Smooth Airplanes, Rain and Big Mountains

[Dan CFI/CFII]

So, I am in La Paz, Bolivia right now. And of course, I have visited the airport here, since I saw a DC-4 without its engines as we rode the bus into town...

WOW! Sure looks like Miamis corner has started to move down here. I counted six C-46s in what looked to my quick look to be in pretty decent shape, the one DC-4, a couple DC-6s, CV-240, and these were all the ones just parked. Over on the T.A.M. ramp I saw a few Convairs, one DC-4 and a bunch of C-130As in regular service. Only one DC-3 in the gunch though, and it didn{t have wings or tailfeathers.

Man! I gotta find someone to let my fly some, somewhere. Way too cool.

Now if only I had a reason to fly anywhere in this country (or extra money), I would figure out where that DC-4 went and take a quick trip there...

Just thought there have to be some pilots out there who still get excited by a lot of radial engined airplanes sitting around, even better when they are surrounded by beautiful mountains (even if you cannot see em through the rain). Man!

Dan

 

[avbug]

Hopefully those A model hercs get parked.

Did they still have wooden blades?

 

[crash-proof]

Just thought there have to be some pilots out there who still get excited by a lot of radial engined airplanes sitting around, even better when they are surrounded by beautiful mountains (even if you cannot see em through the rain). Man!

Dan

I do! It's interesting you mention "Miami corner", you have to wonder where all those round-engine planes went. FLL was no different 20 yearss ago, but nowadays, all you have left are the occasional twin-beech and a rotting super-3 sitting near an FBO.


Opalocka's still pretty interesting, but I feel turboprops like cheap Shorts and Metros are gonna wipe out all the round engine birds over there.

Hmmm...now i gotta good excuse to visit lapaz!!!

 

[TurboS7]

The first thing you want to do is take a Coke bottle and try to punch it through the bottom of the wing. If it punches through I would go to the next airplane.

 

[avbug]

Now THAT is a true sign of a genuine IA.

 

[A Squared]

...Radial Engined Airplanes .... Beautiful Mountains

Yep, that's what I do for a living, although it's a little colder here than it is in La Paz ... oh yeah, we get plenty of rain too

regards

 

[TurboS7]

What is this about Northern Air Cargo trying to grab Nationals Certificate??? Don't you love X-feeding oil in the cold.

 

[Wang Chung]

Mountains. I remember those.

You have fun down there hangin' in the mountains, and think of me as I'm stuffing big found oily red plugs into the nacelles in sub-freezing temps out on the ramp in the wee hours...

I know, I know. Quit your b1tching, Wang.

 

[A Squared]

>>>>>What is this about Northern Air Cargo trying to grab Nationals Certificate???

Dunno, just got back from having beers with a buddy who flies for NAC and he says that their managment is claiming that the bit that was published about that was off base.... who do you believe?

Don't you love X-feeding oil in the cold.

Nah ... our engines never use any oil ......

 

[avbug]

Using oil? That's what STP is for.

 

[Dan CFI/CFII]

I´ll go you one better Turbo, the guard I talked into accompanying me among the airplanes kept smacking them with his beat-down stick. All solid! I wouldn´t have been so brazen, because even if they were corroded out, they look pretty, and I wouldn´t want to ruin that. That and my spanish may or may not be good enough if I need to keep myself out of jail

Yeah, most of those A models were parked, but I couldn´t get a real close look at them.

As to the mountains and cold, I´m too far south for any REAL interesting climbs (and I´m on my way home now anyway, guess I better think about finding another job, or something like that), but they are marginally pretty. North America kicks the crap out of the Southern Andes, I guess I´ll have to combe back and get into the Corlillera Blanca (Alpamayo baby!).

I´ll also report that the Cusco airport was a bust. Only some bizjets for rich white dudes who forced the city to sit through some really boring thousands of women marching he streets thing today.

Anyhoo...

Dan

 

[TurboS7]

You have to go to Chile to see the really big stuff, that is impressive when you are at TOD as see a mountain peak almost even with you.

 

[TurboS7]

Flown the DC-6, DC-3,DC-7, too much time is a 727, you guys are making me feel old.