D-Day Veteran 'Daisy' Flies Again in Västerås

The DC-3 aircraft "Daisy," a veteran of the D-Day landings, now captivates aviation enthusiasts in Västerås, Sweden. This C-47 Skytrain, which released American paratroopers over Normandy on June 6, 1944, offers a rare glimpse into the past.

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It's like a real time machine.

Visible repairs on its aluminum exterior, remnants of Nazi German fire from the historic Operation Overlord, tell a story of survival. While the aircraft retains its historical integrity, it has been updated with modern amenities like insulation, a toilet, and a defibrillator, alongside its original static line attachment for paratrooper deployment.

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In newer aircraft, you are more of a system operator, but here you really feel like a pilot. There's so much feeling, it's heavy and no hydraulics to help, and you have to keep track of temperatures. You have to pinch yourself a little, because it's something very unique.

Pilots like Claes Martinsson, who normally flies modern commercial jets, describe flying "Daisy" as "real flying." He emphasizes the tactile experience, the lack of hydraulics, and the constant need to monitor temperatures, calling it a "very unique" opportunity. "It's like a real time machine," says Henrik Boresäter of Flygande Veteraner (Flying Veterans), the organization that maintains the aircraft. Passengers, including young "planespotters," are drawn to its historical significance and the palpable sense of history it carries.

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But it's a magical feeling to travel with this type of aircraft. Air pockets are felt more, and it moves sideways with the winds – it's a bit like being at sea – and since it doesn't fly very high, you can follow the landscape below in a different way.