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| One of the world's truly outstanding aeroplanes, the DC-3 resulted from American Airlines' requirement for a sleeper aircraft for its US transcontinental route. The DC-2 fuselage was too small for this, so, reluctantly, in the autumn of 1934 Douglas agreed to build the DST (Douglas Sleeper Transport) as an enlarged DC-2, with lengthened fuselage, increased span and, most important, an increase of 66cm in fuselage width - allowing up to 28 seats or 14 sleeping berths.
The prototype DST, with 633.4-745kW Wright Cyclone SGR-1820 engines, made its first flight on 17 December 1935 (not inappropriately the 32nd anniversary of the first powered flight by the Wright Brothers). The type entered service with American Airlines on 25 June 1936 over the New York-Chicago route, with transcontinental sleeper services starting on 18 September. The DC-3/DST soon proved itself and orders grew rapidly, with KLM becoming the first operator outside the US. Including 40 DST, 430 DC-3 had been delivered when the USA entered the war - one flew more than 84,000 hours.
The aircraft had such enormous potential that it was ordered in very large numbers by the US armed forces and when production ceased in 1947 Douglas had built 10,654 examples of all civil and military variants; Nakajima and Showa in Japan had built 485 (L2D) and about 2,000 had been built in the USSR as PS-84, but later redesignated Lisunov Li-2 with 742kW Shvetsov engines.
The DC-3 was built in numerous versions and with a wide range of Wright Cyclone and Pratt & Whitney Twin Wasp engines ranging in power from 742 to 894kW. The aircraft were operated on wheels and skis - one even had floats (the XC-47G-DL) - and there was the XCG-17 experimental troop-carrying glider version. Original US military contracts covered 10,047 aircraft of which more than 9,500 were versions of the C-47 Skytrain with reinforced floor and double doors, and 380 G-53 Skytroopers. The US Navy ordered the DC-3 as the R4D. A wide range of military designations was given to civil aircraft impressed by the services before delivery including G-48, C-49, C-50, C-51, G-52, G-68 and C-84. Many military DC-3 were supplied to the US's allies and the 1,900 plus supplied to the RAF were given the name Dakota - a name which has been widely used in place of the correct DC-3 designation.
C-47 made such an important contribution to the US war effort that General Eisenhower considered them to be one of the four most significant weapons of World War II. In the China-Burma-India theatre they 'humped' supplies over the Himalayas from India to China and carried airborne troops on all major invasions. Post-war they contributed to the Berlin Airlift, carried supplies and troops into and wounded men out of Korea, and even fought as heavily armed gun-ships in Vietnam.
After World War II very large numbers of military DC-3 became surplus and were acquired by most of the world's airlines. In the early post-war years they formed the backbone of most airline fleets, initially with austere interiors but later brought up to much higher standards. Some were equipped to carry as many as 36 passengers but 21-28 was standard. Many others were used for cargo and mail.
