Simviation Forums

Ive been wondering
Whats the diference between a C-47 and a dc-3

Military version, civilian version
Or ones cargo the other is people carrier.

Military version, civilian version
Or ones cargo the other is people carrier.

C-47 is the military version, used for troop tranport, dropping paratroops, glider towing & all sorts of jobs. Most have a bigger door for cargo. The DC-3 is the civil airliner.

C47 cargo/military DC civilian/ passenger carrier.
i dont think there is too much differance in terms of abilities and performance.

C47 cargo/military DC civilian/ passenger carrier.
i dont think there is too much differance in terms of abilities and performance.

I want to know the diference in performance

Ah ok. I am out on that one then sorry.

I did a quick search on Google. Try this for a start. http://www.faqs.org/docs/air/avc47.html

Actually litte difference. Both have the same engines but the civilian verson is slightly heavier.

There is a company in Olathe, Kansas the takes DC-3's and refurbishes them inside and out. They also replace the piston engines with turbo props. I wonder how much that changes the performance of the aircraft?

The C-47 lacks the posh amenities of the DC-3, which was much more post than today's jetliners as I've read...though the ride was quite a bit rougher.  The Gallon ice-cream bucket (used for airsickness) was used a lot more often than the bags of today.

For all practical purposes, they're one and the same ...  remember *MOST* "DC-3s" built were in fact C-47s (or variants ... and the first military variant was the C-41A (1 built)

TECHNICALLY, the C-47 had a six-inch greater wingspan than the "DST/DC-3/DC-3A/DC-3B"

Now - DC-3As in service were drafted into the US Military, and these were "C-49s"

OTher "variants" , in addition to the C-49, were the C-48, -50-53- and C-117  (not to be confused with the later C-117D derived from the "Super DC3"

Of course, I'm leaving out the USN variants (R4D), as well as the Japanese license built L2D variant, and the REAL brawny variant  the Lisunov Li-2 (don't argue with a C-47 armed with a gun turret, and capable of 4000 lbs of bombs (while still carrying paratroops)

Didn't know that Felix...

Shoulddn't this be in "Specific Aircraft Types"....?

TECHNICALLY, the C-47 had a six-inch greater wingspan than the "DST/DC-3/DC-3A/DC-3B"  

I could be mistaken but I seem to remember reading somewhere that the fuselage of the C-47 was slightly longer than the original DC-3. This does not take account of those that were actually stretched by towing gliders. I believe some of these are still flying now.

For what it's worth, DC3s were (and still are) also used for cargo...

For what it's worth, DC3s were (and still are) also used for cargo...

Bear in mind what Felix pointed out. Most DC-3s flying now are actually C-47s.