Jessie The Jeep Posted December 17, 2007 Share Posted December 17, 2007 72 years old today! December 17th 1935 was the first flight of the new DC-3, a larger version of the Douglas DC-2 Airliner. The DC-3 went on to be modified for military use to become the C-47 Skytrain ( cargo version, known as Dakota in RAF use ) and C-53 Skytrooper ( paratroop version ). It is possibly the only aircraft without an 'airframe life', due to the multiple wing spar design. Many still fly today, particularly in third world countries where they can operate from rough airstrips. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abn deuce Posted December 17, 2007 Share Posted December 17, 2007 Very Nice Photo !!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony B Posted December 18, 2007 Share Posted December 18, 2007 OHHH Dackman and I could ramble on for hours about these beauties, 72 years old and still a bloody good design. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jessie The Jeep Posted December 18, 2007 Author Share Posted December 18, 2007 OHHH Dackman and I could ramble on for hours about these beauties....... Please do. I love the C-47. My first flight in one was from Cranfield in 1985 in G-AMPY, and I tinkered with G-AMPO at Newcastle. Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony B Posted December 18, 2007 Share Posted December 18, 2007 I've got a feeling both of those old birds ended up at Intra in jersey, my first flight was on one of Cambrian Airways birds. I was about 4, I can still picture the cockpit, leather padding on the edges all the old dials. :-D :-D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jessie The Jeep Posted December 18, 2007 Author Share Posted December 18, 2007 I thought G-AMPY was with Air Atlantique at Coventry? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony B Posted December 18, 2007 Share Posted December 18, 2007 Yes but I'm talking about the 1970's, when you were a mere babe in arms :-D, Air travel was an adventure for us young whippersnappers then. Goggles and leather jackets, the barley sugar before you took off, ... and the Elsan in the back. :sweat: the aircraft did passenger and freight work. Dackman was chief pilot at the time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jessie The Jeep Posted December 18, 2007 Author Share Posted December 18, 2007 Do you know Tony Hooper? I believe he was a Dak pilot for 'AA'. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony B Posted December 18, 2007 Share Posted December 18, 2007 No such luck I'm afraid. They were called Gooney birds during the Berlin airlift Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LeeEnfield Posted December 18, 2007 Share Posted December 18, 2007 Great old planes, these.................. :-D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jessie The Jeep Posted December 18, 2007 Author Share Posted December 18, 2007 Here's another couple of Dak pictures from the Flying Legends Airshow at Duxford this July. Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jack Posted December 19, 2007 Share Posted December 19, 2007 Nice work Steve. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abn deuce Posted December 19, 2007 Share Posted December 19, 2007 Beautiful Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony B Posted December 19, 2007 Share Posted December 19, 2007 A real classic design. Regardless of age they just keep going, doing jobs never even thought of when first built. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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