More DC3

[Politically Incorrect]

This picture shows one of the "un-original" pieces on the DC3, a pre-oiler which, well pre-oils the engines.


Obviously the right side, notice the "shroud" between wing and fuselage removed for inspection.


Here is a couple of the tail section one with the tail cone removed and one from inside looking at the mechanisims.




Looking at the "chin" access panels removed for inspection.


I don't have any shots of under the wing! What a stoop!
It is unbelivable how many "access panel" that have to be tagged and removed for a inspection!! Let me look I have another memory card I have yet to see what photos are on it!
Also has anyone ever noticed when looking up the "butt" of a DC3 it reminds you of a whale?

[BFMF]

Nice pics

Give me a minute and i'll upload my DC-3 photo

[FLYING_TRUCKER]

Very Nice Shots

If you notice all the Control surfaces on the DC3 were fabric covered.

When I flew them in the North the natives used to write on the fabric is soapstone....messages.

That was there way of sending news from one settlement to the other.

Cheers....Happy Landings...Doug

[Politically Incorrect]

Very Nice Shots

If you notice all the Control surfaces on the DC3 were fabric covered.

When I flew them in the North the natives used to write on the fabric is soapstone....messages.

That was there way of sending news from one settlement to the other.

Cheers....Happy Landings...Doug

I did notice when looking at "Mossy Back" The rudder and elevators had what appeared to be a cloth type tape (sort of like drywall tape) that covered the rivets and screws.
The rest of it appeared to be metal. Is that what you are refering too?

[Hagar]

Nice photos Fret. It seems you had an interesting day.

The rudder and elevators had what appeared to be a cloth type tape (sort of like drywall tape) that covered the rivets and screws.

The control surfaces look fabric covered to me. If so, the fabric is "strung" vertically through each rib. The 2" tape would be doped on afterwards to cover the stringing. Edging tape is usually doped along the trailing edge & other sharp edges.
This is the old traditional method using Irish Linen fabric sewn on & shrunk with tautening dope. Nowadays the fabric covering is glued in place & heat shrunk with an iron. Ceconite is one example of a modern heatshrink fabric. http://www.ceconite.com/

[FLYING_TRUCKER]

Your absolutely right Doug...the entire moveable control surface was fabric covered.
The rest of the aircraft was metal.
That is a nice site www.ceconite.com.
A lot of the fabric work for DC3 aircraft we operated was done at Hamilton, Ontario.
Kingcity had a company which did fabric as well.

fretnstuff: the only time I saw metal control surfaces on
                a DC3 was if it was a Gate Guardian.  I
                 believe that was because of inclement
                 weather and vandalism.

Cheers....Happy Landings....Doug

[Politically Incorrect]

Did you see the photo in the "look like a whale post"?
I never really paid close attention to the control surfaces and as too what they are covered with. But I'm going too see this plane again this weekend and I'll be sure too look. But from this photo it is hard too tell if it is cloth covered or not.
But I'm going too start looking closer because this is neat!
I get the feeling like the one you get when you first "fall in love" with you school sweetie everytime I see a DC3 so obviously I overlook somethings!
Something about them that make me quiver inside

[Hagar]

I get the feeling like the one you get when you first "fall in love" with you school sweetie everytime I see a DC3 so obviously I overlook somethings!
Something about them that make me quiver inside

I get the same feeling looking at the Tiger Moth & many other vintage types.

When I first started in the business we recovered a complete Tiger Moth. This was before Ceconite or any other heatshrink coverings were available & done in the old traditional way. Helping with this taught me the trade. Our chief engineer's wife had worked in the fabric shop at Gatwick during WWII. (He later became my boss.) I enjoyed fabric work & went on to be responsible for recovering control surfaces for the DH Dove & Heron. The customer removed them & often sent the complete set to us for refurbishing. Many examples of these popular aircraft were flying around with my ailerons, elevators, rudder & flaps on them. Happy days.

[Politically Incorrect]

That is neat! Thinking off your work soaring in the wild blue yonder!!
My work is having food and coffee spilled all over it in a resturant in the US somewhere  ;D
I'm currently building counters and cabinets, tables used in resturants.
Atlanta Bread Resturants for those who might ever visit one! Please be gentle!!

[Hagar]

That is neat! Thinking off your work soaring in the wild blue yonder!!

This brings back so many fond memories. My first job in aviation was as the "oily rag" at the local flying club. The wages were terrible but I learned so much in the 2 years I was there. When one of our aircraft was due for major overhaul I persuaded the boss to let me help when not needed elsewhere. It was a beautiful summer & we did the fabric outside the hangar in the sunshine. I can remember laying on the grass under the wings waiting for the point of the long stringing needle to appear through the fabric. The wings were supported on trestles & my job was to pull the needle through before carefully pushing it back & so on. We had to do every single rib on 4 wings in this way. Each rib was "strung" with special waxed stringing cord. This stringing was every 2" or so along the rib with a double knot every so many "stitches". I knew how to do it by the time we had finished. It's been a long time but I reckon I could still do it now.