Daks over Normandy, June 2019

[Angry Turnip]

I wonder if Jeff Salter`s ex G-BMKC Piper J3C-65 Cub will be taking part in that,it was a lovely aircraft painted up as  R-44 / 329854

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[vanandjuanunited]

Ranville is definitively a NoGo. We are now feverishly working on Sannerville for which we already have the landowners' and the Mayor's permissions.

From Daks Facebook page

[Sneaky_Nikon]

Ranville is definitively a NoGo. We are now feverishly working on Sannerville for which we already have the landowners' and the Mayor's permissions.

From Daks Facebook page

Not only that, but they queered the pitch for everyone at Ranville, including Para Reg & Les Paras.  I have a DoN T shirt but won't be wearing it Normandy for realistic fear of getting clipped in some of the maroon watering holes.

Anyway...  US contingent on their way from Oxford Connecticut to Goose Bay for oceanic.



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[Sneaky_Nikon]

I decided to go totally tonto and book a couple of seat for a jolly in the DDA's machine on June 10th for myself and the mrs.

(hopefully it will go someway toeards getting het to forgive me for booking the backseat in the photoship Harvard for the afternoon drop on the 7th)

[Alertbot]

DC3 N33611
On final to EGPK at 18:59

[jasT1981]

Any idea when the Dakota's are coming into Duxford? Hoping to see a few of them at the weekend at the Airshow there.

[ed-209]

heading to Duxford this weekend...looking forward to the F15E  formation flyby

[jasT1981]

heading to Duxford this weekend...looking forward to the F15E  formation flyby

Oh yes! That was a cracking update! Line-up looks great. Have my grandstand seat booked for both days.

[Jon5]

Get your grandstand seat ticket well before the flying displays start or you could end up in a big queue.

[jasT1981]

Get your grandstand seat ticket well before the flying displays start or you could end up in a big queue.

Already have the grandstand ticket, just need to get there early enough to get a good seat. I plan to be on the first bus from Cambridge

Scenic flights from the UK for Daks over Normandy have been cancelled it seems

Dear friends, it grieves us very much but we have to inform you that no scenic flights can be made in the UK.. Dutch CAA was very late in issueing the AOC permit for the aircraft. It means UK CAA does not have enough time to process it.. We are very sorry.

https://www.facebook.com/205732752926694/posts/1260969337403025?s=100003312109318&sfns=mo

[Sneaky_Nikon]

The Piper Cub event on Utah beach has been cancelled with "environmental reasons" cited.

[Angry Turnip]

I think they should just go ahead and run it anyway, all this red tape and bureaucracy for such an important historical event is extremely disappointing to say the least.

[Sneaky_Nikon]

As much as anything it's likely to be down to French local politics, the bulk of the L-Birds event is being run from Eure, Utah is in Manche. They fight over every cent sometimes to the point that it appeas the fight could turn literal. Doing things without permission in France almost always involves a degree of throwing & burning stuff.

This years commemorations will almost certainly be the last major ones, in fact I reckon they'll be considerably down in scope from those of the 70th. As well as the obvious decline in veteran numbers the political and social ill will between various parties that are necessarily involved is palpabale.

[Angry Turnip]

Noticed one DC-3 departing PIK 1011 this morning N47E Douglas DC-3C … https://www.flightradar24.com/N47E/20a99f50

[jasT1981]

2 Dakota's into Duxford already, One came in Saturday after day 1 of the show.. Unfortunately they were parked at the other side of the airfield for the weekends airshow so didn't get a good look at them aside from through the camera zoom.

[Hasy]

DC3 N45366 en route south from Prestwick over Wolverhampton area at 6800 ft

[Angry Turnip]

N24320 DC-3A-S1C3G, 20197 departed PIK 1205

Interesting story on this one,built originally as a C-47A-90-DL,it crashed in 1954 but was rebuilt.... http://www.aerialvisuals.ca/AirframeDossier.php?Serial=47467

[Angry Turnip]

N877MG Douglas C-47B / DC-3C s/n 20806 (c/n 4193) departed PIK 1048

History of the aircraft here... https://www.daksovernormandy.com/aircraft/dc-3-n877mg

[Sneaky_Nikon]

Sitting outside a cafe a couple of miles west of Caen listening to the torrential rain in the awning. Not looking good weather wise.

Was up at the DZ yesterday in brilliant sunshine. C'est Normandie!

[Angry Turnip]

Hope the weather improves for this, and all lucky enough enough to witness it.I checked Met Office for Caen.

It says the heavy rain should ease by 1800 and weather for 5th June Some light showers 17C,light westerly breeze.

6th June Caen area,sunny intervals 10-15% chance of light shower 18C slight north easterly breeze.

[Sneaky_Nikon]

Fingers crossed.  My run in the Texan/Harvard has been shifted from the 7th to 8th, not as good a photo op but it suits me better with regard to other responsibilities. Still hoping to get a run on PH-PBA on the 10th with the Mrs.

[jasT1981]

Fingers crossed.  My run in the Texan/Harvard has been shifted from the 7th to 8th, not as good a photo op but it suits me better with regard to other responsibilities. Still hoping to get a run on PH-PBA on the 10th with the Mrs.

I was hoping to get a flight in the Texan last weekend, sadly weather on the Sunday wasn't as great and I arrived at the airfield not long before the show so gave it a miss. Would have been an incredible experience. Enjoy if you do get up on one, it would be a fantastic experience.

[Sneaky_Nikon]

Just be thankful you went to Duxford!

Bit of a cake and arse party at Caen. I can see class action over Normandy becoming a thing. I'm remarkably sanguine about it all, must be mellowing with age.

[smudge]

Just be thankful you went to Duxford!

Nah, it wasn't much better! 

Manky weather on Tuesday but at least they put some Dak formations and fighters up, though the parachute drop practice was cancelled. 

But Wednesday was just a day of People Standing Around wondering what was going to happen.  And then ... they delayed the mass departure by over two hours for a non-technical reason, so I missed it as I had to belt up the road to Stansted*

Though to be fair the real invasion had plenty of delays, cock-ups and improvs too.

On the plus side: the Hampton hotel at Stansted has stunning views of the airport, if you book a north-facing room on the sixth or seventh floors.

* Actually I would have had plenty of time to linger had Ryanair not cancelled their 22:00 departure, but that's another tale of woe.

[Sneaky_Nikon]

Yes, I was waiting at the France end for the arrival, which to be fair was pretty spectacular.
The park & ride in Caen was a farce, the carpark being locked long after the event start and then no buses turning up. The only thing flying today was the DDA Dak on scenic flight duty (although a C17 dropped in) that's not DoN's fault admittedly as it was down to weather. However, as you couldn't actually access the static line you had the choice of visting the single burger stand, the single souvenir program stand or one of 9 (count 'em) portaloos. Unless of course you'd paid for the VIP package when you could also stand inside a large tent with naff all in it.

I'm also told that working out how to check-in for the scenic flights was a trial & error thing as nobody on the ground admitted to knowing anything about them.  I've heard nowt about the photoships because none of them flew today.

In regard of business dealings, as opposed to fly-bys/drops which all agree were a sight to behold, I've not heard a single good word said about the DoN operation by anyone.

Looking forward to an interesting experience tomorrow if nothing else!

Edit:- It has just been alleged to me, literally by a man in a pub mind you, that one of the principles has been "lynched".  I wouldn't be surprised.