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| MODEL | DC-3E |
| CREW | 2-3 |
| PASSENGERS | 21-28 |
| ENGINE | 2 x 1200hp Pratt Whitney R-1830-93 Twin Wasp |
| WEIGHTS |
| Take-off weight | 12700 kg | 27999 lb |
| Empty weight | 7697 kg | 16969 lb |
| DIMENSIONS |
| Wingspan | 28.96 m | 95 ft 0 in |
| Length | 19.57 m | 64 ft 2 in |
| Height | 5.16 m | 17 ft 11 in |
| Wing area | 91.69 m2 | 986.94 sq ft |
| PERFORMANCE |
| Max. speed | 369 km/h | 229 mph |
| Cruise speed | 293 km/h | 182 mph |
| Ceiling | 7071 m | 23200 ft |
| Range | 2414 km | 1500 miles |
| alan schneider, e-mail, 08.05.2012 21:41 as an army contractor in vietnam in '69, flew a number of times in Air America and Air Viet Nam versions. Air America versions set up very interestingly . . . reply | | Bruce Huff USAF Ret MSGT, e-mail, 10.04.2012 06:38 Crewed and flew as flt. mech VC-47-A at Larson AFB WN 1958-1963 .Ser. no. 42-100568. Very forgiving bird. reply | | Jim Boodrie, e-mail, 17.11.2011 16:51 My father, Captain Ian C. Boodrie, flew DC3s all over India after the war until the early 70s - when he registered with the CAA in London (early 70s) they were astounded over the number of hours flown in this aeroplane by him and were unable to find any records of anybody who had flown more - I do have some photographs of one especially being serviced and the interior of another kitted out to accommodate a Maharajah whom he was contracted to. My son Douglas C. Boodrie now holds his log books reply | | Edward Gilbert, e-mail, 16.11.2011 20:53 My brother flew a DC-3 converted to a United States Air Force anti-submarine bomber designated as a B-18A. I believe that he sank a submarine off the US coast in the Atlantic. He flew out of the Fort Lauderdale Army Air Corps Station in 1944 or early 1945. The B-18A carried a pilot, co-pilot, navigator, and Navy Ordnance crewman, who set the detonation depth settings on the twelve anti-submarine mines at the location determined by the navigator. It had additional fuel tanks to extend its operating flying time by 50%. I think it had both port and starboard 50-mm machine gun turrets to defend itself against surfaced German U-Boats. reply | |
| | Keith Gorzell, e-mail, 12.11.2011 12:13 Greatly enjoyed and have fond memories of flying the C117 out of Cubi Pt, Philippines in 1972-73. We did twice daily "milk runs" to Clark and Manila on M-W-F, then Bagio Tue-Thur. A few trips to Vietnam and around the PI, plus twice monthly runs to Hong Kong and Taipei added to the joy. We also air dropped "Nutribuns" as food around Luzon during the severe PI flood of July-August 1972. reply | | Surendra Mohan Singh, e-mail, 09.11.2011 11:07 The great Vintage Jumbo is still flying and had landed in India territory at IGIA airport today on 09 Nov 2011........76 years of Operations....... Cheers. Good show Bell Geospace for maintaing this aircraft. reply | | Roy Tuason, e-mail, 03.11.2011 12:55 In the late 1950s my mother was a Philippine Airlines flight attendant on this plane! reply | | Scott Boyd, e-mail, 08.09.2011 04:56 Back in the early 70's I was flying river runners in Utah and the guy I worked for bought a DC-3 from the Canadian Airforce for a ridiculously low sum. It had a dome behind the cockpit which gave you a good view, we flew it around just for the fun of it until a cargo company leased it. reply | | Peter Lilley, 07.09.2011 10:17 I flew on Geophysical Surveys in DC3's with 2 British company's, Hunting Geology & Geophysics and Fairey Surveys on airborne survey assignments around the world. Most at low level of 500ft or less in the 1960's and early 70's, and also as a passenger on airlines in Africa during the same period. What a great aircraft. reply | | Mike Miller, e-mail, 25.06.2011 08:46 I flew the goon in Vietnam and Thailand from 71 to 72. What a great airplane! Graduated from USAF pilot training, but learned how to fly in the C47 ! reply | | JESSE MURRAY JR. ARM2/C, e-mail, 09.06.2011 05:45 I FLEW THIS PLANE OVER 400 FLIGHTS IN WW II CARRYING SUPPLIES TO THE FRONT ALONG WITH