Flying a DC-3 to Greenland, Engine Won't Start 

I just love hearing professionals talk about issues in this calm and reassuring manner.

Had the pleasure of delivering the AVGAS to this beauty on your stop in Reykjavík on your way to Europe, must say that this old girl stands out as one of, if not the most beautiful aircraft I've seen in my life. Couldn't believe my eyes and ears when I saw and heard this beauty flying over me both when you guys arrived and departed from Reykjavík.

As an ex Airline pilot who crossed the "pond" many times in a variety of big jets, this should be compulsory viewing for all pilots planning to cross the Atlantic as maybe, just maybe you might need Narsarsuag as your bolt hole one day and this sort of film clip would prepare you for some of the problems you might face. Also would suggest that Ernest Ganns " Fate is the Hunter" should be part of the ATPL syllabus! Thank you for a wonderful film . Fantastic.

"Hey Douglas, what's your type?" "DC3." "Outstanding!" This part gave me goosebumps, but in the best way possible. Such a simple exchange but it was a great moment.

Hey Matt, greetings from Narsarsuaq Tower. Great video, it was awesome to see the arrival from your perspective. Happy that you enjoyed your stay here :)

DC-3 was the first plane I ever flew in way back in about 1950 or 51. I was 6-7 years old and my Dad flew it part of the flight. He was an engineer with the old CAA before it became the FAA. Flew out of the old Atlanta GA airport. This video brought back such wonderful memories. THANKS

20:00 Smooooooooooooooth AF .. The build up to that landing was awesome!

I'm not a pilot, I know very little about the aviation world, but I'm thoroughly enjoying this series.

UAL 004 is 787-900 service from London Heathrow to Houston International (LHR - IAH).

I crewed a c-47 in Viet Nam 1970 ,I have not been around them since then , your series brings back so many memories ,thanks

I flew this route six times in Twin Commanders 20-30 years ago, sometimes skipping Narsarsuaq, but always including Reykjavik and Goose. Thanks for the chance to see it again :-) One time a starter motor failed on departure from Narsarsuaq. I called my UK Commander rep, Douggie, and he told me exactly where to find a spare unit over in the middle hangar. I could just go and get it - he had the owner's permission to do that - and get a mechanic to swap it out. I don't know if that sort of thing would work today, but it did then, and was part of the magic that made flying wonderful. I'm so thankful for having been part of it. PS: For the rest of my flying in that Commander, I carried a spare starter motor - and never needed it again myself, but once was able to help another Commander pilot in the same fix, again via Douggie, bless his cotton socks.

“We’re out of sour cream onion pringles” ..... *squaks 7700*

Really enjoyed the CRM parts of the video. Always nice to see a well oiled machine (team) in the cockpit.

Video was great... but it doesn’t need the click-bait title... “Flying to Greenland in a DC-3” would get the views all by itself. Thank you for the vid 👍🏻

I don't know how many times I've watched this. The series is among the best avgeek travelogues there is. But this chapter gets me every time. The cowl flaps, position report and going all Ernie Gant into the fjords is worthy of an Emmy.

"Alright... I can smile now" Very cool to see how yall get along and work as a team. Live the dream and thank you for sharing with all of us.

Solid content! Really enjoyed the troubleshooting near the beginning, calm, cool, and collected pilots.

My first flight at 12 years old was from St. George, Utah to Salt Lake City in a Hughes Airwest DC-3 in 1974. The juxtaposition of an iPad in the cockpit of a DC-3 at 0:37 is a sight I never thought I would see. Great video!

@20:00 Inspirational landing! This 63 year old was on the edge of my seat. Fabulous camera and video. What a grand adventure viewed this day; January 24th, 2021

I like your videos Matt, they're so aviation-oriented unlike other channels. A lot of the coordination, troubleshooting and minute by minute navigation is shown here. Thank you for sharing!

The coolest thing for me is the airplane's livery! LOVE seeing PAN AM clipper in the skies again! Can't believe no one else commented on THAT! Try using some 1940's music next time. Come Fly With Me etc.

