Firefly class transport...DC-3? by Tristan

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Firefly class transport...DC-3?

POSTED BY: TRISTAN
UPDATED: Wednesday, April 26, 2006 13:32
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Tuesday, April 25, 2006 10:18 AM

Sorry, sometimes my mind goes way off on tangents...this last trip has led me down a road that may or may not have been covered before.

The Firefly class transports were built in large numbers, were built to last, and are used by everyone to haul everything.

The Douglas DC-3 was built in large numbers, were built to last, and are (still) used by everyone to haul everything...including smugglers.

I know these comparisons can be made to almost anything flying these days, but the DC-3 struck me as the best match. They were first built in 1935, and there are many still in use today. They are rugged aircraft, and can land on unimproved, makeshift runways. Some people that have flown them say the only replacement for a DC-3 is another DC-3 (also saw that at Wiki), which means those that fly them love them.

Any thoughts, pot-shots, or other observations?

One day.
One mission.
One army of Browncoats.
On June 23rd, we aim to misbehave.
http://serenityjune23rd.com/

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Tuesday, April 25, 2006 11:37 AM

DONCOAT

I'd say it's a very good parallel. The RPG book says there were a lot of Firefly class boats built, too -- something like 5000 IIRC.

One difference: more hidey places in a Firefly. Slightly more airtight, too, usually.

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I don't disagree on any particular point.

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Tuesday, April 25, 2006 11:48 AM

TRISTAN

I think there were something like 10 or 11 thousand DC-3's built.
And, yes, many more hidey-places. You also have a point with air-tightness. Never flown on a DC-3, but I can imagine it would not last long out in the black

One day.
One mission.
One army of Browncoats.
On June 23rd, we aim to misbehave.
http://serenityjune23rd.com/

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Tuesday, April 25, 2006 12:17 PM

OLDFOGEY

Definitely DC-3! And for ground-based comparison, I'm thinking 1956 Chevrolet station wagon. There's something oddly friendly and lovable about both those vehicles. I get the same kind of feeling about the Firefly.

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Tuesday, April 25, 2006 12:53 PM

DAVESHAYNE

Quote:
Originally posted by Tristan:
Any thoughts, pot-shots, or other observations?

Oh this is so totally on the mark. Remember the C-47 was the plane that flew, "The Hump"

Edit: to provide this little link to a brief history of the plane in question http://www.warbirdalley.com/c47.htm

David

"Not completely as well as the series of Firefly..." - From a review of Serenity at amazon.de

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Tuesday, April 25, 2006 1:31 PM

MAGHAFFAR

I'm an old WWII era planes buff... Saw a great documentary on the DC-3 (the C-47 for the military) where the military specs required it to be able to fly on only one engine (of 2) and be able to do so while it flew over a mountain range of a certain height. So at the official test flight for the military honchos near the Rocky mountains, everyone gets in, they take off... the president of McDonald-Douglas is on board for the test as well... So just after they lift off from the runway, the prez leans over and shuts off one of the engines! This naturally freaks out most everybody aboard -- but guess what? The plane kept flying and did so fabulously. Needless to say, the Army bought the plane.

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Tuesday, April 25, 2006 1:36 PM

VETERAN

Don't squat with your spurs on.

Sounds good to me. Wonder if there's a parallel with ships?

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Tuesday, April 25, 2006 1:44 PM

FLORALBUNNY

Very, very fond DC-3 memories here.
Per-maybe-haps that's another chord struck by Firefly transport Serenity.
Heh.

bun
-- the wing is on fire! --
----- why's the rum gone? -----

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Tuesday, April 25, 2006 1:50 PM

DONCOAT

Quote:
Originally posted by Veteran:
Sounds good to me. Wonder if there's a parallel with ships?

First possibility I can think of is the WWII Liberty Ships. The problem there is that most of those were not built to last.

Another possibility is the Chinese junk, though that's more of a style than a specific model.

Hmmm... the American coasting schooners would also be a good parallel.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I don't disagree on any particular point.

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Tuesday, April 25, 2006 4:29 PM

NCBROWNCOAT

I thought about a DC-3 too. I can just see Mal with a battered WW2 flight hat (that is if good guys could wear hats in a Jossverse) and Wash getting her up in the air just in time on a pothole ridden dirt airstrip with the bad guys roaring after them down the runway.

As far as a real boat is concerned I think a shrimp trawler would be a good Serenity. They are a dime a dozen down here, slipping in and out of the inlets of eastern NC that have been used for smuggling and pirating since Blackbeard and Stede Bonnett.

If not a shrimp trawler then the generic "tramp steamer" that Hollywood has made famous for smugglers and drama on the high seas.

One day.
One plan.
One army of Browncoats.

On June 23rd, we aim to misbehave.

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Tuesday, April 25, 2006 4:32 PM

REAVERINA1985RIVIERA

1982-'91 Ford LTD Crown Victoria/Mercury Grand Marque (sp?).
"200,000 of these old wrecks on the road..." to paraphrase some Alliance chump.

---------------------------------------------
How many Jaynes does it take to change a light bulb?

Two. One to try to put it in and another to find a bigger hammer.

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Wednesday, April 26, 2006 4:19 AM

TRISTAN

Thanks for all the responses. Nice to know I am not the only one who's tangents go in odd directions!

One day.
One mission.
One army of Browncoats.
On June 23rd, we aim to misbehave.
http://serenityjune23rd.com/

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Wednesday, April 26, 2006 1:32 PM

VETERAN

Don't squat with your spurs on.

Tramp Steamer. That's good, fits in with the line of work too.

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