The first was at Christmas time in 1956 when I was attending Basic Flight Training in Big Spring, Texas. We had a week off for the holiday and Pat and I headed for the Midwest on leave. We flew TTA (Trans Texas Airways) from Big Spring to Dallas. The weather was lousy and I figured the pilot would divert to an alternate -- meaning we would miss our connecting flight. I felt us start a descent and I couldn't see a thing until the pilot eased that DC-3 out of a heavy overcast at about 50 feet and greased the landing. Great pilot, great landing.

In early 1957, I was stationed at Luke Air Force Base, Arizona for Gunnery Training flying the F-84F (the original Thud -- overweight and under powered). Being a bit strapped for cash, a big day out for Pat and I was to go to the Phoenix Airport (Sky Harbor) and watch people and airplanes. I saw a DC-3 land, taxi in and swing around in front of the one, in those days, and only terminal. One wing looked peculiar. It was missing the wing tip. The pilot apparently was giving the passengers a sightseeing tour near the mountains, and got too "up close and personal" with one of the big hills. He left that wing tip out there in the boondocks. Fortunately for everyone, the tip sheared just outboard of the outboard aileron hinge. All they lost was aerodynamics and about two to three feet of the wing. I don't know if the DC-3 can fly with only one aileron, and I'll bet the engineers aren't sure either.

My final recollection is the one I mentioned earlier. The plane that was as old as I was when I flew it? -- the venerable old Gooney Bird (C-47). In 1970, I logged about 100 hours hopping around Korea in the Goon during my thirteen-month assignment there.

Today, I enjoy all types of flight simulators and my time in the cockpit with DC-3 Airways (DCA). For more on the flight simulators I've flown, visit my web site at: http://members.aol.com/jachor and look for the link to "Flight Simulators."

I've met some great people at DCA. There are several I regularly correspond (email) with and we swap stories, tales and lies. I'm still learning something new about flying and simulators everyday. When I stop learning and enjoying what I'm doing here, you'll probably find my name in the obituary column.

I hope all of you out there are having as much fun at this as I am.

John Achor
Vice President Technical
DC3-324

E-mail John at jachor@hotmail.com

12 July 2002

NOTE:

On 28 February 2003 DC–3 Airways received the following PIREP:

324, 1000.9, PIREP, ACHOR, A-150, 168

With a thousand hours John Achor became DC-3 Airways' third pilot to achieve the rank of "President's Pilot."