Tue, Aug 12, 2008
Recently, we talked to Dan Gryder... who may just be the
luckiest guy in aviation... as he gets paid to fly a spotless,
pristinely-maintained Douglas DC-3 throughout the country, and even
offers interested pilots the chance to earn the ONLY DC-3 type
rating available today. ANN's Paul Plack talked with Dan about that
process, what it takes and how YOU might be able to join the few
who can proudly point to the DC-3 type-rating on their pilot
certificates.
When Dan Gryder isn't flying passengers
around the world in 757s and 767s for a major airline, he can be
found providing DC-3 flight instruction at his training center or
shaking hands and offering DC-3 tours at air shows. He has over
11,000 flight hours and type ratings in numerous large aircraft.
He's been a flight instructor for more than 25 years and holds the
FAA designations of GOLD SEAL CFI, CFII, MEI, ATP and AGI.
Dan and his team of DC-3 experts operate what appears to be the
only remaining DC-3 flight training schools, based near Atlanta. If
you're looking for more than just an introductory lesson or two,
Dan and his team provide complete pilot in command and second in
command training -- all the way through the actual type rating.
The 'Gooney' is no stranger to World War II veterans and
historians who will remember the DC-3 as the C-47 Skytrain. The
military version of this remarkable flying machine aircraft was
used by Allied Forces to transport troops and supplies around the
world. The plane was nicknamed "the Gooney Bird" as it swiftly
earned a rep as a sturdy (even forgiving) and reliable workhorse --
capable of flying nearly anywhere in almost any weather. The US
Navy referred to a modified version of the plane as the R4D and the
British called her the Dakota. Still others called her the
Skytrooper. No matter what you call her, she's a piece of aviation
history to be treasured.
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