DC-3 ops documents prove it’s no fly-by-night outfit
I want to share Robert Chambers‘ Veterans Air DC-3 ops documents. Given to me during my first get-together with Bruce Chambers in May 2016, they are informative and insightful. [Quick review: Bruce is Robert’s second son. And Robert Chambers was DC-3 Chief Pilot for Veterans Air.]
Among the documents are:
- Pilots Running Log. Chambers, Robert C. CAPTAIN
- DC-3 Cockpit Procedure and Check List.
- C-47 Training, Ops, and DC-3 Overhaul Manuals, 26 March 1946 Memo
- Stockholder letters and Business Plans (subject for later Post)
4 hours: VD to LV in the DC-3. Where’s VD? 1
Chambers’ pilot log has some unfamiliar two-letter airport identifiers plus helpful confirmation regarding where we flew.
I just this moment realized that the log does not indicate the airplane being flown. But since Robert was the Chief Pilot for the DC-3s, and because the dates are so early, I believe my DC-3 assumption is safe. Knowing the tail number would have been great, because I’m always in search of our crews who flew the DC-3 GAYE LYN. (I can’t help myself.) (Other logs would be so helpful. Remember the excitement created by having Jack Stettner’s logs???)
A great site on line – airliners.net – identified LV as Louisville (which, in November and December, is where Veterans Air picked up their first two DC-3s). But so far we have no identification for VD. To see if airliners.net can help further (unless you, Dear Reader, beat them to it), I posted some flight stats on their site that show it took four hours in the DC-3 to fly between VD and LV.
I figured out that MM is Miami and NK is Newark. Those might have been passenger “Snow Bird” flights in February, but they are only one-day turn arounds. (Unless, of course, the second DC-3 was involved in the trips!)
Not scintillating, but certainly serious!
The next two documents are not exactly scintillating reading. But their very existence renders some serious evidence about Veterans Air professional procedures and insistence on safety. They bolster other research indicating that, while they may have been short on funding, the Company was bent on belying the Civil Aeronautics Board undocumented concerns that, just because they were a Non-sked, Veterans Air Express would short shrift or cut corners on Operations.
Veterans Air DC-3 Check List. Take a discovery flight! 2
And a few CliffNotes for you DC-3 aviators and enthusiasts…
Starting of Engines, pg 1/#2: Open door on the floor to give quick access to engine selector valve and fire extinguisher handle. Close door after both engines have started and you are satisfied there is no fire in either nacelle by visual observation.
Taxiing, pg 3/#5: Before commencing the turn, unlock the tail wheel.
Take off, pg 5/#5: The Captain will always determine the time at which the landing gear is to be raised and in no case shall the First Officer attempt to raise the gear unless he has received proper signal from the Captain.
Climb to Cruising Altitude, pg 6/#1: Maintain 120 MPH indicated airspeed in cruising climb.
And my favorite…Landing Accomplished, pg7/#8
All members of the flight shall conduct themselves in a quiet, orderly and businesslike manner.
Be advised…answer and return this 7-page questionaire (sic)…
Oral examination to follow covering same material. 3
These are March 1946 C-47/DC-3 training materials. The Cover Memo signature shows a new DC-3 Chief Pilot. E. J. Maynard. New name. No photo or background as yet.