Rotting DC-3 to Flying in 2 months!?

One of the most amazing aviation stories I've been a part of telling.
Did you see this full episode back when it was published a few years ago?
Over the coming weeks and months I'll be recutting some more key ~1min scenes like this from the best Flight Chops episodes to make Instagram Reels / KZbin Shorts.
(to mix in with new ones I'm making while editing the latest episodes).
#Flying #GeneralAviation

[@FlightChops]

Here's the main episode covering the story: kzbin.info/www/bejne/f6i0hapma6aaaLc

[@LBCB94025]

*Where do you guys do your work??* _And where did the plane come from?(what airport or area*)_ What maybe airlines did it serve in, or at least what paint job did it have when you got to it??!!?? And

[@WiredForFlight]

This was such an amazing project.

[@cptairwolf]

The men who can repair these old birds are absolutely amazing.

[@Epck]

It looks like an impossible task

[@stevencaskey8502]

My father was a radio operator during WWII in the China Burma India route. Good to hear the DC 3 motors up and running.

[@1hornet1]

What an awesome time this was. I watched every episode of this. Too bad they stopped YouTubing.

[@maillouski]

Wow! Never thought I’d see a new video posted about the project! This is the most memorable volunteer work I’ve done yet!

[@SebastianDeVries-ol5iq]

So glad to see such an icon restored.

[@MrCahuma]

Go to Colombia the DC-9 are still flying!Awesome job!

[@gordonfarrell6732]

I flew on that plane as a kid with my father , he worked for the DOT (dept of transport ) her name in are family was dog tare dog (now delta tango delta) I visited seven islands , shefferville, fort chimo, frobisher Bay. And even 6 of us wanted to catch some artic char and flew 100 miles to catch nothing but a beautiful flight landing on a gravel strip . When I was 14 on a flight to Fort chimo (now koujuak) a guy opened a jar of instant coffee and when he popped the paper seal it went off with a bang and ther was coffee everywhere lol .I even got to fly her from the copilot seat with the pilot leaving , he was probably behind my dad who was standing in the cockpit entrance sternly saying STRAIGHT AND LEVEL . I am very happy that this beautiful girl will live on as she was .. once I drove past her at st Hubert airport when she was sinking into the ground ,thanks guys and beautiful job ...if she ever needs fabric I would be honored to doo it ..I also have an oldie but a goodie I own the plane that started bradly air service a 1938 piper cub that was imported in 1938 CF-BIZ the 422 ND built by piper 😊by the way a nickname for the DC-3 is the double breasted cub

[@FlightChops]

Thanks for sharing your back story about this airplane.

[@audistik1199]

Thanks for the memories!

[@andreperrault5393]

Thanks, and now we all now it was there on D-Day, June 6, 1944, and went on to serve you well.

[@davidlewis2626]

I've been to Fort Chimo. My god was it cold, in June.

[@Rlip]

Immediately I knew buffalo was involved 😂

[@MikeKobb]

I was watching the live stream when Joe took off. What an amazing thing.

[@muchabouteverything6590]

I really miss plane savers

[@Andre-ww5sr]

Same bro

[@flyermike2029]

Beautiful, thank you for restoring her.

[@jimiemick]

Mikey is a true legend, i remember watching this live.... And something was caught in my eye i swear it. I was addicted to each episode

[@ryanverplank8212]

I've subscribed to your channel for years and somehow missed this! What an incredible story, gonna go watch the whole video now!! Thanks Steve!!

[@joeblow5037]

I flew on a DC-3 on Frontier Airlines in the early 70's from OKC to Dallas. plenty of C-130's, C-5's, and CH-46's since. good times

[@bartofilms]

I followed Plane Savers during this. A bunch of dedicated DC3 master mechanics up there @ Buffalo in Yellow Knife.

[@stevedaniels3064]

Amazing....so cool you guys saved that 3

[@takenbythewindNdrivenbythesea]

Awesome job guys 👏👏👏👏👏👏

[@NesconProductions]

Thanks for the memories of this Steve! Can understand as Ops. manager of Buffalo Airways Mikey wouldn't have time for daily KZbin blogs but such are missed! Best wishes to Mikey, Joe & all at Buffalo Airways keeping those old birds flying!

