A World War II plane takes flight to Bahamas for Hurricane Dorian relief efforts
MELBOURNE, Fla. – 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, Florida 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.
"So we feel very strongly about helping those that can't help themselves at the moment. Hopefully, we'll make two round trips (Saturday), depending on weather," he said.
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Tico Belle is the flagship of the Valiant Air Command Warbird Museum in Titusville. The plane will join Brevard's Relief for the Bahamas, a coalition including the Florida Institute of Technology, ABC Supply of Central Florida, the Brevard County Clerk's Office and dozens of business partners.
A countywide drive is funneling supplies to Hangar 4A off Aerospace Drive at the Melbourne airport. A Florida Tech-owned Panther Navajo aircraft flew thousands of pounds of goods to Sandy Point on three flights Thursday and Friday — including "a big water run."
"Although it's a bad situation, they've set up a pretty orderly system. Customs is on the ground there, in a limited capacity," Miguel Estremera, the Panther Navajo co-pilot and 1998 Florida Tech aviation management graduate, said Friday afternoon.
"We went back today. There was an increased presence — a lot of civilians next to the airfield, looking to either get out or looking for supplies. The Bahamian police and the Bahamian defense force is there, keeping watch over the whole situation," Estremera said.
"They need water. They need the basic essentials. The sun was very hot, like it is here," he said.
Flight time from Melbourne to Great Abaco Island is about 1 hour, Estremera said.
Inside Hangar 4A, volunteers are sorting and folding stacks of donated men's, women's and children's clothing. Pallets and boxes contain charcoal grills, Ramen noodles, baby wipes, bottled water, toilet paper, first aid supplies, elbow macaroni and an array of other goods.
"We're making a good dent. They're happy, and they want us back. It's getting directly into the hands of people — literally, boxes are coming out and they're handing them to folks that have been sitting on the sides of this airport," Estremera said.
Follow Rick Neale on Twitter: @RickNeale1
This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Hurricane Dorian: WWII plane to fly to Bahamas to aid survivors
