A European Douglas DC-3 symposium was held at Arlandastad, north of Stockholm, during the weekend of 23-25 November. Organised by the Swedish Flygande Veteraner (Flying Veterans) society, operator of DC-3 SE-CFP, the event attracted more than 50 participants, including representatives from DC-3 operators in Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain, Iceland, the Netherlands, Norway, Russia, Sweden and Switzerland. Issues discussed included operational procedures and engine and airframe maintenance schedules as well as pilot training and the introduction of new avionics. The relationship with civilian aviation authorities is another important aspect of future DC-3 operations.
A new European DC-3 Society is also being formed, open to all the continent’s DC-3 operators and museums which have DC-3s/C-47s on display. There are currently 23 DC-3s flying in Europe, a number which, it is hoped, will rise to 25 during 2019.
The plan is for as many as 40 examples to be present over Normandy on 6 June for the 75th anniversary of the D-Day landings, dropping parachutes over the invasion beaches. Several aircraft are scheduled to be making the trip from the USA for what will probably be the last big commemoration of Operation ‘Overlord’.
