For the Aviation Buffs

[giantpinkbunnyhead]

Since I finally puchased another digital camera after having the last one crushed by a roller coaster last year (don't ask), I broke it in by taking some pictures of our DC-6 simulator, which is the only one in the world now. It is the only remaining Curtiss-Wright full-cockpit sim. We have our own stock of original parts, spares, as well as the original blueprints, schematics, etc.

This sim started life as an airplane on the assembly line, that was plucked off for conversion to a sim. Many sims were constructed but after 60 years, ours is the only surviving, fully operational one in the world. We use it for training our 20+ DC-6 pilots. We still fly four DC-6's but even we will be leaving this era behind soon. We regularly have visitors from around the country, and the world, who come to Anchorage to have a look and, if they're lucky, a test flight.

Enjoy!

DC-6 Simulator

 

[effowe]

Wow that's really cool. I like your quad monitor test setup too, good stuff.

 

[iRONic]

That is the mother effin' shiznit!!!!!!

Flight Safety Int'l eat your heart out.

 

[Captante]

Pretty cool... whats going to happan to the sim when you stop flying DC6's?

 

[giantpinkbunnyhead]

Originally posted by: Captante
Pretty cool... whats going to happan to the sim when you stop flying DC6's?

I don't know. I would like to think we'll hang onto it, but it might end up getting sold. I hate to think about how complicated it would be to dismantle everything and re-assemble it elsewhere. There's gotta be 10,000 pounds of wire alone just connecting all the components together.

 

[Dunbar]

Where are you located, Alaska? It's amazing to me all of the old birds still flying up there. I always wondered where they get the parts to maintain the airframe, and especially, those old radial engines.

 

[drinkmorejava]

nice, I just finished ground school for a private license. Sadly, most of the stuff in single prop planes hasn't changed much beyond GPS.

 

[giantpinkbunnyhead]

Originally posted by: Dunbar
Where are you located, Alaska? It's amazing to me all of the old birds still flying up there. I always wondered where they get the parts to maintain the airframe, and especially, those old radial engines.

Yup, I'm in Anchorage. It is getting tougher to find parts for the DC-6's we have. Fortunately, most parts and engines/cylinders are overhauled with very few new parts needed. There are still a number of companies that have access to all this stuff. There is another cargo outfit here that flies DC-6s also, and another guy I know flies two DC-3's, and yet another company flies an old C-46.

 

[halik]

anchorage... hmm how's living in alaska, anyway?

 

[giantpinkbunnyhead]

Originally posted by: halik
anchorage... hmm how's living in alaska, anyway?

I wouldn't trade it for anything in the world! I love the cool summers, the snowy winters, the midnight sun, the huge mountains... it's my paradise.

 

[JSFLY]

wicked