And what country can preserve its liberties if their rulers are not warned from time to time that their people preserve the spirit of resistance? Let them take arms. The remedy is to set them right as to facts, pardon and pacify them. What signify a few lives lost in a century or two? The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants.
Back when I was about 4 years old (1956) there was an air service between the sea ports of Montevideo and Buenos Aires with two of these Shorts sea planes flying daily service. My parents took me across the river this way one time. The whole adventure is still clear in my mind. A small motor boat ferried the passengers from the dock to the aircraft, we boarded literally stepping off the boat into the aircraft side hatch which was about a foot above the water line. Canvas sling troop seats two one side, single the other. Navigator actually poked his head out a hatch on the flat area ahead of the cockpit glass to signal to the captain on departing the port as the craft had to thread past ships and other boats. Navigator would duck then close hatch and assume normal seat next to captain and the plane would gather speed till airborne. A very exciting process to a 4 YO. In retrospect and because I ended up as a business flyer for over 40 years, the aircraft was as under powered as the C124 "Shaky" I once flew from the Carolinas to Panama, the climb rate was in feet per minute, not per second. Thin walls, exposed frame and loud.
Thanks for the photo, CW, but many thanks also to you, Terrapod! Wonderful story from your childhood turns out to be a history lesson! I live for stories such as yours. Again, many thanks!
Fantasy of Flight near Orlando, FL has a one. I walked through it when it first arrived. Still configured as an "executive transport." Here's the link to the museum http://www.fantasyofflight.com/ and the aircraft https://www.fantasyofflight.com/collection/aircraft/currently-not-showing-in-museum/wwii/1944-short-sunderland/
Back when I was about 4 years old (1956) there was an air service between the sea ports of Montevideo and Buenos Aires with two of these Shorts sea planes flying daily service. My parents took me across the river this way one time. The whole adventure is still clear in my mind. A small motor boat ferried the passengers from the dock to the aircraft, we boarded literally stepping off the boat into the aircraft side hatch which was about a foot above the water line. Canvas sling troop seats two one side, single the other. Navigator actually poked his head out a hatch on the flat area ahead of the cockpit glass to signal to the captain on departing the port as the craft had to thread past ships and other boats. Navigator would duck then close hatch and assume normal seat next to captain and the plane would gather speed till airborne. A very exciting process to a 4 YO. In retrospect and because I ended up as a business flyer for over 40 years, the aircraft was as under powered as the C124 "Shaky" I once flew from the Carolinas to Panama, the climb rate was in feet per minute, not per second. Thin walls, exposed frame and loud.
ReplyDeleteThanks for that!
DeleteThanks for the photo, CW, but many thanks also to you, Terrapod! Wonderful story from your childhood turns out to be a history lesson! I live for stories such as yours. Again, many thanks!
ReplyDeleteNice, no minarets on top. Yet.
ReplyDeleteFantasy of Flight near Orlando, FL has a one. I walked through it when it first arrived. Still configured as an "executive transport." Here's the link to the museum http://www.fantasyofflight.com/ and the aircraft https://www.fantasyofflight.com/collection/aircraft/currently-not-showing-in-museum/wwii/1944-short-sunderland/
ReplyDelete