West Nile Spraying DC-3?

Airlift48 · **Joined:** Sat Oct 29, 2005 7:01 pm **Posts:** 744

Saw this article today...

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/09/18/pesticide-spray-west-nile-mosquitoes_n_1895014.html?utm_hp_ref=mostpopular

Are they using ex-firebombers for this?

SaxMan · **Posted:** Tue Sep 18, 2012 10:08 pm

My guess is that this is a "stock" photo and not an actual representative of the spraying planes. The pictures I've seen that are officially credited are usually smaller modern planes like the Beechcraft and Cessna twins.

It does beg the question, though: Are there still any DC-3s in the firebomber / aerial applicator roles? Are there are still a few "freight dogs" working as well?

JDK · **Posted:** Tue Sep 18, 2012 10:21 pm

Looks like a stock photo to me. In the photo slideshow at the bottom, there's a couple of shots of some white modern twin of tedium, which are current date to the actual work:

Quote:

A Beechcraft airplane sprays the insecticide DUET over Dallas County to curb the spread of West Nile virus Sunday, Aug. 19, 2012, in Addison, Texas. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

Pathfinder · **Joined:** Tue Nov 10, 2009 7:35 pm **Posts:** 587

Lee County Mosquito Control District in FL has a fleet of 5 Daks. Some nice photos on their site.

RandolphB · **Posted:** Wed Sep 19, 2012 3:46 am

When BP had their oil rig diaster a year or so ago in the Gulf of Mexico, they posted photos of a DC-3 spraying something to slow the progress of the oil slick.

DC3R4DC47 · **Joined:** Tue Dec 08, 2009 12:34 am **Posts:** 115

there are freight dog DC3s flying in Alaska, the Caribbean ,and throughout the 3rd world. In the lower 48, Miami and Opa Locka boast a few examples of the working breed. Catalina Flying Boats out of Long Beach,CA. has two DC3s on the payroll I believe.This is a far cry from the mid 90's when fleets of DC3 freighters were still earning their keep, daily,nightly throughout the land.

Silverplate · **Posted:** Wed Sep 19, 2012 8:20 am

Pathfinder wrote:

Lee County Mosquito Control District in FL has a fleet of 5 Daks. Some nice photos on their site.

Here is four of them:

bdk · **Joined:** Sun May 02, 2004 1:16 am **Posts:** 11324

DC3R4DC47 wrote:

Catalina Flying Boats out of Long Beach,CA. has two DC3s on the payroll I believe.

One of those two has been without engines and wings installed for some years now. Hear the other one flying daily!

JohnB · **Posted:** Wed Sep 19, 2012 9:31 am

I've seen photos of DC-3s being used as dusters in Australia and New Zealand...but have never seen any for AG work in Norh America.
Insect spraying, yes...crop "dusting" snd spraying, no.

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West Nile Spraying DC-3?

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