Boarding PH-PBA!

[Tony Wheeler]

Originally Posted by motto

On takeoff it took an age for the tail to come up and we used the full length of the runway to get airborne

Great story well told David. Reminds me of a book I read as a kid which told of a C47 loaded (supposedly) with PAP Marston matting. Apparently someone screwed up - it was actually PSP matting!

I've tracked down the probable book - "Grand Old Lady: Story of the DC3", which I recall as being an exceptionally good read. Copies are readily available and dirt cheap: http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listi...condition=used

Also a few copies on ebay: http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/1959-STOR...item4844617fc6

David, it sounds like the company you worked for disposed of their JATO bottles prematurely! Some great footage of a JATO C47 getting airborne in this old newsreel clip:

http://youtu.be/j7IeoPq2X5o