FOREWORD

          I have gathered, created or repainted all the military and commercial aircraft that my father, a former U.S. Air Force, Northeast Airlines and Delta Air Lines captain, ever flew, in proper markings and/or livery, for use with Microsoft® Flight Simulator. Here you can download his entire inventory, from the T-6 Texan and F-86 Sabrejet to the DC-3 and Boeing 767, along with all current and past Northeast and Delta aircraft.  These files are to be considered freeware, and can be passed along provided there is never a charge for these aircraft, files, or variants thereof, in any way whatsoever.

       I enjoy many great memories about my dad's aviation career.  Dad flew all of Northeast's last, great aircraft, from the DC-3 to their famous "Yellowbirds", eventually retiring flying Delta's widebody jets.  While growing up in Manchester, New Hampshire, I often watched from my classroom as Dad would make his turn to final into Manchester's Grenier Field by flying his DC-6B right over our school, wagging wings, blinking landing lights on and off while shaking and rattling every window and door in the building.

         I learned during those years that the new DC-9's overhead "annunciator panel" was a technical marvel, Eastern Airlines was the "enemy", the Viscount handled like a truck, the DC-3 was real "seat-of-the-pants" flying, and the Convair 880 was "one helluva fast airplane ...".

        During his entire career, he never allowed rain, snow, sleet or gloom of night to prevent his attendance at those special family gatherings.  I remember a particular Christmas Eve, in the midst of a typical New England blizzard, when Mom told all of us kids that due to the severe weather, we should all expect that Dad would be unable to make the hour-long drive home from, or even land in, Boston.  To eveyone's surprise (except Mom's of course), in the wee hours of the morning after a four hour drive from Logan through heavy snow, Dad's burgundy 1964 Thunderbird convertible finally turned the corner of our street, pulled halfway into the driveway, and chose that spot to get stuck in the snow.  He got out of the car, flightbag in hand, locked it, and left it there until morning.

        Upon my own move to California in 1985, he immediately began bidding San Diego layovers out of Boston.  For the last six years of his career, I enjoyed a regular Tuesday ritual with him:  a 12:30 pickup at Lindbergh Field, over to the hotel for a change of clothes, followed by nine holes at Torrey Pines, evening dinner (he always insisted on picking up the tab), and a leisurely ride back to his hotel.

        After his retirement in late 1990, his visits did not slow ... and were often unannounced!  Many times I would arrive home from work, open the garage door to find my other car was gone.  Inevitably, there was the same note on the front door: "Decided to visit for the week.  Took your car and went out with your buddies.  Meet us for a snorkel!  You know where.  - Pa"

       THANKS FOR THE MEMORIES, DAD ...  NO SON COULD BE  PROUDER THAN I AM OF YOU .

       Please send your comments or questions to Guy G. Caron.  I answer all e-mail, and welcome your responses to this site.