Remarks and Reminiscences From the Pilots And Participants In This Extraordinary DC-3 Gathering

Every bit as amazing as the birds in the sky and on the ground, the pilots and participants of 'The Last Time' had some pretty intriguing remarks to share with our Aero-TV crews as this pivotal event was under way. A joy to behold, the men and women who brought these airplanes to life and helped keep them flying have much to say about the airplane that not only revolutionized aviation, but helped to defend a world at war.

This historic event, billed as “The Last Time”, was organized to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the DC-3 type aircraft. Designed as an airliner in 1935, the DC-3 was pressed into military service in WWII as the C-47 and served in every theater of the war. Formerly; the largest gathering of them, in any one place, was at the English air fields in preparation for the D-day invasion of Normandy. Some of these same crew members once again flew in these magnificent birds gathering at Whiteside Airport (KSQI) in Rock Falls, IL, just a few weeks ago.

The Last Time’s four-day reunion activities were free and open to the public, and general aviation aircraft parking and camping were available as well. All DC-3 aircraft were parked together, and events included aircraft tours, public rides, free media rides, demonstrations, entertainment and music, extensive hangar flying and storytelling, by all those invited, to share the DC-3 experience.

A mass formation flight launched from Whiteside County Airport on the afternoon of Monday, July 26th, as the aircraft left to attend the annual festivities at Oshkosh.

The sights, the sounds, the memories were poignant and powerful.... join Aero-TV for some inspired thoughts about the plane that changed a nation...

FMI: www.thelasttime.org, www.aero-tv.net, www.youtube.com/aerotvnetwork, http://twitter.com/AeroNews