03 pm
by pepper_airborne
Its one of those planes one has to see to enjoy!

Re: The Immortal DC3

PostPosted: Mon Jan 19, 2009 8:26 pm
by H
Did you type this from memory? Perhaps "The Gooney Birds Immortal" should be "The Gooney Bird's Immortal" (meaning the Gooney Bird is Immortal). However, and the reason I make note of it, it is not such a bad collective title: a squadron of DC3s would have a a snappy name with "Gooney Birds Immortal" emblazoned on their sides or above the individual aircraft's name.


8-)

Re: The Immortal DC3

PostPosted: Tue Jan 20, 2009 12:38 pm
by beaky
Excellent poem... I'll be adding that to my collection. :)

Re: The Immortal DC3

PostPosted: Sun Mar 15, 2009 10:20 am
by patchz
Great post. The DC-3 was the first aircraft I ever flew on. My Dad worked for Southern Airways and that's what they had at the time. They later had Martin 404s, Metros, and DC-9s. They merged with Northwestern and after Dad retired, it became Republic. The Gooney has always been one of my favorite birds. I just got one in Southern livery. I had searched a lot before but never found one until a few days ago. Still have not found any of the others except a DC-9 with problems.