[@cpy]

Rebuild Rescue just nods silently with a single tear

[@antugg18]

That's pretty cool. Well done!

[@caroleastmond9064]

Nice DC-3!!!🎉🎉🎉🎉💫

[@mikeybhoutex]

I watched that happen almost, but not quite, from the start! I quickly caught up to 'present' and never missed an episode! I was also verklempt when Joe flew that DC-3 after all the work by all the people. It was an amazing moment. I only wish I could have been there/helped out.

[@c_kemper]

That sound!!! Love it!

[@alwaysflying6540]

Great work everyone

[@phantom3772]

Amazing love your videos happy flying ❤

[@FlightChops]

Glad you like them - and thanks for being a 9+ year subscriber! email me and I'll send you a supporter patch (if you're not already on Patreon where I send them from) flightchops at gmail dot com

[@PilotArt]

That was such a good series to watch

[@enlim22]

Thank you Buffalo !

[@Wellthatwilldoit]

Beautiful old bird

[@Lovey_18]

Such a beautiful plane. And the livery is just 🤌🏼

[@dellightcsy3626]

Incredible restoration, wow!

[@clarencewiles963]

Thumbs up 👍. Ready for the full video tomorrow.

[@FlightChops]

Just to be sure we're on the same page - this is reviewing an episode from a few years ago - if you missed it, here's the link: kzbin.info/www/bejne/f6i0hapma6aaaLc

[@user-su5gh1zb6k]

Awesome, well done guys😊🎉

[@Mtlmshr]

That’s truly amazing! Talented hard working people obviously!

[@paradoxaviation]

This is RAD!!!!!!!

[@homienat3374]

Good old micky ,always there for there's Aircraft

[@michaelbecansr9843]

Awesome. I love DC3😁

[@freedommachines2316]

Amazing!!!

[@flyweldfabricate]

Not to mention mikey did daily uploads while overseeing the build

[@FlightChops]

Yes, it was awesome!

[@rogerbrant7232]

Love Mikey !!!

[@GaryLaaks1]

Wow well done.

[@griffithwes0074]

That’s one beautiful plane, I’m glad to see it up and flying

[@TheodoreRutherford-zh8mj]

Fought, survived, died, and was resurrected. Beautiful beast

[@jn-ny8bh]

Awesome

[@TMacDo243]

Man I wish I had "no money" 😂

[@barneycorley5900]

Was that Buffalo Joe in the left seat? Sounded like him calling the power setting

[@FlightChops]

yup 👍

[@Squigglydodah]

That's a beautiful plane

[@kh40yr]

I missed this. Guess my day is set today. Dad was in the 101st Special Forces with a dozen jumps before he left. He also gained some high wing flight training in a Bird Dog Cessna before he left. The Private license came quickly after he was out.

[@ImNotCreativeEnoughToMakeUser]

I LOVE seeing old birds fly again

[@crazypilot4017]

“Two Months”…and here it has taken me over year so far to restore my Mooney! Overhauling the engine now ha ha. 👍

[@doulos5125]

On the second day “alright team we’re 14 months behind schedule”

[@arnoldbjornsson8293]

Love❤

[@kylemiske6389]

I recognize that voice in the cockpit, was that buffalo joe!?

[@FlightChops]

Yup :)

[@LilyandOllieTv]

I love Mikey I love Buffalo Joe I love Buffalo airways

[@mattkaczorowski3099]

Holy crap!

[@ronhudson3730]

Too bad they stopped YouTubing/Televisioning. I always wondered who and why the plug was pulled. I hope they’re all still happily plying the skies of Northern Canada.

[@ldnwholesale8552]

Mikey did spend quite a deal of money,, though with the expertise of Buffalo staff and spare parts plus the local aviation college they did get it to fly again.

[@jopitomnik1396]

Junkers DC3? It burns my eyes...😮

[@FlightChops]

Junk. Yard.

[@warmstrong5612]

The DC-3 is probably one of only a few multi-engine aircraft where you could pull this off. Simple & rugged.

