Dane Gibson
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Jan 05/00) - The drone of the two DC-3 engines rattled through the fuselage as the 1942 Buffalo Airways aircraft throttled up and rose off the Yellowknife runway -- its nose pointed towards the new millennium.

The seats were filled with 28 Buffalo Airways employees, relatives, and friends prepared to toast the Year 2000 and watch fireworks explode over the city.

"That's why this is special. They call the DC-3 a time machine because it has outlived its expected useful life," said Buffalo Airways production supervisor, Sasha Labant, as she buckled in for the ride.

"It was the first real passenger carrier and they expected it to be phased out, but these planes are still delivering food to Northern communities, hauling parts to mines and hauling people daily."

Rod McBryan is the maintenance co-ordinator responsible for keeping six of the 12 DC-3s in the Buffalo fleet operating. There's nowhere else he'd rather be than flying in one of them minutes before the new year arrives.

"In a world that's ever changing, the time machine is a symbol of how aviation is so young," said McBryan.

"Aviation is young, but there's been milestones along the way that will never be forgotten, and the DC-3 is one of those milestones. As long as they keep putting lead in gasoline, these planes will never quit."

As the graceful bird circled the city in it's lazy way, the clock struck midnight and fireworks lit up the sky. Pilot Jim Smith, who's been flying in the North since 1977, was happy to be behind the wheel.

"It's very fitting because the plane is full of family, friends and plane enthusiasts," said Smith, who circled around the glowing city one more time before lining the runway up in his sights. "It's also fitting because we are going to be the first plane to land in Yellowknife this century. It's been a very nice ride."

It was six-year-old Zachary Hart's first time in a DC-3. The significance of the year 2000 was kind of lost on the young boy, but he will definitely remember where he was.

"Mostly my mum was excited and yelling. I don't understand the year 2000 but I'll remember this night for a long time. When people ask where I was when it turned into the year 2000, I'll say I was on a Buffalo airplane."