I was lucky enough to get the jump seat and met up with our captain for the flight Esmoldo Jerenco Swannepiordo, and the copilot Frank. Esmoldo had been flying the DAK's for a few years now in and around the Los Cerrillos area, Frank on the other hand looked like he was 12, and had only just got his pilots license. I was somewhat amazed he was already sitting in the right hand seat of a DC3 but Esmoldo said something about his sister being a relative, " iz only a short flight, relhx, you's en sth amereka nows".
Anyway, our planned route would take us up the valley and then over the Andes at their lowest point in this area, before descending down on El Plumerillo.
With a full load of fuel and 56 passengers, we were given clearance to start and taxi to the hold short point....hold on, 56 passengers? umm Esmoldo, isn't 56 kinda allot of people for a DC3? "ez right, famelie, alls ok" Esmoldo assured me. I tightened my belt a little more securely across my hip.
The aircraft registered CC-CBW is a C-47B SN 26704 which started life flying for the U.S.A.F, Esmoldo assured me it had recently been through a C check and had come out "oki doki", he gave me some details you can find here showing the C check in action, the some more history of the aircraft itself CC-CBW
We lined up and were cleared for takeoff, winds calm with light cloud, all up a wonderful morning for what should be a smooth ride for the next 40 minutes or so.
The climb out was slow but steady, with Esmoldo pointing out where he lived, where Frank lived, and the school his family went to. We maintained runway heading for some time slowly making our way towards the mountains in the distance..
As we climbed cloud thickened somewhat, but amazingly conditions remained smooth. Esmoldo handed control over to Frank about 20 minutes into the flight, and I was pleasantly surprised watching him as he seemed to be quite accomplished at scanning and adjusting the old style DC3 controls. Hmm, maybe I would survive after all.
Esmoldo explained that the only way they could get over the Andes in this area was to fly up a valley that climbed at a fairly gentle rate, then head across an elevated area before passing through the gap of 'muerte'. When asked what this meant in English he just gave me a lopsided grin and said "ez oki doki"
The terrain was certainly sparse as we climbed through 14,000 feet, Esmoldo pointed out a gap between the mountain range and said "that's eet, oki doki ok". I smiled somewhat weakly, aware of the wall of solid rock to our starboard and hoping like hell we didn't hit any untoward weather as we continued. All signs of human life had long been left behind, it was us and the elements now..alone, with Esmoldo *toothy smile and thumbs up gesture* and the kid named Frank flying the plane....
We made a right hand turn and flew through the gap of 'muerte', as I looked down I was sure I saw aircraft wreckage scattered around, some cloud came across so I couldn't quite make things out clearly. I mentioned what I saw to Esmoldo and asked him what he knew about it. He gave me a big smile and the thumbs up and gave me a magazine about farming in Argentina, "ezz ok, ezz oki doki". I was starting to wonder if I had made the right choice, bit late now I guess.
Frank then gabbled something and Esmoldo took over control, and Frank promptly got up and went aft. "seet, belt ups, ez oki doki" So there I found myself in the right hand seat of the DC3. "looki" Esmoldo pointed out the first water we had seen the entire flight, a high mountain lake was coming up ahead, and beyond that the green fields of our destination.
Once past the lake we descended rapidly and hit our first turbulence of the flight. It felt like someone had grabbed the plane and started shaking it...
Esmoldo turned with a big smile and gave me the thumbs up, at that point I suggested he might like to hold onto the wheel and correct the 45 degree angle we had lurched onto. He laughed and righted the aircraft, then pointed to our left and we got our first sighting of our destination airport, Francisco Gabrielli-El Plumerillo International Airport (SAME)..
I was surprised by the size of the city of Mendoza, but as a tourist hub its grown over the years, its all round warm weather also makes it attractive. Probably best known for the presence of the famous Argentinian José de San MartÃÂn, many museums and other tourist spots celebrate his life and deeds. But this was all least from my mind as we made our approach over the city..
It was a few miles out that we hit the turbulence, it was quite unexpected and violent in nature tossing the DC3 around like a rubber duck in a spa pool, Esmoldo began ranting in Spanish, referring to the aircraft more than once as "bastardo". He wrestled with the aircraft as we continued to get battered around..
Finals and the turbulence though somewhat lessened, still had as rolling side to side, I'm just pleased my breakfast never arrived before I left the hotel this morning...
When we finally reached short finals the turbulence stopped and Esmoldo took us in for a smooth landing, by this time Frank had returned and was in the jump seat, a wide smile on his face from the bumpy ride we had just experienced...
With wheels on the ground Esmoldo cried "bello, bonito!!" and he and Frank high fived, somewhat bemused I joined in, more out of thanks for being back on the ground than understanding what they were on about. Clearance was sought and given to taxi to parking..
Frank disappeared yet again and Esmoldo invited me to taxi the 3 to the parking location. I did so quite happily with his guidance, and once we were on the spot parking brakes were applied and we proceeded to shut her down.
I relaxed and Esmoldo turned to me, smiled and said "weecome two El plumerillo". I said my thankyou's, grabbed my kit and headed for the back door. Frank was unloading chickens as I descended the rear stairs, I said adiós and he gave me a grin and carried on what he was doing. I breathed the cool morning mountain air, the Andes in the background looked somewhat surreal with the early morning traffic going past into the city. As I climbed into the taxi to take me to my first appointment of the day, I knew this was one flight I would not forget in a hurry.
Really enjoyable read there! 
haha