Modified DC-3

[Papa9571]

Last year I was travelling through Kansas when I spied something interesting. I couldn't believe what I had just seen. A DC-3 flew overhead, climbing but sounded different. I then took a detour by the airport and did I get a suprise. I saw several DC-3's, some in the midst of conversion, getting refurbished and having turboprops installed in place of the WASP radials.

Hours and hours of searching for a model have so far produced no results. Anybody care to take a shot at making one of these new faster and quiter beauties?

Dave

[Felix/FFDS]

There have been turboprop conversions of the C-47/DC-3 going back to the late 40's and 50s (Starting with the RR Darts on the BUA Pioneers?), today, probably the principal conversion outift is Basler.

As an aside, one Alaskan outfit outfitted one with three PW (Canada) turboprops...

[papa-metro]

I had a similar suprise in the 60's when looking out my back window at MIAMI INT I spied some strange goins on w/c-47's.
they were being converted into the first VIET NAM GUNSHIPS. Later versions , even c-46's and finally c-130's became the PUFF THE MAGIC DRAGONS of 'Nam
papa-metro usaf 1953-57

[anglo]

Basler convert C-47's and DC-3's into Turbodaks/DC-3Ts using engines from old Shorts 330s and 360s. This also mean an increase in length to get the C of G back to its right place!

The South African Air Force used them for maritime patrols and the Colombian Air Force have some.

As for an FS model, there used to be a FS2000 model available but try Google.

Good luck with the search.

[mojavepilot]

I too saw one of these DC-3Ts on my first dual cross country flight.  My instructor and I decided to taxi in and park and get something to drink at Evansville Airport (KEVV).  When we walked back out to the GA parking I pointed it out.  Turns out it had a shattered window due to a bird strike.  One of my fonder cross-country memories.  As for an FS model haven't seen one, but if your search is successful make sure to let us all know.  

[Ivan]

Baseler DC-3T is actually a DC-3S AKA Super DC-3 (bigger wings and tail, closed maingear that looks silly, retracting tailwheel and more engine power) with turboprops (PT-6, what else) and about 1 meter more length

As that one has better CoG properties, all normal DC-3s are modified to DC-3S spec before getting the turboprops.

The BUA DC-3 with the Dart engines is a normal (short) DC-3 with a Conroy kit.

Super DC-3 version has the engines 'on top' of the wheelwell (effectively killing the thrust because of the extended maingear doors) while the normal one has them in front of the wheels (that version didn't have airflow blocking problems)

pictures here

[Felix/FFDS]

Baseler DC-3T is actually a DC-3S AKA Super DC-3 (bigger wings and tail, closed maingear that looks silly, retracting tailwheel and more engine power) with turboprops (PT-6, what else) and about 1 meter more length

As that one has better CoG properties, all normal DC-3s are modified to DC-3S spec before getting the turboprops.

The BUA DC-3 with the Dart engines is a normal (short) DC-3 with a Conroy kit.

Super DC-3 version has the engines 'on top' of the wheelwell (effectively killing the thrust because of the extended maingear doors) while the normal one has them in front of the wheels (that version didn't have airflow blocking problems)

pictures here

IVan, I think you're mixing apples and oranges....

The Basler conversions are not (necessarily) conversions from Super DC-3s... I would venture that most are conversions from "normal" DC-3/C-47s.  The modifications were all engineered and built by/at Basler.

The BUA Dart DC.3s came out in the early '50s...  Conroy's first conversion flew in 1969.

[GWSimulations]

(Starting with the RR Darts on the BUA Pioneers?)

I think it was BEA originally, possibly Pionair rather that pioneer, too.

Conroy also converted some. The Tri-Turbo-3 had an extra turboprop in the nose!

I've been messing around with a DC-3 over the last few days - "Modernising" it. I could have a look at fitting turboprops.