[@xaviergarneau]

I wish that my " no money" status meant the same as flight chops when he said with no money and no time 😅

[@FlightChops]

Haha - well, it's actually Mikey's metric - and if you look at the very detailed series covering this (I think I linked it in the description), you'll see an exact accounting of what they had, which was shockingly little.

[@FlightChops]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/bpnEeJmMq8iGZqs

[@williamkennedy3837]

Wow!!!!!

[@Paw95]

One sold at an auction here in the us last year in similar condition. Think it hit $250,000

[@stalinspfeife9499]

FUCKING LEGENDS🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@ur_a_buS]

wow

[@tyrone6820]

Metal doesn’t rot.

[@ashleymarks6144]

What do these shorts do for the channel? Does the sacrifice of good story telling generate more views or subscribers?

[@FlightChops]

I guess I'll put the question to you: This is your first comment on the channel in 3 years... did this "short" land on your feed and get your attention? Did you see the full episode that this short is referencing back when it was published? (a lot of blood, sweat and tears went into what I'd say was some pretty great story telling on that one - so what's the harm in generating some traction for it again?) Regardless, yes, all the platforms are leaning heavily into "reels" and "shorts"... I'm a long form content creator through and through, but this is the nature of the beast, and I need to embrace shorts on some level.

[@grannyblinda]

I’d be crying…

[@paulnicoll7431]

You should cry, why are the calling it a Junkers??!

[@FlightChops]

We're calling it a "Junk Yard" DC-3

[@murrayhelmer8941]

Well. It seems Mickey has abandoned it in Red deer. Wonder if it will ever fly again ?

[@FlightChops]

I'm not sure there was a long term plan to keep it flying - If I rememberer correctly he had borrowed engines and props that had to go back after a certain number of hours flown.

[@JimmyJimJimJames]

They definitely didn't do thet with "no money" haha.

[@FlightChops]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/bpnEeJmMq8iGZqs

[@rae60an2]

Good for you 👍 I

[@CODE3tv]

Was that Joe from Buffalo flying?!

[@FlightChops]

Yup 👍

[@wxfield]

Whoa. 2months?!? How in the hell did you do that??!!

[@FlightChops]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/bpnEeJmMq8iGZqs

[@LBCB94025]

If it flew on Dday it was a C47* (They dont show the back Left side so I don't know for sure), but _Id bet there a Double door!_ Unless further modified to NEVER carry cargo and ONLY passengers?? Cuz theres no other reason to change it!? But its either a DC3 OR it flew on D-Day* But not both!! 🧐🤔🤨🤷🏼

[@jeantsaiaviation]

It needs the turbine conversion.

[@DebOxy]

Very nice, we are plane savers east coast Australia. Our next saver is John Travolta’s 707 V Jet 🇦🇺🦘

[@Canesfan686]

You can't "manage to do the impossible" either it's possible or it's not

[@FlightChops]

For future shorts videos, can I run the voice over script by you first?

[@MrLeftfootlouie]

No money No time. Straight b.s . Someone had money.

[@FlightChops]

Google plane savers or just search it on KZbin you’ll find entire series where Mikey documented this in great detail . The timeline was real they had only donations and volunteers to do the labour so that “no money” claim is pretty legit in the aviation world they did it for next to nothing so yes, saying no money a little bit hyperbolic sure, but is this video one minute long covering what was two months worth of blood sweat and tears from a lot of people? yes

[@FlightChops]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/bpnEeJmMq8iGZqs

[@gfletchall1]

That is a recycled short :) but it was a great episode when it came out.

[@johnzihla4650]

Where are located....I'd love to help....

[@FlightChops]

This was a few years ago. I think I put the link to the full episode in the description.

[@alexm9479]

Easy 5 figures probably approaching 6 (edit: easy 6 figures...) "No money". Riiiiiiight.

[@FlightChops]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/bpnEeJmMq8iGZqs

[@murdoch9106]

When I read the title I was thinking JU52 not DC3... I was sooo confused, I watched the clip twice! lol ...ey, I'm tired.. mmkey!

[@FlightChops]

Should I make a better title?

