It was past 10 o’clock, and we were beat after eight hours grinding around Illinois and Wisconsin on check rides for a new Part 135 air-taxi company. Goldie and I were sitting in the dark, deserted terminal building at Rockford Airport while Don went back out on the ramp to see if the mechanic was getting anywhere with the right engine on N47CE. Don had rejected two takeoffs in the DC-3 that night when, just before reaching Vr, the right engine oil pressure light came on. “That’s for real, Don. I didn’t do it,” I said from the right seat. The odd thing was that everything checked out OK — no light and good oil pressure — when we did static run-ups, even at high power settings.
Unusual Attitudes: Flights of the Condor
Key Takeaways:
- An FAA inspector recounts the challenging and lengthy certification process for Condor Enterprises, a new air-taxi company aiming to use a restored DC-3 for passenger services, despite initial operational issues.
- The narrator expresses strong skepticism about the business model, comparing it to previous failed ventures and even facing reprimand for her candid assessment of the company's prospects.
- The article introduces key figures, including Goldie, an experienced DC-3 pilot and Baha'i refugee seeking stability, whose personal journey is intertwined with the company's brief existence.
- Ultimately, Condor Enterprises quickly failed after receiving FAA certification, and tragically, one of its DC-3s crashed during a training flight, resulting in three fatalities, shortly after approval.
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