Douglas DC-3
The Douglas DC-3, which revolutionized air transport in the 1930s and 1940s, is universally recognized as the greatest airplane of its time and possibly beyond. It is estimated that approximately 2,000 DC-3s and military derivatives out of the total 16,000 produced are still flying today.
Flabob Airport DC-3/C-47 Fly-In
DC-3/C-47 Fly-In
This past weekend visitors to the Flabob Airport in Riverside, California had a unique opportunity to admire timeless beauty and durability of about a dozen of them during the first ever DC-3/C-47 Fly-In.
Douglas DC-3 “Spirit of Benovia”
Participating aircraft
The collection included Douglas C-47 Skytrain “Willa Dean” from the Lyon Air Museum, DC-3 “Spirit of Benovia”, DC-3 “Thunderbird Flying Service”, DC-3 “Four Star Airways”, C-47 Skytrain “Virginia Ann”, C-47 Skytrain “Placid Lassie”, DC-3 “Flabob Express” and DC-3 (C-41A) with Golden Age Air Tours.
Douglas DC-3 “Flabob Express”
Tours and rides
Visitors were able to get close to all of the airplanes and even tour some of them inside. Several of the DC-3s and C-47s were also available for short but unforgettable rides. As a side attraction some of the Flabob’s residents’ planes were also available for viewing and included a Beech C-45H Expeditor, de Havilland DH.88 Comet replica, Laird Turner RT-14 Meteor replica, Caudron C.460 Rafale replica and others.
Douglas DC-3 (C-41A) Golden Age Air Tours
Wright Flyer Project
We also got intrigued by a “Wright Flyer Project” sign on one of the airport’s hangars. As it turns out that inside, a group of volunteers is building a 1903 Wright Flyer replica that one day will recreate the famous Wright brothers first powered heavier-than-air manned flight. Visit the Wright Flyer Project website to learn more or to support the project with a donation.
Wright Flyer Project
Douglas DC-8 supersonic dive
We also met Dick Edwards, one of the Wright Flyer project volunteers, a former Douglas engineer who participated in a famous 1961 supersonic dive of the Douglas DC-8 over the Edwards Air Force Base. His collection of over 900 model planes is also available for viewing inside of the hangar.
Dick Edwards with his model collection
The first ever DC-3 / C-47 Fly-In is expected to return to the Flabob Airport next year. Visit the Fly-In website for more information.
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More Photos
Douglas C-47 Skytrain “Willa Dean”
Douglas C-47 Skytrain “Willa Dean”
Douglas DC-3 (C-41A) Golden Age Air Tours
Douglas DC-3 (C-41A) Golden Age Air Tours
Douglas DC-3 (C-41A) Golden Age Air Tours
Douglas DC-3 (C-41A) Golden Age Air Tours
Flabob Airport DC-3/C-47 Fly-In
Flabob Airport DC-3/C-47 Fly-In
Douglas DC-3 “Flabob Express”
Douglas DC-3 “Flabob Express”
Douglas DC-3 “Flabob Express”
Douglas DC-3 “Flabob Express”
Laird Turner RT-14 Meteor replica
Laird Turner RT-14 Meteor replica
de Havilland DH.88 Comet replica
de Havilland DH.88 Comet replica
Beech C-45H Expeditor
Beech C-45H Expeditor
Douglas C-47 Skytrain “Placid Lassie”
Douglas C-47 Skytrain “Placid Lassie”
Douglas C-47 Skytrain “Virginia Ann”
Douglas C-47 Skytrain “Virginia Ann”
Douglas DC-3 “Four Star Airways”
Douglas DC-3 “Four Star Airways”
Douglas DC-3
Douglas DC-3
Douglas DC-3 “Thunderbird Flying Service”
Douglas DC-3 “Thunderbird Flying Service”
