The poor old DC3/Dakota/C47/Skytrain

RE: I still say, Good old DC3/Dakota/C47/Skytrain!

Yeah but aint PNG full of cannibals?

RE: I still say, Good old DC3/Dakota/C47/Skytrain!

That might be true, but if you ever need parts for a Dak of any version, go to Papua New Guinea! This has to be one of the only countries in the world where you can use plane parts as money! Seriously there are so many different planes from WWII in bits all over this country, you can sell them off to interested parties for a nice profit!

Fighter pilots make movies, Bomber pilots make history and Nerds make money from the sims!

I still say, Good old DC3/Dakota/C47/Skytrain!

Philo, Ja, thanks for the pics; and Rabie, thanks for the links.

You know, Philo and Ja, I once heard an old bush pilot say, in South Luangwa, that there’s hardly an airstrip in Africa that doesn’t have a derelict Dak lying somewhere on it. And my (statistically admittedly limited) informal survey suggest there’s something in that …

Regards,

Snoopy

RE: No; the good old DC3/Dakota/C47/Skytrain!!

Thanks Ja, Love the second picture.
Phil

RE: The poor old DC3/Dakota/C47/Skytrain

I would have fond memories of my first ever flight in a DC3 – but alas I was only 3 months old!!! It was a flight from London to Wick (N Scotland) in 1956 when my parents moved the family north. There is a photo somewhere (my sister has it I believe) of us all disembarking at Wick Airport, myself wrapped up and being carried by my mother!! If I can I will get a scan of it to post here!

On a slightly similar note, the VC10 at Duxford was the actual aircraft my wife flew back from Singapore in, as a child, on returning to the UK. Her father says he has a flight logbook with the aircrafts callsign, given to my wife as a memento of the flight. When we went aboard at our last visit to Duxford and I told her this, she said she had a feeling of sadness at actually being on this old aircraft she flew back in. A quick phone call to her dad confirmed this. So Duxford now has something a little special for her.

RE: The poor old DC3/Dakota/C47/Skytrain

I would say one of them but it doesnt even come as close as the Mosquito.

RE: The poor old DC3/Dakota/C47/Skytrain

Yea Snoopy…i wasent even born then! Well DC 3 was recently also rated as the most beautiful aircraft ever built!!! You all agree???

RE: No; the good old DC3/Dakota/C47/Skytrain!!

[updated:LAST EDITED ON 03-03-02 AT 02:45 AM (GMT)]Here you go Philo, some pics to make you happy!

1. USAAF C-47 Normandy markings
2. RAAF Dak at Mawson
3. RAN Dak at bankstown in 62 when it first arrived!
4. The same Dak
5. RAAF Daks retiring from frontline service
6. Feruzea Aerea Columbiana C-47

Fighter pilots make movies, Bomber pilots make history and Nerds make money from the sims!
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RE: No; the good old DC3/Dakota/C47/Skytrain!!

Like this, taken at Farborough early 90’s
Phil
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RE: No; the good old DC3/Dakota/C47/Skytrain!!

If I remember rightly, there were a bunch of turbo Daks at Oshkosh some years ago. I think Basler were doing the conversions there. I’ll have a rummage around my photo’s and see what I can find….

RE: No; the good old DC3/Dakota/C47/Skytrain!!

for turbo daks try theses links (one sites broken up but is searchable) – there is definately a pic there.

http://www.saairforce.co.za/
http://www.geocities.com/CapeCanaveral/Lab/2789/saaf/main.htm
http://www.mil.za/CSANDF/CAirForce/New%20Air%20Force.htm

rabie :9

RE: No; the good old DC3/Dakota/C47/Skytrain!!

The Daks hardly overlooked compared to the Commando. Are any preserved in Europe?

Recently finished a model DC3 in KLM “flying dutchman” colours – gorgeous!

RE: No; the good old DC3/Dakota/C47/Skytrain!!

Kabir, it was the Indian Air Force’s Golden Jubilee air show in Bangalore. Can’t remember the month and date — it certainly wasn’t on Air Force Day itself; on that day the show was in Delhi; but throughout the year there were air shows all over the country. The year was 1982 — you probably weren’t even born at the time, right?

It was a great show — apart from the solo flypasts by the Dak and Jag, and some other types, there was a dual aerobatics display by a father-and-son duo; and good long formation display by the Thunderbolts. I was in heaven!

Getting off-topic a little here; so let’s keep Philo sweet by saying, Hooray for the Dak!! It certainly kept the crowd entertained, long after the Jag was just a fading rumble over the horizon …

Regards,

Sree

RE: No; the good old DC3/Dakota/C47/Skytrain!!

Snoopy which fly past was this?? Nice pics by the way Philo…i myself am a Dakota and a huge DC 3 fan!!

No; the good old DC3/Dakota/C47/Skytrain!!

[updated:LAST EDITED ON 01-03-02 AT 09:06 AM (GMT)]Nice pics, Philo. I’m something of a Dakota fan myself!

I was once (early-1980s) at a fly-past in India which was set up so that it looked as though it was going to be opened by a Dakota — the Dak was approaching at an altitude which you experts would probably consider slightly high for a flypast; so it could be seen approaching from quite a long way out. And then, timed very nicely indeed, bursting briefly past just as the Dak came abreast with the crowd, what should go thundering by at very low level indeed but a mean-looking Jaguar! We didn’t even hear the thing, until it was almost on top of us. Made quite a contrast; the Dak seemed to still be droning over us for quite a while after the Jag had disappeared.

Say, can anyone else remember and complete this (my memory ain’t perfect, as must be obvious, but …):

Douglas built this ship to last, but nobody expected
The Gooney Bird to fly and fly, no matter how they wrecked it.

… …

The Board debated all the facts, behind their great oak portal,
And then pronounced these simple words, “The Gooney Bird’s immortal!”
While nations fall, and jets retire, and jumbos come of age,
The Gooney Bird flies on and on, at 90 mph.

Finally, can anyone find and post pics of the South African Turbo-Daks — Dakotas which they use, I think, for Maritime Recce; re-engined with modern turbo-props?

Regards,

Snoopy

RE: The poor old DC3/Dakota/C47/Skytrain

I thought Mondays Battle Station was quite good, although it seemed to loose it’s way, half way through. I certainly don’t think the Dak is a forgotten transport. I think if you ask most people interested in aviation, name a WW II transport aircraft the answer would be a Dakota, followed by JU 52.
Anyway, excellent piccies again, Philo. Now I’ve worked out this rating system, I’ll get to work (who ever said I was computer illegitimate!).

Neilly

RE: The poor old DC3/Dakota/C47/Skytrain

You did see the program on Monday I assume?