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DC-3's at a Northern Gravel Strip, Summer of 2006 |
DC-3 Specs
General
History
The
Douglas DC-3, otherwise known as a C-47, Dakota, or Gooney Bird, made its first
flight on December 17, 1935, over sixty years ago.
Since that day, DC-3’s have been flying all over the world, hauling
freight and passengers to every corner of the globe.
This aircraft went into production at a time of war, the second World
War. Because of this, the durable
airplane saw service with many of the world’s air forces.
The versatility of the DC-3 allowed it to be used for hauling freight and
troops, paratroopers, and one airplane, affectionately called ‘Puff the Magic
Dragon’ was outfitted with many gun turrets and used to keep enemies at bay.
In the days during the war when development of gliders was taking place
for military roles, one DC-3 even had its engines removed and was test-flown as
a glider. It turned out that this airplane would even glide farther
than the aircraft that were developed at that time strictly to be used as
gliders. The DC-3 is truly a
remarkable aircraft, and even though times have changed, the DC-3 has found
it’s place in a more peaceful world.
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Modernized DC-3 Cockpit |
Comfortable DC-3 Passenger Cabin |
The
Douglas DC-3 was one of the first airplanes to be put into service with most of
the major airlines we recognize today. As
a very warm and comfortable airplane, the DC-3 has always shined in the area of
passenger comfort. One of the first
airline versions of this airplane was called the Douglas Sleeper Transport. This model, the DST, was fitted with a number of bunks
allowing the passengers to get some sleep on their night-time flight across the
United States. Other versions of
the DC-3 were fitted with equipment for such roles as:
aerial bug and crop spraying, navigation trainers, ice patrols, aerial
mapping and geophysical surveying, fire bombing, and checking navigational
beacons and instrument approach systems.
DC-3 C-GPNR
From the warmest deserts, to the coldest, snow-covered north
and south poles, the DC-3 has been everywhere. Traveling at 170 miles per hour
(274 km/h), Buffalo Airways’ DC-3s can haul 7000 pounds of freight or 27
passengers to destinations throughout the Canadian North. That is not to say
that these aircraft always stay close to home, as they have flown from one end
of Canada to the other, south into the United States, and as far north as
Greenland. The Douglas DC-3s at Buffalo Airways normally operate on wheels, but
when it comes time to land on the snow-covered lakes of the Canadian North, some
of the aircraft have the wheels removed, and replaced with skis. As well,
although Buffalo does not operate any DC-3s on floats, some were operated on
floats in the military to allow landing directly on the water. The Douglas DC-3
is truly a versatile airplane.
Nose Art on
C-GPNR
Undoubtedly, as time goes on and we
develop ways to travel further, faster, higher, and you yourself perhaps will
travel into the depths of outer space, one thing for certain still remains;
back here on Earth, the Douglas DC-3 will never stop flying.
DC3 Engine
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