My father used to take me to the airport when I was a little kid. We would watch jets and airplanes take off and land for a few hours. Airplanes have always been something we both loved, a connection we always had together. So when I found out about Greatest Generation Aircraft, I knew I'd found the perfect Father's Day gift.
Greatest Generation Aircraft gives you the chance to fly in a genuine World War II airplane, a Douglas C-47 Skytrain. The C-47 is a DC-3 modified for military use. It was primarily used to transport troops during WWII. The DC-3 was one of the most popular airplanes in the 1930's, and is credited with popularizing air travel in the early 20th century.
Greatest Generation Aircraft flies out of a tiny airport near Fort Worth, Texas, but it's a little intimidating when you get there. Unless you're accustomed to flying in private jets. GGA takes up shop in a small airline's terminal, and you have to wait for the whole party to arrive. The group
that runs GGA are friendly, accommodating, and knowledgeable about aircraft.
My dad and I had a couple of questions. How did they get parts for repairs? How old were the
pilots? We pictured a couple of 90 year old men with bad eyesight flying us over Fort Worth
while we hoped no one had a heart attack. The good people at GGA assured us that all the pilots
were capable and that the plane was in good shape, considering it was over fifty years old.
There's no AC in the C-47, so GGA only flies in the spring and early summer. They also do
Christmas flights in December. The seats are all on one side, instead of lined on the side like they
would be in an actual military plane. GGA had to make some modifications to satisfy the FAA.
As you can see from the picture below, it's like riding in a giant metal tube.
It's also loud. Really loud. You have to yell, just to hear the person sitting next to you. You also feel every single bump, pitch, and move the plane makes. It's a little unnerving at first, but you get used to it after a few minutes. I tried to take this picture with the cockpit behind me when we hit a little turbulence:
It came out a little blurry.
In the end, all the turbulence and heat are worth it, because you get great views of downtown Fort Wroth and the surrounding area. It's a one of a kind experience, a chance to experience history and see the world from a few thousand feet.
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