Sometimes the old tech works best

[Ianab]

As well as the on going earthquakes, the South Island has also been affected by a cloud of volcanic ash from a volcano 3/4 of the way around the world in Chile!!!

The local airline had been flying lower, under the layer of ash, although flying the jets at lower altitude was burning more fuel. The Aussie airlines cancelled all flights, causing a heap of chaos.

But yesterday they basically closed the Island to all jets as the ash cloud got too close to the Mt tops.

So they broke out an old DC3 from the local museum and did a couple of flights for the folks that just had to get there. The 1944 vintage plane has been maintained and certified etc and is used for scenic flights and air shows etc. Because it's a piston engine plane and only cruises at 8,000 ft it was safe below the ash cloud.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/5153937/DC3-makes-mercy-dash-to-capital

Bit of an adventure for the lucky folks that got tickets 

Ian

[jim king]

Ianab :

One time we brought in a turbo charger for the city power plant from the US.  It got to Bogota and no one would bring it the rest of the way to the Amazon.  We went to Bogota and found a DC3 and he was happy for the business.  The only problem was that it did not have all the windows so it was a very fresh ride sitting on some sacks of rice.  I dont think we ever got to 8,000 feet but we made it.

We arrived in Leticia , Colombia with the turbo and had lights again after several months in the dark.  The technician from the States that came with it was quite nervous but after it was over he decided he had a good time.  We also had a large Zebu bull tied to the wall.

That was long  before the digital camera and the photos are in the US.  We had a good time.