N2668N, aka Proud Mary,a former RAF Dakota, that wended its way around the globe post war before joining the eclectic roster at Century Airlines whereupon we made our acquaintance . 68N was always one of my favorites, her RAF heritage playing no small part , but she was an overall solid ship of good character. Our finest adventure was the Chicken Run whereupon we had 24 hours to get 5000 chirping hatchlings from Hamilton, Ontario to Pocatello, Idaho. We double crewed it, and set up sleeping quarters in the cabin, along with a Janitrol heater to keep the cabin a toasty 80 F , the better for the chickies to thrive . It was my leg from Grand Island, Nebraska to Pocatello , we eased on up to 14000 feet over the Rockies and used oxygen for the only time ever in a DC3, I still remember that sunrise , at 14K we were only 2000 feet above the peaks which manifested themselves magnificently in the gloaming, a veritable cathedral of snow and ice, tinted pink and gold in the light of dawn, close enough to touch. Unearthly, ethereal , one of those moments that stay with you, the glow of the dawning, the rumble/roar of the motors, and behind it all the chirp, chirp,chirping, of 5000 chicks!!!
Posted on: Sun, 03 Aug 2014 11:45:08 +0000