Tribute to the DC-3

[allardjd 1,853]

I struggled with whether this should go here or in "General", but you don't get much more "Real World Aviation" than the DC-3, so here it shall be....

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 Bird's 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, they're 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 do 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-3 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.

[ddavid 149]

You just can't beat rhyming couplets for getting the message across, can you. Surprised he (A. Nonymus) couldn't get a rhyme for Dizzie though !?! Thanks for sharing, John. :wink:

Cheers Dai.

[hurricanemk1c 195]

Brilliant John!

Kieran

[mutley 4,498]

A fitting tribute, she has got to be one of the most important aircraft in aviations short history

Cheers