[@jamessaundersu.s.a.1776]

The DC3 wasn’t made by Junker from my knowledge, I’m pretty sure they were made by Douglas.

[@wertbe1718]

"no money" Yeah ok Really cool how it turned out though

[@FlightChops]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/bpnEeJmMq8iGZqs

[@JohnMoore-xf5wy]

Aluminum doesn't ROT!

[@bradleysooter9735]

Yeah with no money huh? I fucking doubt that!!

[@FlightChops]

Go ahead and check his channel - it was all documented and all done with donations and volunteer time. So yeah...doubt it all you want, but maybe also take people's word for it if you're not gonna check into it before commenting.

[@scenicdepictionsofchicagolife]

Why the heck was I unsubscribed from your channel?

[@FlightChops]

It's so frustrating how KZbin is supporting (or not supporting) so many creators. Thanks for finding your way back.

[@Bravo.Aviation]

No money??!?!

[@FlightChops]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/bpnEeJmMq8iGZqs

[@MatthewKifer]

I’d say there’s no way you did that with no money

[@FlightChops]

If the voice over script said “barely any money” would that have been believable?

[@FlightChops]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/bpnEeJmMq8iGZqs

[@MatthewKifer]

@@FlightChops what would we consider “barely any money”? 😂 I’m not hating, but I’d sure love to know how much y’all got into that

[@Kapdad]

How.. w no money..!!??

[@FlightChops]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/bpnEeJmMq8iGZqs

[@richardwakelin843]

It's not a junker. They were German lol.

[@czrider6300]

No way!!!! 2 months 👎🏼

[@FlightChops]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/bpnEeJmMq8iGZqs

[@uio890138]

Such a sexy sound

[@oyeog77]

wait… *Flightchops knows the buffalo airways guy*

[@FlightChops]

😎

[@Hgdhgfdssxvbbnjoo]

No money…?

[@kidkokonut4581]

Junker ?? 🤣🤣🤣

[@FlightChops]

Junk Yard.

[@bhaalord]

You had to have some minimum informations to tell that it flew on DDay but not knowing that it's from Douglas? Oh dude... I happy for the plane but your video sounds wrong, no money and 2 month? Barely believable.

[@FlightChops]

Welp... this is a 55 second video, so it's kinda hard to actually pack a lot of information into that... but you don't have to take my word for the facts - I said it was from "Plane Savers" - you can google that. But for a start, here's episode one of like a hundred? Where Mikey shares the entire process in great detail: kzbin.info/www/bejne/fYmug2toZ8iZsKs

[@nickinportland]

No money, but had plenty for the period correct paint job 🙄.

[@FlightChops]

It was hand painted with rollers and cans of tremclad by volunteers who put their heart into it. I wish I was joking, but yeah, believe it our not, it’s a no money paint job.

[@nickinportland]

@@FlightChops “no money” is a little extreme is all I was saying. If all the labor and parts and everything were donated then by all means say that. That would be an incredible story.

[@FlightChops]

@@nickinportland- yea - it was a done by volunteers and donations. Mikey covered this in great detail on his channel if you want to see how it played out.

[@FlightChops]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/bpnEeJmMq8iGZqs

[@mackerel1875]

No money? I couldn't afford the avgas and oil those radials consume every hour they fly...

[@FlightChops]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/bpnEeJmMq8iGZqs

[@Paiadakine]

No money?

[@FlightChops]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/bpnEeJmMq8iGZqs

[@RinkyRoo2021]

Thats total BS three months? No money how about the engines ? 65k/75k with logs NDT on the gear avionics ......props ,contols ,and while your at it check for corrosion.

[@FlightChops]

Go ahead and check Mikey’s channel - it was all documented and all done with donations (such as the borrowed engines that cost him zero dollars) and volunteer time for the work. if you look at the very detailed series covering this (I think I linked it in the description), you'll see an exact accounting of what they had, which was shockingly little.

[@FlightChops]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/bpnEeJmMq8iGZqs

[@pilotken8685]

lol.. with no money... yea... sure... Everything in Aviation is overpriced...

[@FlightChops]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/bpnEeJmMq8iGZqs