Hurricane Dorian: World War II plane, Tico Belle, takes flight for Brevard's Bahamas relief missions

[Historic NY]

Tico Belle, a Douglas C-47 Skytrain that dropped Allied paratroopers over France on D-Day, will take flight in the humanitarian battle to save lives in the Bahamas after Hurricane Dorian laid waste across the island nation.

The vintage plane will depart Space Coast Regional Airport in Titusville by 6:30 a.m. Saturday, then fly to a supply hangar at Orlando Melbourne International Airport, said Norman Daniels, commander of the Valiant Air Command.

Volunteers will load up to 5,000 pounds of hurricane relief supplies aboard the World War II warbird, which will take off for Sandy Point on Great Abaco Island.

"There's a real need to service the people that have been devastated. And we have a viable aircraft. We have volunteer pilots who are willing to make the trip," Daniels said.


[link:https://www.floridatoday.com/story/news/2019/09/06/wwii-tico-belle-takes-flight-brevards-bahamas-relief-missions-after-hurricane-dorian/2232953001/?fbclid=IwAR2UweqZVE2ZAdpE2CQ7R5Ec4FZwaaL-7JG4XyJdKueNcNfnO8Z2nRu3CaQ|]


Great plane at a great museum, I saw her this past May. Ideal plane for getting in places larger aircraft can't.

[abqtommy]

1. That's fantastic! In many ways new technology isn't progress at all!

[lpbk2713]

3. Can land on rough terrain.

Or a short air strip.

[CaptainTruth]

4. Awesome! I got to go inside her when she was being restored, & saw her take off & fly a year later.

I highly recommend the TICO Valiant Air Command Warbird Museum in Titusville, where she is based. If you're interested in historic aircraft you can easily spend a day there wandering through the hangars & looking at the displays.