Who (besides me) loves the DC-3?

Question

The DC-3 was the first airliner that could pay for itself hauling passengers. It first flew on December 17, 1935, the 32nd anniversary of the Wright Brothers' first flight.

About 500 of them were sold as airliners when World War II came along and the DC-3 emerged in uniform in several versions, the best known of which was the C-47.

By today's standards the DC-3 is slow, but its speed 70 years ago revolutionized air travel.

DC-3s were common on airlines through the 1960's, but the advent of smaller jets such as the DC-9 and Boeing 737 caused many airlines to retire their "Gooney Birds." The Air Force phased their C-47s and C-117s out in the early 1970's.

However about 400 remain in commercial service today and many airplane buffs love them. I had my first and second airplane rides in DC-3s in 1947 and 1955. My first attempt at the controls of an airplane was in a C-47 in 1959.

Do you love this old airliner and transport? War stories welcomed.

At least two other countries built licensed versions of the DC-3, Japan and the Soviet Union. To my knowledge no Japanese DC-3s survive, and only one Li-2, the Soviet version exists today in flying condition, although more than 4,000 were built.

More than 6,000 American DC-3's, R4Ds, C-47s and other military versions were built between 1935 and 1946, which makes this one of the most produced transport designs ever.

Good input, Sixtymm. I think the German transport you are referring to is the Ju-52, which was also built in a bomber version. All allied aircraft used in Europe in June 1944 received the "invasion stripes" to distinguish them from Axis aircraft.

My last (or most recent) flight in a DC-3 was a C-47D operated by the Air Force Advisory Group in Vietnam in 1971. Although the design was 35 plus years old, C-47s, C-117s, and "civilian" DC-3s flown by Air America continued to give service. C-46s and C-54s rounded out the Air America fleet.

In Vietnam C-47s were used in psyops, as gunships, for electronic reconnaissance, as well as for transport purposes.

The C-47 was also used in the Korean War as a first-line tactical airlifter when technical problems grounded the C-119s and limited the tactical missions of the C-46.

As early as 1941, the DC-3 family was a proven design. Most of its quirks had been corrected or found to be manageable.

Answer 1

I have always loved the DC-3, although more so in the C-47 Skytrain version.

As a former Airborne soldier with the 101st, the plane truly has a warm place in my heart. Although I am far to young to have seen them in use, I have seen them in museums and air shows. Not only were they the workhorses of the Airborne units, both in carrying soldiers and paratroopers, but they also towed the gliders that were used in the Normandy D-Day Airborne ops. They were also used in the famous Berlin Airlift, dropping goods and supplies to the beleagured citizens of Berlin.

Interesting story of the C-47's...ever notice the white/black stripes on the wings? The reason behind this was the Allied forces were using them to launch airborne operations against the Germans in Southern Italy and the surrounding islands. Unfort. the outline of the DC-3/C-47 very closely resembled the shape of a German transport and to the sailors and marines on the Naval ships in the Med, they could not tell the difference. Several of the planes were shot down by friendly fire, resulting in the Allied chain of command to require markings to be placed upon them and made visible when they were put in the antiaircraft spotlights.

I would love to fly one of these awesome planes. They arent fancy, fast or full of bells and whistles, but something about their design screams of grace, beauty and rugged American design.

Answer 2

The DC-3 is a great ride. I had the opportunity to fly on a restored Continental Airlines DC-3 that was built in 1945. The flight took off and landed at MKC (Kansas City, Missouri Downtown Airport) with 30 minutes flying time. The flight was $50, and the money went to charity. We received fruit and cheese for a snack and some soda.

Answer 3

Over engineered, built like a truck, still flying, you could land it through a house, and it would blast through the other side, and still land safely. I saw one about a year ago, the drone of the old radial engines got my attention.

Answer 4

I spent a few hours in them.

Answer 5

i do, also the comet...