Aviation history 16 June

[Ian Warren]

Not to outdo Cowpatz posting , i wish i was in a condition to travel this i would have payed a return ticket simply for the fun off it .

DC3 to help stranded passengers
NewstalkZB | 10:21am Thu 16 Jun 2011

Old technology has come to the fore to rescue passengers stranded in Christchurch.

Jets have been grounded there as thick volcanic ash moves down to 10,000 feet over the lower South Island.

But if you really need to leave, there's a way to get to Wellington for $380.

The CEO of Southern DC3 limited, Philip Murray, is putting his 65-year-old aircraft up at noon and there are 28 seats available.

"The Douglas DC3 which we're operating is a non-pressurised aircraft with piston engines, so being non-pressurised with passenegers, we always operate below 10,000 feet anyway."

The DC 3 will return to Christchurch from Wellington about 2:30pm.

[Dash8captain]

Yeah its interesting aye - check out this DC3 Passenger Services

[Ian Warren]

Love the misguided pc pedantry of the reporting.

QUOTE

CAA meteorological manager Peter Lechner said a second ash cloud has lowered across the east coast of the South Island to about 3048m from about 4572m.

...

A small aircraft needs to cruise between 5486.4m to 6705.6m, and a jet aircraft from 8534.4m to 9753.6m, he said.[/quote]

Bollocks to that - he quite obviously said that the ash cloud has lowered from 15 to 10,000' and that small aircraft cruise between 18 and 22,000' and large aircraft between 28 and 32,000', and then some goober editor has decreed that They Must Be In Metric! so the poor reporter now has meaningless numbers and aircraft cruise levels measured to 0.1 metre accuracy ... PC cr@p worthy of our beloved Hearld.

Gary

Last edited by Chairman on Thu Jun 16, 2011 1:15 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[Ian Warren]

Hey Gary , surprised the decimal point was placed after the first digit - then it could have been reported as ground fog around the country at low levels

[connor]

QUOTE (Chairman @ Jun 16 2011,1:14 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

.... so the poor reporter now has meaningless numbers and aircraft cruise levels measured to 0.1 metre accuracy ...

I hate it when you get ATC barking at you because your 20cm below your cruising altitude!