Delta Virtual Airlines Water Cooler - 1942-1945 Western Airlines Operation Sourdough Flights Added

Delta Virtual Airlines Water Cooler | Airline Operations | 1942-1945 Western Airlines Operation Sourdough Flights Added

DVA2887
Senior Captain, A320
OLP, 737-ATP, VFRADV
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Joined on January 30 2006
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Online Eight Century

Charlotte, NC

1,286 legs, 1,796.2 hours
840 legs, 1,047.8 hours online
1,268 legs, 1,774.2 hours ACARS
31 legs, 49.6 hours event
3 legs dispatched, 2.5 hours

Posted onPost created on January 01 2015 13:46 ET by Andrew Vane

From 1942 to 1945, Western Airlines, eventually acquired by Delta, provided strategic flights from the 48 states to Alaksa via Canada. In addition to the Seattle-Ketchican-Anchorage route, DC-3’s and L-10’s were used to get from Great Falls Montana over 1,600+ miles to Fairbanks from Great Falls, Montana. The following flights have been added so that DVA pilots can take advantage of these challenging destinations flown 70 years ago. The routes and legs are indicated as Flights 6800 and 6801 in the Delta historical flights section.

With regard to this route, the book “Delta, An Airline and Its Aircraft” by R.E.G. Davis, says, “The flying conditions were harsh. Rubber crystallized and shattered like glass; fuel hoses snapped; oil flowed like molasses until heated, grease froze in wheel bearings. Altimeters were unreliable because the intakes were blocked with snow. Radio aids were sparsely deployed and navigational charts were often rough drawings. Throughout these daunting conditions, Western maintained a perfect safety record.” (1990 by R.E.G. Davies, Published by Paladwr Press, ISBN 0-9626483-0-2)

Some of these airports have only 5,000ft long runways so check your aircraft’s capabilities before attempting. These flights will certainly test your knowledge and navigational abilities. Many of these airports also do not have precision approaches. We hope you’ll enjoy the challenge of flying these historical flights.

Enjoy!

Andrew Vane (DVA2887)

DVA11957
Captain, MD-11
OLP

Joined on February 02 2014
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"Fly everything, it never hurts."
Centereach, NY

290 legs, 843.0 hours
256 legs, 779.3 hours online
276 legs, 797.1 hours ACARS
117 legs, 260.7 hours event

Posted onPost created on January 01 2015 18:40 ET by Darren Tung

Good to know. I'll be sure to fly some of these routes in the future.

Darren Tung

Captain, MD-11

DVA5643
Senior Captain, DC-6

Joined on February 08 2008
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"I'd rather be lucky than good"
Hampton, GA USA

1,914 legs, 2,888.2 hours
5 legs, 3.8 hours online
1,907 legs, 2,878.2 hours ACARS

Posted onPost created on January 02 2015 19:12 ET by Jim Daigneau

Great addition Andrew. I would add that DVA pilots who would like to fly Northwest metal can start from Minnie and join the route at Edmonton. Edmonton was the "launching point" for the "inside route" to "BRONZE" (the code word for the Alaskan theater). The "outside route", flown up the west Canada coast, was handled mostly by United and Pan Am. The pioneering flying Andrew mentions was a feat nothing short of miraculous for that time in both saftey and for the amount of cargo and people hauled in both directions. When you do these flights, be sure it's snowing and use only ADFs. Good luck!
The primary work for the study of the Air transport Command in WW2 is "Air Transport at War" by Reginald Cleveland. It is out of print but available at Amazon. Another good, more recent book is "When the Airlines went to War" by Robert Serling. Both of these are complete treatments of the incredible job the airlines did to ensure success of the war effort. A great online reference is found at the "Hyperwar" website: http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/AAF/VII/AAF-VII-1.html
For Delta Air Lines' part, the company was too small to take part in the ATC route structure, other than flying its normal AM24 AND AM54 routes. But Delta did operate a mod base for P-51s, P-38s and A-20s and provided training for mechanics and pilots. Of course, all of the other airlines were doing similar things in scale with their capability. It was a total mobilization: something few people could comprehend today.
Andrew, thank you for adding these flights. Perhaps we can tackle other ATC routes sometime (after the other stuff, of course!). ;-)

Jim Daigneau (DVA5643)

Posted onPost created on January 16 2015 09:25 ET by Andrew Vane

Flying these legs and its been quite fun. Only 1 hour or so flight lengths in a turboprop. Lots of snow and clouds and mountains but pretty much all visual approaches so far. Not quite as cold temperature wise as I thought it would be. I made it to CYXY. I mostly flew EMB120. ATC on a lot and Edmonton CTR was very polite (Frye) and helpful. He must see a lot of VFR flights up his way I'd guess.

I added a bail-out to the schedule so that once you reach CYXY, if you want to go to Juneau and get a jet and head back to civilization, you can.

I"m continuing on towards PAFA though before getting back into the 727. Enjoying the scenery, lakes and mountains. There has been some VATSIM traffic but not any when I get there. smile

DVA8276
Captain, DC-6

Joined on January 29 2010
Piston Prop Professional
DVA Fifteen-Year Anniversary

Weaver, AL USA

61 legs, 160.3 hours
2 legs, 5.1 hours online
60 legs, 158.9 hours ACARS
1 legs, 1.4 hours event

Posted onPost created on January 16 2015 11:48 ET by James Goode

I've got to make time to get back in the air. These sound like a fun challenge.

James Goode

Captain, DC-6

Posted onPost created on January 16 2015 16:17 ET by Andrew Vane

Its a lot of fun. Hopefully tonight I'll do CYXY to CYDB. its only 94 miles so I may do the following leg as well. these are perfect for a piston or turboprop. Hone your flying skills old school with those VORs and NDBs.

Andrew Vane (DVA2887)

Posted onPost created on January 20 2015 11:52 ET by Andrew Vane

Migrated Flights to WAH schedule as WAH3000 and upwards. Also added return flights continuing on to PANC and back to KSEA (multiple legs).

Andrew Vane (DVA2887)

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