11 C-47s on their way from the US to Normandy via Scotland
Discussion
Dr Jekyll said:
I take it the first one has the door on the right because it's the Li-2?
It is an Li-2 but some American built DC-3s also had the door on the right too. The pre-war airliner DC-3s had a number of significant differences to the wartime C-47/R4D/Dakota variants. Many had the door on the right hand side and many also had Wright engines as opposed to Pratt and Whitneys.The C-47 family had a number of important changes over the original DC-3, such as a strengthened floor to the passenger cabin and large double doors on the left hand side - both features to facilitate its prime role as a cargo and freight carrier.
Of course, after World War 2, many, many surplus C-47s were converted to airliner/passenger roles but the vast bulk of them retained the cargo doors.
Eric Mc said:
It is an Li-2 but some American built DC-3s also had the door on the right too. The pre-war airliner DC-3s had a number of significant differences to the wartime C-47/R4D/Dakota variants. Many had the door on the right hand side and many also had Wright engines as opposed to Pratt and Whitneys.
Pity. I always liked the story that the Soviet designer read the plans back to front.Also at Beachy Head right by the pub so they flew directly overhead. Even managed to bag the last space in the pub car park as a lady was leaving - didn't manage to get served though.
One Dakota waggled it's wings as it approached, which was a nice touch. For those who waited for the tail end of the fly-past, the accompanying T-6 broke away as the formation headed out to sea and gave us a little display before turning back to his base.
One Dakota waggled it's wings as it approached, which was a nice touch. For those who waited for the tail end of the fly-past, the accompanying T-6 broke away as the formation headed out to sea and gave us a little display before turning back to his base.
Which one is this, different shaped wing, straighter wing & squared off tips - https://youtu.be/xeS25F6uHic?t=173
FourWheelDrift said:
Which one is this, different shaped wing, straighter wing & squared off tips - https://youtu.be/xeS25F6uHic?t=173
That was a wing shape I'd never seen before on a DC-3/C-47 or any other variant. I had a quick Google search to see if I could find out the history of this airframe. It is registered N8336C . It was originally built in 1942 as a Douglas C-53 (yet another US military designation) and was converted in the 1950s into an executive transport. If you look at photos of it on the ground, you will see that it also has undercarriage doors - which most DC-3s did not possess.In the late 1940s, Douglas bought back some used C-47/C-53/R4D Skytrains and upgraded them to "Super DC-3" - which I think look quite elegant. N8336C seems to possess some of the attributes of the Super DC-3 but not the taller tailfin.
I think the original idea was that the C47 was the cargo variant and the C53 the troop carrier. Then the USAAF decided troops were basically self loading cargo so they might as well standardise on the C47. The C53 had a small production run by WW2 standards and I'm surprised any have survived.
Eric Mc said:
FourWheelDrift said:
Which one is this, different shaped wing, straighter wing & squared off tips - https://youtu.be/xeS25F6uHic?t=173
That was a wing shape I'd never seen before on a DC-3/C-47 or any other variant. I had a quick Google search to see if I could find out the history of this airframe. It is registered N8336C . It was originally built in 1942 as a Douglas C-53 (yet another US military designation) and was converted in the 1950s into an executive transport. If you look at photos of it on the ground, you will see that it also has undercarriage doors - which most DC-3s did not possess.In the late 1940s, Douglas bought back some used C-47/C-53/R4D Skytrains and upgraded them to "Super DC-3" - which I think look quite elegant. N8336C seems to possess some of the attributes of the Super DC-3 but not the taller tailfin.
Gretchen - you have mail CanAm said:
Also at Beachy Head right by the pub so they flew directly overhead. Even managed to bag the last space in the pub car park as a lady was leaving - didn't manage to get served though.
One Dakota waggled it's wings as it approached, which was a nice touch. For those who waited for the tail end of the fly-past, the accompanying T-6 broke away as the formation headed out to sea and gave us a little display before turning back to his base.
Dave Gilmour's North American SNJ-7C Texan (G-BRVG) went over my house leaving Bournemouth (Hurn) Airport on Thursday afternoon. I wonder if that was the 'T-6' you saw? It headed of toward the Isle Of White, and I'm wondering if it's timings tied in with the Dakota flight?It was in company with a more modern high-wing single engined aeroplane as it went over my house, and I'm presuming that was a camera 'plane? Could just as easily have been a completely unrelated flight though...One Dakota waggled it's wings as it approached, which was a nice touch. For those who waited for the tail end of the fly-past, the accompanying T-6 broke away as the formation headed out to sea and gave us a little display before turning back to his base.
yellowjack said:
CanAm said:
Also at Beachy Head right by the pub so they flew directly overhead. Even managed to bag the last space in the pub car park as a lady was leaving - didn't manage to get served though.
One Dakota waggled it's wings as it approached, which was a nice touch. For those who waited for the tail end of the fly-past, the accompanying T-6 broke away as the formation headed out to sea and gave us a little display before turning back to his base.
Dave Gilmour's North American SNJ-7C Texan (G-BRVG) went over my house leaving Bournemouth (Hurn) Airport on Thursday afternoon. I wonder if that was the 'T-6' you saw? It headed of toward the Isle Of White, and I'm wondering if it's timings tied in with the Dakota flight?It was in company with a more modern high-wing single engined aeroplane as it went over my house, and I'm presuming that was a camera 'plane? Could just as easily have been a completely unrelated flight though...One Dakota waggled it's wings as it approached, which was a nice touch. For those who waited for the tail end of the fly-past, the accompanying T-6 broke away as the formation headed out to sea and gave us a little display before turning back to his base.
Think the thunderbolt went along for the escort duty to the coast as well.
Edited by eltawater on Saturday 8th June 22:52
Eric Mc said:
Will they be staying in the UK for any length of time after the Duxford event? I'm going to Legends in July but I'm also going to the June 15 Shuttleworth Display.
You're in luck Eric, I've just found out that at least one of the US C-47's is staying in the UK for a bit longer and is staying until and will be taking part in Flying Legends. Its the Historic Flight Foundation Pan Am-marked DC-3, and they have a link to TFC and Flying Legends, as they own the ex-TFC B-25 'Grumpy'.Gassing Station | Boats, Planes & Trains | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff