Episode Information

Can an airplane become a legend? This one could – and did. Her adventures took her from the battlefields of World War II to the mountains of Ethiopia to the skies of Scandinavia, and even at 80 years old she’s not done yet. Her name is Daisy. This is her story.

The DC-3 was a revolutionary airplane. Designed in the 1930s, pilots and mechanics loved it for its power, toughness, and versatility. Aviation enthusiasts still thrill to the roar of its mighty engines. The DC-3 served brilliantly as a military and civilian aircraft - and helped shape the modern world. Some are still in commercial service today! But even among these legendary aircraft one name stands out: Daisy.

Daisy was there on D-Day and at the Battle of the Bulge – and she still has the bullet holes to prove it. She flew hundreds of rescue missions during the Ethiopian famine. As a civilian aircraft, she was part of the post-war air travel boom. You can almost describe her as the “Forrest Gump” of airplanes. If you look up the DC-3 on Wikipedia, you see a picture of Daisy. Now, she flies out of a tiny airport in the Swedish countryside, where her every need is looked after by the Flying Veterans, an endearing crew of retired pilots and mechanics. Every spring the team works tirelessly to prepare Daisy for summer flying, but this year the work has taken on extra importance: Daisy is turning 80. She will mark the occasion with a special flight over Stockholm during the King of Sweden’s Royal Jubilee. At the same time, Daisy’s long-time pilot is training a new generation to take her controls, as his career winds down and retirement nears. It’s a big season. Everything must go right. But 80-year-old airplanes can be… unpredictable.