Douglas DC-3/C-47 Skytrain

Aircraft Information
> Aircraft Make: Douglas. Model: DC-3. Nickname: Skytrain
> Aircraft Mil Civ Description: Airplane ME Piston
> FAA Category and Class: Airplane Multi-engine land
> Engine Description: twin piston

Aircraft Experience
> As of: 6/25/2024
> Number of Hours Flown: 1.4
> Number of Times Flown: 1
> Other Aircraft Models Associated: C-47

First Flown Information
> Sequence First Flown: 80
> Date First Flown: 9/30/1995
> Location First Flown: Santa Monica, CA Airport (KSMO)
> Who and/or What Organization First Flown With: USNTPS Qual Eval, with Jan Aarvik

Recollections: I flew DC-3 as part of a USNTPS “Qual Eval” session.  Like many of these Qual Evals, I was simply amazed that I was getting to fly an airplane I could only dream of flying.  This was no exception.  That said–and while I’m sure I did some “test pilot stuff” and likely wrote a “daily report” of my findings…the thing I remember most about the flight was the pilot I was flying with.  My log book didn’t record his name and all I remember was (1) he didn’t speak much english and (2) I distinctly remember him leaning over from the right seat on each takeoff, raising his right hand in front of my face with two fingers extended in a side-ways peace symbol and loudy saying over the intercom “wee-too”.  This was my signal that I could rotate, at “V2” (the takeoff safety speed).  Writing this recounting for my recollections, I came across the following AOPA article from the year before I flew: LINK TO ARTICLE

This article mentions the following: “The DC-3 based at Cloverfield Aviation at Santa Monica (California) Municipal Airport is owned by the husband-and-wife team of Jan (pronounced Yon, as in Don) and Britt Aarvik. Jan was a pilot in the Norwegian Air Force and has amassed more than 17,000 hours (4,000 in DC-3s).”  So, yes, I think I flew with Jan!  

Years later, after retiring from the FAA, I decided I’d once-again become a DC-3 pilot, this time paying for an SIC rating at the Historic Flight Foundation at Felts Field, WA.  This gorgeous museum, unfortunately went under before I could complete my rating, so it remains a “bucket list” item.  If I do ever fly the “skytrain” again, I’m convinced I’ll hear “WEE-TOO” as I rotate.