My family used to live in the Bahamas and we flew a DC-3 from Miami to Eleuthera in the late 70's. My most fond memory was my mother and I once being the only only passengers onboard and I got to ride in the cockpit until shortly before landing...so many thanks to the long defunct Mackey Airlines, which flew on a single engine during cruising, thus fostering memories an eight year old will never forget, looking out the window and seeing an idle prop. As a Pan Am brat, thanks for flying her again and rekindling fond memories.

excellent video, really shows the adventure of flying which is missed when you're crossing the Atlantic at 37,000ft

Watching these two pilots execute such awesome teamwork makes this video. Especially when they methodically worked through the problem. Excellent work by these two men!

Fate Is The Hunter - one of the best books I've ever read.

After the position report and you hear "Douglas what's your type?" A huge smile spread across my face. :)

It was a nostalgic moment for me. I used to fly the DC3 50 years ago in Northern Canada. There were noticeable differences in how we operated. Great work. Unforgettable adventure and a really good video. Thank you all.

That UPS pilot is my type of pilot. Great CRM, relaxed and open to input from the rest of the crew. That's the type of pilot I always enjoy having with me in the plane.

Awesome sound of the P&W on take off from Goose Bay.

Regarding your comment about Ernie Gann, my dad, Captain Tom Delahunt and he flew together while they worked for Transocean Airlines circa 1954.

Finally, I’ve been waiting for this video since part 1. More DC-3 please 😅

When I saw DC3 to Greenland I said to myself “Hey that’s the same route as Fate is the Hunter!” (One of the handful of books I read cover to cover. ) then you said it. Haha.

I love the old C-47's. When I flew one in the Air Force, everyone had to chute up, and when we refueled everyone had to stand outside. If it was too cold, a bus would come out.

I love the coorperation at 09:54 Of course its sort of what you do when you're in a situation like that, but it still makes me very happy to hear pilots helping each other out.

Absolutely loved this! Hearing the radio relay with ‘Delta 4’ was awesome! Especially when they asked what Douglas and you replied “DC-3” you can instantly hear their excitement and total respect for the old bird and the mission you were on!👍🫡🇨🇦

Very moved by this Matt. My dad was the radio op on a PBY that crashed on the Greenland icecap during WWII - Jan 1943 - they spent 16 days on the icecap in the dead of winter before being rescued. I've thought of going there - to the bases at least - perhaps set up an amateur radio station and contact others around the world as an homage… Narsarsuaq was the likely goal... A thousand thanks for taking me along for the ride!

Wow. This is why we all love aviation so much. Thank you Matt.

Thanks, Matt. I'm thoroughly enjoying this series. Your hard work in putting this together is greatly appreciated. Great crew on that Douglas.

Awesome! The 1st stretch of the flight was so nerve-racking trying to handle all those anomalies, yet you were rewarded with stunning landscapes flying into Narsarsuaq. I love those dramatic Nordic fyord landscapes.

