Gotta Love the DC-3 ...

[Dennis Leonhardi]

More than 80 years after it first flew, it's still a revenue producer for some operators.  First airliner to carry passengers cross-country profitably for U.S. airlines.  Goonie Birds forever!  (It's one of my 17-year-old son's very favorites - beauty in function!)

Dennis

[Bootlegger]

  I sure would like a ride in one of them..

[dennis lipsett]

I had a few rides in them when i was in the service. Never liked the rear of the plane though.

[Peter in Fairfax, VA]

Relatively inexpensive rides are available in Palm Springs.

https://palmspringsairmuseum.org/warbirdrides/

[Avaiojet]

When I was stationed in Kentucky, I flew to Millington TN many times in a DC-3. Yes a girl, what else would the trip be for, model airplanes? 

"Ozark Airlines" ran a fleet back then. What a ride!!

There's a completed DC-3 model on ebay. The price is reasonable.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/153252534618?_trksid=p2046732.m570.l5999&_trkparms=gh1g%3DI153252534618.N36.S2.typeWATCH_ITEM_ENDING_SOON.R3.TR5

Here's a scale DC-3, an award winner, sporting CFC Graphics. I did these graphics years ago. The model is in Brazil. Actually built by a Commercial Pilot who flew a DC-3 in his early years. TACA International Airlines.

I was at a Float Fly up in Main, yes I had my seaplane there,  and I was fortunate to experience the start-up, taxi into the water, plus the takeoff, flight and landing of one of only a few DC-3's on floats. WOW! Some years later I saw the same aircraft tied down in Florida. Change of owners?

Years ago but I'll never forget it because the DC-3 looked dead sitting on the ramp' like unattended for years. We were told there would be a surprise but never could we guess it was the DC-3.

Other photos of the DC-3 model.

[Bill Adair]

The C-47 (DC-3) was used regularly for AF transport in Germany when I was there 56-59. I made many flights on R&Rs and  from Sembach AB to the 1958 Worlds Fare in Brussels (friend and I were the only passengers on board for one of the last round trips scheduled).

Also flew to Belfast North Ireland on an R&R - thankfully before the shooting and bombing started! Very little indication of the violence that ensued shortly thereafter. Only negative remarks I noted was a cab driver complaining about the jobless Catholics claiming all the welfare money to feed their large families! After return to the states I married my Catholic girl friend and started our own large family. 

Also made several more trips in the C-47 around the states.

To this day I would gladly fly in a DC-3. It's still one of the most reliable aircraft ever made!

Bill










dc

[John Watson]

I was with a crew in the Navy. We had been in Yuma AZ for a couple of weeks and were headed back to NAS Miramar in San Diego. We loaded our tools and gear onto an old R4D the Navy called the Goonie Bird. The pilot was an old crusty Chief Aviation pilots. That was a enlisted rate from WWII. At the time there were a few left in the sixties. The flight engineer told the pilot we were slightly overloaded. The old Chief chewed on his cigar a minute and said that Yuma had extra long runways and it would be alright. We taxied out and began the takeoff roll. The old bird was moaning and groaning and finally lifted off. All of a sudden the  port windows turned black and the plane banked over into a dead port engine. We came down and hit the runway on one wheel and bounced a few times. We taxied back to a hanger. An oil line had busted and the Chief shut down the port engine. He was cool as a cucumber and told the guys to get an line , they changed it and we took off again for San Diego. There were 8 of us and no one spoke for the whole trip.

[John Park]

When I frequented folk-music clubs in the 1960s and 70s (I was a blues and ragtime picker - my heroes were Blind Blake and Blind Willie McTell), I heard - once and once only - a song in praise of the DC3.  I've searched far and wide in hope of finding a score and lyrics for it, but no luck so far.  All I can remember clearly is the last few words: "... the Goooo-ney Bird, immortal she flies!"  Are there any old-time folkies out ther who know what I'm talking about?  I'd love to add it to my repertoire.

Regards
John

[Dennis Leonhardi]

I was with a crew in the Navy. We had been in Yuma AZ for a couple of weeks and were headed back to NAS Miramar in San Diego. We loaded our tools and gear onto an old R4D the Navy called the Goonie Bird. The pilot was an old crusty Chief Aviation pilots. That was a enlisted rate from WWII. At the time there were a few left in the sixties. The flight engineer told the pilot we were slightly overloaded. The old Chief chewed on his cigar a minute and said that Yuma had extra long runways and it would be alright. We taxied out and began the takeoff roll. The old bird was moaning and groaning and finally lifted off. All of a sudden the  port windows turned black and the plane banked over into a dead port engine. We came down and hit the runway on one wheel and bounced a few times. We taxied back to a hanger. An oil line had busted and the Chief shut down the port engine. He was cool as a cucumber and told the guys to get an line , they changed it and we took off again for San Diego. There were 8 of us and no one spoke for the whole trip.

Sounds like a real "white knuckle" flight ...

 
Dennis

[GERALD WIMMER]

My account of a DC3 involves control line flying as well. Around 25 years ago I was asked with my brother Karl to demonstrate control line stunt flying for the Air Training Corps (ATC) by a contact in the Royal New Zealand Air Force who was also a member of our club after a local RC club pulled out . We were flying our models at Hobsonville airbase sharing the main runway with a DC3 was providing flights to the ATC members. While they loaded and unloaded the DC3 we were putting on a stunt flight or two . At one point I was flying my large HP61 stunt model (which still lives) while the DC3 had to wait till I finished my flight.
 It sure was unusual to see a full size plane having to wait till my tank ran out and hear the commentator explain why this is so with control line models.
 After our demonstration flights we then got to have a joy ride around Auckland in the old DC3. Very memorable.