TROOPS AND TAKING OUT WOUNDED. I THOUGHT IT WAS A FINE AIRCRAFT. reply | | conney batson, e-mail, 22.05.2011 22:41 I WAS AN INSTRUCTOR PILOT ON C-47'S AND C-46'S BASED AT SEDALIA, MISSOURI. WE TRAINED PILOTS IN FORMATION FLYING, GLIDER TOWING,LOW LEVEL CROSS COUNTRY AS TRAINING FOR THE INVASION. SOME OF MY EARLY STUDENTS WERE SENT TO THE CHINA, BURMA, INDIA THEATER. AFTER THE WAR ENDED I WENT TO THE INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY AT WRIGHT PATTERSON AIR BASE IN DAYTON, OHIO FOR TWO YEARS. I LOVED THE C-47. WE HAD ONE AT DAYTON THAT I FLEW OUR CLASS TO VARIOUS PLACES AROUND THE SOUTH AS PART OF OUR TRAINING. MY FATHER-IN-LAW TALKED ME INTO GOING BACK TO COLLEGE AND BECOME A VETERINARIAN. reply | | Lew Ayers, e-mail, 17.05.2011 23:45 Flew as crew chief in these in 1944....Over 500 hours in that year....Flew in supplies....Flew out wounded....USMC squadron VMR 353....Gilberts, Marshalls, Mariannas, You name it....Best plane ever made....William L. Ayers, MT /SGT...USMCR (former) reply | | Lynn edmonds, e-mail, 16.04.2011 17:20 In the mid '70s I was a student in a Junior ROTC program. One of my instructors, Burnham W. Cowdry (Cowdrie?), Lt Col, USAF (Ret) had a tech manual for the C-47 in his office. I spent hours looking through that manual over the course of two years. Given his age at the time he has undoubtedly passed away. I hope that manual has found a safe passage from his estate to the hands of someone who would treasure it for what it is, but time can be cruel. reply | |
| | Wayne, e-mail, 12.04.2011 22:43 This old aircraft took me from Toul-Rosieres AB, France to RAF Alconbury,England many times during my tour in 1962-1964.It was like a prison escape to get out of France.Hated to have to go back. reply | | Leonard W (Bill) Riley III, e-mail, 10.04.2011 20:10 As an Air Force navigator this was my first operational aircraft following nav training. Flew about 500 hours in one year in Korea. Our unit had two SC-47D aircraft, tail numbers 330 and 360. One of these aircraft was used in the
Movie Sayonara with Marlon Brando. You can see the aircraft as Brando flew from "Korea" to Yokota AB, Japan and waved hello to Col GG Atkinson, who was then our commander of the 67th Tactical Reconnaisance Wing.
My most memorable flight however was about 10 years later when I crewed a C-47 from Ubon Thailand to Davis Montham AFB, Arizona. We flew non-stop from Hickam AFB, Hawaii to Davis Montham using C-Loran and a periscopic sextant in an aircraft equipped with astro dome. We had two 500 gallon fuel tanks inside the aircraft. Caught a tail wind and landed with fuel to spare. reply | | Lindsay Lanphere, e-mail, 30.03.2011 19:25 I am doing some research on my grandfather who flew the C-47 in Vietnam as either the first or second wave of the "dirty thirty". His name was Merten Wayne Stroh. If anyone out there remembers him please contact me at cl.lanphere@gmail.com. I also have a ton of great photos I wouldn't mind sharing. Thank you! reply | | Doug Blaair, e-mail, 23.03.2011 19:19 Was the lone Gun plumber assigned to install 10. WW@ .30 Caliber Machine Guns in three 47s at Clark AFB, Pi, July of 65. Also installed 3 .50 Caliber Guns in 2 47s for the cambodians in Aug 71. Fine airplane, Have well over 100 missions in the Aircraft. Only Gun Plumber to be crew in aircraft with 4 different gun configurations. SUU /11 Minni Guns, 10 WW2 . 30s, Mxu /470 Modules and three .50 .50 Browning Guns. Was the highlight of my 29 year AF Career. reply | | Jim Rudd Sr, e-mail, 17.03.2011 06:29 Was R /O on 42-100578 (T2-G) N8042X 83 /437 TCG.
Towed gliders D-Day and double tow at Wesel.
2200 hrs. The C47 always makes music. reply | | Ken Ernst, e-mail, 06.03.2011 18:55 My dad worked for Eastern Airlines for 37 years as a mechanic. In the 1940's my first flight was in a DC3. They were truely a work horse and many survive today.Eastern donated a DC3 to the Smithsonian and it hangs today off the ceiling in the air and space museum. reply |
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