Simviation Forums

Ok, here is an old bird every one has a story about. Its known by a few differant names. DC-3, C-47, AC-47, Goonybird, spooky...
My story about a DC-3 that was dropped while I was in ND. I guess its a tradition that after a "official" aircraft makes its final official flight, its not flown under its own power again. A state VIP DC-3 located in Fargo, ND was to be transported to Minot, ND to be placed in a new museum. The Army Nation Guard was charged with the task of moving the DC-3. After the engines were removed, the guard hooked it up to one of their Sky Cranes. Some where along the flight, Couple had to refuel. After refueling, the two lifted off the ground. The DC-3 started to spin. The pilots had to choose. The DC-3, or both. Needless to say the DC-3 was dropped about 50 feet and broke apart. The plane made it to Minot and parts were donated to rebuild the aircraft.

Now here is a picture that some one sent me long ago. My understanding is that there were very few DC-3's with floats

I heard that there was only
one certified and the others
were in places that they
just did things like that,
safety is not the same
world round, for example
the people next door,{good
people} are from a less regulated
country and they have had 3
fires in thier house one was bad
in less than 3years

certified OSHA
safety inspect.
Bhofmx

The DC-3 was one of the first airliners I flew in - around 1959/60 - Caribair  - San Juan/St. Croix US Virgin Islands.

It's also one of the few planes built and used by both the Japanese and US in WW2....

My Dad told me "if you ever wonder
were the landing gear is. just look
out the window"

by the way the "u of Miami" DC3
on this site is a nice aircraft

Bhofmx

Well after a bit of a search I found info and more pictures of the DC-3 on floats aka the XC-47C

http://www.douglasdc3.com/float/float.htm

[list]
[*]KLM was one of the largest DC-3 operators, and had the longest commercial route with it (Amsterdam - Jakarta)
[*]Almost all DC-3's have an astrodome behind the cockpit, but this was optional. Early KLM DC-3's didn't have astrodomes.
[*]One of the most weird modifications of the DC-3 is the one with three turboprops. It never got FAA approval, because of the fumes of the front engine always went into the cockpit. (http://www.douglasdc3.com/polair/polair.htm)
[*]One DC-3 flew with wings of a DC-2
[*]The russian license-build Li-2 was used as a bomber in WW2. it was usually armed with a tail turret. the most visible change is the extra cowl flap mechanism behind the prop
[*] The japanese versions of the DC-3 sometimes were built with a wooden frame (http://www.douglasdc3.com/japl2d/japl2d.htm)

The DC-3 on floats is a converted aircraft. the XC-47C was a production vesion (one built)

Astrodomes - typically a feature of the military C-47s, usually removed on conversion to civilian passenger service, and typically not present on civilian production models.

Lisunov Li-2 turret was located just behind the cockpit - not a tail turret.  It could carry about 4000lbs of bombs, while still carrying paratroops...  It also carried gun ports on the rear fuselage from where guns could be poked out.

The C-47 was also tested as a troop/cargo glider and performed better than dadicated gliders.  tests were made with a C-47 with faired over nacelles.  The experiment didn't go beyond the basic tests because, well, the C-47 was a bit expensive as an expendable glider and it could be better utilized as a powered transport.

[list]
[*]KLM was one of the largest DC-3 operators, and had the longest commercial route with it (Amsterdam - Jakarta)
[*]Almost all DC-3's have an astrodome behind the cockpit, but this was optional. Early KLM DC-3's didn't have astrodomes.
[*]One of the most weird modifications of the DC-3 is the one with three turboprops. It never got FAA approval, because of the fumes of the front engine always went into the cockpit. (http://www.douglasdc3.com/polair/polair.htm)
[*]One DC-3 flew with wings of a DC-2
[*]The russian license-build Li-2 was used as a bomber in WW2. it was usually armed with a tail turret. the most visible change is the extra cowl flap mechanism behind the prop
[*] The japanese versions of the DC-3 sometimes were built with a wooden frame (http://www.douglasdc3.com/japl2d/japl2d.htm)

The DC-3 on floats is a converted aircraft. the XC-47C was a production vesion (one built)

i stand corrected...


The DC-3 was the main instrument in reviving airlines past ww2