[Frank Imbriaco]

A foundation runs relief flights to Haiti out of the Fort Pierce , Florida Airport. They use DC-3s and they fly out every Thursday around 7am. Enjoy seeing them while snow-birding in the area. Unfortunately, the Ohio based company suffered a crash and loss of life in Ohio in January, 2019.

[john e. holliday]

I have always liked the DC-3.  Have never flown in one.  Back when I joined the Flying Eagles Club of KCK a member of the club had a CL version he flew in scale meets of the day.  No throttles with I think .35 size engines.  His name was Clayton (Gene) Dunham and every time he flew it he would kick off his shoes so he could have traction.  His words. 

[George Waters]

I worked on ec47s in Vietnam at Pleiku ab 68 to 69. I went for a flight after a n engine change. For an old bird it got up quickly and was comfortable though a bit noisy. We had n p and q models in our outfit. The q birds had r2000 engines in them. While there we flew controline at the ball field.One of the guys who was learning to fly got a partially built kyosho c 47 from a guy going home. We finished it up and I test flew it with two os 15 iii rc motors. It flew ok though a bit underpowered. The owner of the model flew it later and crashed it. He was repairing it when I left. I have that kit and a b50 kit to build someday.        George

[Mike Griffin]

We used them for airborne DF (Direction Finding) over Vietnam. 

Mike

[Mark Mc]

My only flight on a DC-3 was back in the mid-80's while I was in the Navy.  We were flying from West Palm Beach, FL down to Andros Island in the Bahamas for a torpedo shoot.  It was a pretty cool flight.  Until we approached Andros Island.  Went from dark blue water to light blue water off the island, and the water off the end of the runway was full of crashed planes.  Full being about ten or twelve on the approach to the runway.  Got me thinking...

Mark

[John Rist]

My first flight in an airplane was in a DC-3.  It was a commercial flight from Jax Fla. to Huntsville Al.   Mother had a bad back so when we moved to Huntsville the doctor recommended she fly.  At that time a child could fly cheep with a parent.  I had a window seat over the wing.  I remember oil running over the wing.   I was told don't worry unless it stops.  This was 1953, at age 13.     

[Avaiojet]

My first flight in an airplane was in a DC-3.  It was a commercial flight from Jax Fla. to Huntsville Al.   Mother had a bad back so when we moved to Huntsville the doctor recommended she fly.  At that time a child could fly cheep with a parent.  I had a window seat over the wing.  I remember oil running over the wing.   I was told don't worry unless it stops.  This was 1953, at age 13.     

John,

That's right, "oil running over the wing." I remember a stop at an airport to pick up passengers. A guy, there's always a guy, he placed a ladder, climbed up and put some oil in the port engine.
I always grabbed a port seat. The up hill slope to it was exhausting.

[Bob Hudak]

Mom used to work on them in World War 2, she was an AWAC. Happy Mothers Day and Birthday Mom.

[Dan Hay]

     My first ride in a airplane was on a DC-3.  I was 11 years old, the year was 1956.  My mother took me out of school that day but didn't tell me why.  She took me to Willow Run Airport ( near Detroit) and led me to a North Central DC-3.  We boarded the airplane and I was led to the cockpit, where to my surprise the pilot was a man that was renting a house from us. He showed me the controls and gauges then put me in a small seat between the pilot & co-pilot, fired up the engines and took off.  I swear he put that airplane in a extra steep bank leaving Willow Run. We landed in Detroit within 30 minutes.  A most memorable flight.

[Fredvon4]

On Taiwan (Formosa) 1960s we were near Taichung...The big PX / Commissary was in Taipei so
once a month or every 6 weeks family got on a D3 / C47 to go shopping....for a kid that was a magic time

[BillP]

In 1966 I flew in one from Miami to Lima, Peru for a surfing contest...I think it was Peruvian Air. The cargo hold was an open area directly behind the pilots with a live goat and chickens along with the surfboards. No curtains and you could watch the pilots and live stock from the passenger area. It was a long non-stop flight directly over Cuba and the Panama Canal. Only one ride for me but it's one I still remember!

Aircraft Spruce Company used to fly theirs to Sun N Fun every yr. 

[Gordon Van Tighem]

https://www.buffaloairways.com/uploads/images/pages/misc3.png
Lots of DC3s here. My first flight was a medivac when I was only a couple of years old, then in 1967 for oilfield work. Have enjoyed a few flights over the last few years here in Yellowknife and area with Buffalo Airways (Ice Pilots).

[John Rist]

Is it true that some of them have been converted to turbo prop and are still flying?   

[John Park]

Is it true that some of them have been converted to turbo prop and are still flying?   

British European Airways operated some DC3s with Rolls-Royce Dart turboprops in the early 1950s.  There's a story that during the test flying of the first such installation, it was encountered at 30,000 feet by an RAF pilot who was regarded by his comrades as 'round the bend' when he told them what he'd seen.

[Frank Imbriaco]

Is it true that some of them have been converted to turbo prop and are still flying?   

     

Hi John :  I have no definitive proof, but  while daybreak  fishing the surf at the Fort Pierce ( Florida) Inlet two months ago, two mission DC-3s enroot to Haiti flew directly overhead at an altitude of roughly 1000'. The first sounded unlike any DC-3 radial I'd ever heard before. I would wager to say it was a turbo-prop. The second followed 5 minutes later and it was the stock engine, for sure.

[John Rist]

Found this on youtube: