N996DM

[jetstar]

Hi Guys.

Been outside tonight and just watched N996DM on its way into to LGW.
All four turning and the sound of four Pratt's (and birds!) echoing in my ears!!

Can't remember the last time I saw a DC-6 in LGW.

The controller was taken off guard when he asked the 6 to slow to 180 and descend to 2000, and the reply was we are going to fast for gear retraction to descend. We will let you know when we are able. (he was doing 220).

The pilot was European and I think he meant he had to slow down before he could drop the gear so he could slow down more!

A BA pilot in a 737-500 was rather amused when he was told he was number 2 to a DC-6!!

Anyway nice to see a real aircraft for a change.

Now where is my can of Red Bull?

Paul

[Christian Page, RAI]

jetstar said:

Hi Guys.

Been outside tonight and just watched N996DM on its way into to LGW.
All four turning and the sound of four Pratt's (and birds!) echoing in my ears!!

Can't remember the last time I saw a DC-6 in LGW.

The controller was taken off guard when he asked the 6 to slow to 180 and descend to 2000, and the reply was we are going to fast for gear retraction to descend. We will let you know when we are able. (he was doing 220).

The pilot was European and I think he meant he had to slow down before he could drop the gear so he could slow down more!

A BA pilot in a 737-500 was rather amused when he was told he was number 2 to a DC-6!!

Anyway nice to see a real aircraft for a change.

Now where is my can of Red Bull?

Paul

Heh. Yeah, it's a great sound - I remember being awoken at my old place under the approach path to Wiley Post (KPWA) by the throbbing radials of the EAA's B-17 "Aluminum Overcast". I quickly got up and headed the three miles over o the airport and watched her do fly-bys and take people aboard for a pass around the city. Sadly, I didn't have the money for a ride, but it was still a joy to see her. And KPWA has this wonderful retro feel to it around the terminal. It was the city's commercial airport from 1941-46 when the Air Corps took over what's now Will Rogers World Airport, but the current terminal wasn't built until the mid-1950's. It's been modernized here and there, but it still has that 1950's feel to it, especially outside, where you can walk along the ramp, separated by just a chain-link fence with a real gate in it - no security gestapo around, looking at you if you look at a plane for more than two seconds.