I did 3 ocean stations in the Coast Guard in 1973/4, 2 Bravos and 1 Charlie. Bravo was about midway between Goose Bay and the south tip of Greenland. My job was in sonar and we were located in CIC along with radar. My 1st Bravo was in early Oct- early Nov 1973 and my second was May/ June 1974. The 1st Bravo was a rough one, HUGE seas and freezing salt spray. Anyone who thinks salt water doesn't freeze doesn't know what they are talking about..... our lifelines were 5/8" stainless steel but were 6-8" with the ice. everything else forward of the superstructure was coated like that too. We had to go out on deck in those sea to break it loose and throw it over the side to stay upright. My second ocean station was Charlie, Dec 1973, south and east of the south tip of Greenland we had even worse weather with 2-3 dozen shipmates with broken bones and sprains. On my watches in sonar I would take breaks once in a while and walk a few steps to see what was going on with our radarmen. On ocean stations we had trained crew who would take sea temps, humidity, wind speed/ dir. plus information we got from the weather balloons we sent up. All this info plus our current location was recorded and broadcast like ATIS. The 1st part this message was our station ("This is Ocean Station Bravo"), current location, date/ time, then the rest was basically ATIS weather info. Radar would pick up the trans Atlantic A/C and most would call us. When they did the conversation was them calling us their call sign, the present info they had ("we have information charlie"...) and ask for a bearing and range from us. We would call back asking them to IDENT (using only 2 digits). We would see this on radar and call back telling their present bearing and range. We did not have any fancy secondary radar displays in the mid 1970's. On the scope would see the primary skin paint along with dots and dashes from the secondary radar which was the IDENT code. On my last ocean station we had a brand new Boeing 747 heading from Heathrow to JFK. After we told him his bearing and range from us he called back a few minutes later telling us we were off station by a few hundred yards and which bearing, he had this newfangled thing called inertial nav and all we had was loran C. My cutter closed down both Bravo and Charlie 1973 and 74. Ships were replaced by buoys in 12.000' of water!

See Greenland again brought back good memories when I was stationed at Thule AB from May 84 to May 85

FINALLY!!! Gann-o-philes! However, an HF waiver does not make communications authentic... until you had to relay the position report, AND... the freq interference by the ignition system make it back to the 40's. Thanks for posting the professional airmanship and proving that these old birds can be flown using standardization. Diagnosing abnormalities by the feel of the aircraft can still be used in today's aircraft, if you are willing to listen to her. I am so glad that your example is public so that the 'magenta liners' might understand the differences of being a pilot, and an aviator. "JETS ARE FOR KIDS"--- Save-a-Connie motto.

So funny, "turn right at the rocks ahead". Reminds me of years ago when I lived out in the middle of nowhere. I'd tell people, "go north on the Rosedale pavement, turn right at the Sandcut 4-way. Take the next left just past the cemetery, then when you get to the tree in the middle of the road stop and honk your horn. You'll see a pasture on your right with Jersey milk cows. When I hear you honk your horn, I'll ring the feed bell for the cows, then they'll start to head to the barn for feed time. Open the steel gate to the pasture then just follow them to the barn". "oh ya, don't forget to shut the damn gate".

I did this in 1997 flying a C-53C (DC-3A) as the copilot...our destination was Holland. It was the trip of a lifetime!!

Love how you did the ending, engine is just turning over. Great video.

Really enjoyed the video. Spent 3 montsh in Thule Greenland in 1985, with stops in Sondrestrom to and from Thule. Greenland is so beautiful.

Matt, just a fantastic video production! Your recording quality and post editing is superb, with the many cameras in the cockpit and those frozen ones out in the slipstream that drew the short straw! It's like I'm right there with you all as you fly across the wet and frozen stuff. Fate is the Hunter is my favourite aviation book, which I found and read along with most of the others in his series, in second hand book shops down here in NZL, back in the 90s! The flight deck CRM and decision making is superb. Wow, DC3 time in the logbook. The P&W Symphony at takeoff, and that tailwind greaser at the end - Just superb!

around 20 years ago i was in Goose... with the good old F4F Phantom (GAF)

Extremely cool, thanks so much for sharing. My dad was there in '42!

"We're out of Sour Cream and Onion Pringles." - Ruh-Roh! It just got real.

so calm.. so relaxed. easily talking through the issues. man those are great pilots.

This is a remarkable coincidence, I am an Avgeek and simulator pilot, I have been reading EK Gann's Fate is the Hunter for some time now and I have been mesmerized by the poetry of the aviation non fiction. In fact, just a couple of days ago, I was reading Valhalla and his journey to take the correct fjord to land at the only RWY at Bluey One West. When I was reading that passage, I was wondering what it should be like to see it in person as Gann himself states that it is a sight that should not be missed, and whoa, here is Matt and his channel bringing the panorama in real life, Thank you- Subscribed today :) I was wondering how the golden age of flying must have been where piloting was piloting and flying was flying

One of the best yet Matt. Thank God for rich guys that love planes. :-)

They should really add an AWESOME button to YT, man this is freaking unbelievable! Loved every second, thanks so much for sharing!

0 seconds ago Great video. Especially loved seeing Narsarsuaq again. I visited there in 2018 for just 4 days, and only stayed in Narsarsuaq. People I met there thought this was crazy cause there’s so many other places to visit in Greenland, such as go whale watching, kayaking etc to name just a few activities, but I had no funds to go anywhere else. Still I fulfilled a dream of visiting Greenland. Oh yeah, I also got to camp out for a night on the nearby Ice Cap, which was incredible. You said Matt that there’s just one hotel in town, but I thought there was at least two, as I stayed at the one thats right in the Airport. Anyway many thanks for the memories.

Amazing Footage, Excellent Editing! Fantastic content, really enjoyable to watch all the cameras recollection of images! Congrats! Already waiting for next part of the journey.

Some of the very best DC-3 content I have viewed. Great job Matt!

Thank you Matt. Really amazing, really one of your best. Greets from Austria!

Remember flying on a KC-97 through Goose Bay to England back in 1969. We return by the same route a week later and was it one long flight. Won't take anything for that experience. The only time I flew on a DC-3 was in 1967 from New Orleans to Greenville, MS. Great memories. Love your channel..

Another great video. Thanks for taking us on your trip! Beautiful landscapes and a chance to see some troubleshooting on the spot!

What a beautiful video. Even more incredible is appreciating the trip was to do with Normandy 75.... Amazing....

Great video, riveted the whole way through. Thanks for keeping the coms part of the experience.

Wow, what a landing! Nailed it!

Fabulous sound of those engines....as it takes off. Brings back golden memories. I remember when a kid going on the DC3 from island to island....loved every minute... What a plane...

You have a very good sense of how to tell a story. The camera positioning, cuts, takes, production value are all outstanding, especially if you are an amateur?

Superb Matt!! thanks for this, what an adventure!

Amazing! Watched a few youtube aviators making that approach into Greenland in the last couple of weeks. Never gets old! Keep up the good work!

Absolutely awesome series Matt and Crew, thanks for allowing us along on the ride!

Beautiful flying guys. What a great plane. Your group is very professional..

8:17 “We’re outta Sour Cream n’ Onion Pringles.” *beat* *O Fortuna starts up in the background*

Awesome lunch break, thank you Matt and Crew. very professional and great site seeing.

During the 80s I attended aviation school and had the pleasure starting the old faithful radial engines on the classic DC-3. We also performed mocked inspections and troubleshot the de-icing system. Totally miss the old school ways working on these classics.

Looking forward to the next installment!

awesome view of the spiraling slipstream off of that prop on takeoff at 2:48

Fascinating!! Thank you for the food shots, too. Great video, Matt. You're the best!!

Fantastic video of your landing in Greenland. I was able to sort of experience what my father & the B-17G crew of “The Flying Dutchmen” 43-38286 felt on their return Stateside in June 1945 from the 34th Bomb Group base in Mendlesham, England. My father was the navigator and the compass ‘tumbled’ as they approached Greenland & he said how difficult the airfield was to locate in the fjord. He said that was one of his most stressful acts of navigation of the war. Now I have an idea of what he saw and felt. Thank you!

Quality video enjoying every moment thank you

WOW!....what a great episode!! Also, that's got to be the best looking DC-3 I've seen. The flight deck is just awesome!

Really enjoyed the video. My Father was in SOE during WW2..and had never flown until his parachute training in 1941.... He flew in DC3's a fair bit, being dropped behind enemy lines..and said that "He took off in an aeroplane in 1941....but never landed again until 1948" :)

Thanks you sooo much!! Loved both films. Everyone in the film was great. What a great adventure! Thanks so much for letting us fly along. You guys are all great. Terrific team! These two films are better than any ten film in the movies today.

**watches plane vids partially to subdue anxieties about flying** **problem happens and they act calm but intense music starts playin** 💀

Thinking of my father- William Graham Howard, who flew for Pan American Grace Airlines (1946-1949) - from Trinidad to New York and South America. He spent the War flying C-47s from Pope Field dropping paratroopers and pulling gliders. He though he would might fly Boeing Flying boats at Trinidad - but, nope - Goonie Birds...

Retired ATC and I really enjoyed the show! I hope there will be a followup getting the engine started and continuing the trip.

A great video. I landed at Narsarsuaq in 1985 in a PA31 Navajo, only I was going the other way having taken off from Reykjavik. Working on dead reckoning once we were out of range of Keflavik VOR/DME. No satnav, no HF , just a compass and the clock. Flew over the icecap and then let down visually into the fjord and straight on to 06. Took off from 24 the next day and went down the fjord below 500 ft in loose formation with the other Navajo on the way to Goose. Only one picture which I can't find. You are right, the best briefing is Fate is the Hunter!

Matt that was some excellent flying. You don't know me but my father and i refurbished Dc-3s in S.F. California some years ago !!

Nice video. I like the views, of course, and the old technology. But I am also in awe of the displayed professionalism. To have 6 pilots on board... what luxury. Editing, as usual, very well done.

Very awesome video! Thank you Matt, thank you to everyone on this flight.

Matt, the coolness of that video is beyond words. Thanks so much.

Very interesting video, especially for me. My father was an RAF pilot during WWII and flew a similar route in the same plane when returning from Canada to England. Did his flying training in Canada in Boundary Bay, North Battleford Saskatchewan, Patricia Bay, BC, Dorval, Quebec I have his flight log still: 1944 Date Aircraft Number Pilot or First Pilot 2nd Pilot, Pupil or Passenger Duty Hours June 8 Dakota 666 Self p/o Turner Dorval to Mont Joli 6:45 9 Dakota 666 Self p/o Turner Mont Joli to Gander 4:30 10 Dakota 666 Self p/o Turner Gander to B.W.I. (Greenland) 6:30 11 Dakota 666 Self p/o Turner B.W.I. to Reykjavik (Iceland) 6:30 12 Dakota 666 Self p/o Turner Reykjavik to Prestwick 5:45 He was then assigned to Number 52 Squadron in Calcutta and became one of relatively few RAF Hump Pilots across the Himalayas. He was eventually assigned to be the personal pilot for a British General (Sir Adrian Carton-De-Wiart) who was Churchill's attaché to the Chiang Kia-shek. He also flew several dignitaries include Lord Mountbatten, The British Ambassador to China, the Canadian Ambassador and several other high ranking British officers. He was de-mobbed Sept 1946 after flying Dakotas for 1710 hours. Thanks for providing some insight into my fathers experience.

haha- that smirk on the greaser landing. he knew he nailed it. that was awesome.

Completely amazingly awesome footage! You make the best flying vidz Matt!

Having flown the DC3 about 1,500 hours.....that is a sweet heart........still my favorite airplane, and I've flow several. Thanks for the video!

*United 4* "Douglas what's your type?" *"DC3" Mic drops, everyone stands and applauds, tears stream down United's faces.

You guys wanna make me cry ?? Oh Pan Am ! how I miss you....

Excellent video. I built a 1/72 scale DC-3 gunship and it is one of my favorites among my airplane model collection. The DC-3 is one fantastic airplane.

GREAT video! Thank you SO much for the education! Thanks for posting, mate!

Wow, I'm so doing a greenland approach when Microsoft 2020 comes out, also PMDG release the DC3 already!

"Dude ... we're going to Greenland ... in a DC-3. How cool is that?" "It's flippin' awesome!" I have to agree!! I'm *SOOOOOOO* envious of these guys!

WHAT a AWSOME vid - thank You Blue skies and High flying, Clam Wind and smooth landings to all of You 🇩🇰/🇬🇱

Great film. Well edited. Really enjoyed it. Thanks.