Warbird Information Exchange

So I have been trying to figure out exactly what variant of the Wright Cyclone 1820 engine the early DC-3 aircraft used. For aircraft produced before 1940 that were delivered with Wrights, was there a definitive version used? Was it a hodge-podge based on operator preference? Specifically, I'm interested in what engine our DC-3 was delivered with. It was delivered on May 20, 1939 as a DC-3-277. It is s/n 2137. Any ideas?

kevin

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FOUND the elusive DT-built B-24! Woo-hoo!!!

I'd guess they were GR-1820-G102A (1100hp) which superceded the 1000hp G102 from March 1939. Many previously delivered AA DC-3s were upgraded to this engine afterwards.

The DC-3-232A I used to play with, VH-ABR, had at least a couple of different varients of the Wright Cyclone fitted during its life. I can't find any photos right now, but I do know that when 'ABR was first delivered to Australian National Airways (ANA) back in 1938, it was fitted with F Series Cyclones, with DC-2 style cowls and counterweight propellers. At sometime either during the war or just after, it was fitted with G Series engines, Hydromatic propellers and fixed exit cowls (an Airworthiness Directive). It currently flies with Wright R1820-G202's. The major reason, apart from the extra performance, was the large number of war surplus G202's available. I remember the old boys telling me that they had a Bellman hangar full, floor to ceiling, of new, war surplus engines and these kept ANA, later Ansett/ANA DC-3's operational for around 25 years. For a brief history of 'ABR, have a look at http://www.aussieairliners.org/dc-3/vh-abr/vhabr.html.

Thanks, guys. This seems to be a question that plenty of folks have answers for, and those answers all seem to be different. Do you think the Douglas archives, now with Boeing, might show a build sheet of some sort that would show how the airplane was delivered? Our airplane came with the "eyebrow" cowls that have that little lowered part on the top front of the cowl. I've never had a good explaination about the reason for that modification. Incidentally, we need a pair of those cowls if anyone knows where a set can be found...

kevin

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FOUND the elusive DT-built B-24! Woo-hoo!!!

No harm in asking. Or the AA museum at DFW, they have a DC-3 of roughly the same vintage. Otherwise if you don't have the mtx records, I doubt anyone else does.

WallyB-
Thanks for the suggestion. The folks in Texas at the AA museum have Flagship Knoxville, which incidentally was restored here in Tulsa quite a few years ago and then flown to DFW (only to sit out in the weather for a few years...) The pavillion they have it in now is fantastic. Makes me jealous. I will have to ask them about records, but we have asked for anything related to our airplane before and not gotten back too much.

We have some very thin maintenance records, but do have some totals on flight time etc. Ours has over 90,000 logged flight hours!

kevin

_________________
FOUND the elusive DT-built B-24! Woo-hoo!!!

AA Flagship Detroit has R-1820-56S engines.

B29-
If they fly with Wrights, why do they use the simple cowlings insread of the eyebrow cowlings?
kevin

_________________
FOUND the elusive DT-built B-24! Woo-hoo!!!

I have no clue. I don't know anyone who's a member, they just keep the airplane here at AFW and I look it over once-in-awhile. I do know they bought it that way, along with the square wing tips ( which have been changed to the round tips). I'm no expert on DC-3s, I can identify a DC-3 nine out of ten times.