https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...73187ac6ba.jpg


We quickly climbed to 1,100 ft again and I expected the right turn direct to VST soon. To my surprise that turn didn't come even as we approached the outskirt suburbs of Northern Stockholm (Arlanda is pretty far from the city, almost a 50km drive) and looking at GPS we were making a slight left turn. I figured this was because ATC gave a long upwind as we were low and slow and most certainly a bit of headache in peak departure times.

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...6904cdb3ee.jpg

But boy was I wrong! When globen (the globe-shaped stadium) which is located in the south of Stockholm appeared under the left wing, the captain came on the mic announcing that we were now overflying center Stockholm at a whopping 1,000 feet! The sun came out and the clouds were gone and the colorful drawing that is the historic Stockholm neighborhoods unrolled in front of my eyes.

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...522bc3e86b.jpg

We made an S turn just above Västerbron that connects Kungsholmen and Hornstull on Södermalm, passing over beach-goers heads in the whole archipalego.


https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...fa72739c98.jpg

Circling back to Vasastan with Stockholm central station and the vast railway yard in Solna in sight...

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...18fe3a87d5.jpg
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...f74853027b.jpg

And finished our waltz right above the old town and the ever bustling waterfront of nybroplan. The magic just refused to stop like the ending movement of a Mahler symphony or a Rachmaninoff concerto, and I am certain that it was not only a treat for us in the sky, but everyone enjoying the weekend down there.

https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...c6619704fc.jpg
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...d10ea651b1.jpg


We landed back to VST close to 5pm and I almost did not want to step out of the plane. It is safe to say that it's a magical day that I'd cherish and savor for a long time, and it's certainly safe to say I would support the association in the days to come.

Thanks for reading the post and have a nice summer.

I was already jealous earlier in the day as I read about your flight out and day in Arlanda, but now with the return, I am massively jealous indeed. What a day.

I had long wanted to fly on the Dutch Dakota, but it it never worked out for one reason or another, until they suddenly announced last year that it would be their last season. Unfortunately the only flight that was left available for me when I got to booking was the one I knew I would be away, so I remain never flying on the DC-3...

Maybe if I'm lucky, I will be able to catch the Li-2 from Budapest this year.

What a fantastic experience, some great memories to treasure! :D

Wow jerrychuang! You are one lucky son of a gun! My most favourite aircraft ever. My last flight in a DC-3 was nearly 20 years ago on 17th Dec 2005 at Coventry and I still think of it. I love the sound of the engines and am able to pick the sound out of all the planes that fly over us. We seem to live on a flightpath between North Weald and Duxford so, several times in the flying season, I hear something and rush outside to witness the thing of beauty flying past.

Always good to fly on a vantage aircraft, not done a DC3/C47 for a long time; not since Air Atlantique ceased operations at Coventry.

Beautiful silver finish on that aircraft.