DC-3/C-47 nose question

[vernicator]

Hi all.

Does anynoe know if this type had two basic nose & flighdeck designs?

Have a look at these two pictures:

http://www.airliners.net/open.file/0309366/L/

http://www.airliners.net/open.file/1134406/L/

The DC-3's in the second link seem to have a more rounded and almost bloated look to their entire flightdeck and nose area. Can anyone actually confirm that the type evolved from earlier to later models or are my eyes playing tricks on me?

[Cvairwerks]

The ones at the second URL appear to be Super DC-3's.....longer fuselage, shorter wingspan but faster overall.

[Steve Nelson]

They look about the same to me. As far as I know, all DC-3 / C-47 variants were the same in this area. The "bulged" look may be due to the camera lens. The first pic appears to have been shot from a little farther away with a longer lens, while the second pic was shot from a bit closer.

SN

[Tulio]

And to add a different nose shape, check out any photos of the EC-47.

Saludos,


Tulio

[aussiepby]

The aircraft in the first photo has a 2 piece windscreen(per side). The smaller one is on the outboard side and can be opened from the inside and slides inboard.
Both aircraft in the second photo have a one peice windscreen and appear to have a fillet on the center line of the aircraft between the windscreens.
Also the aircraft on the left of the second photo is a DC-3/C-47 as it still has a P&W 1830 fitted in the #1 position.

[N3Njeff]

The only 2 basic types would be a Civil DC-3 and if it were stock, a C-47 would have the navigator table to the left as you walked up front.

As also mentioned, the one and 2 piece windshields. There is also a more aerodynamic nose that can be added, Its $$$$$ but makes the airplane look good.

One of the DC-3's that I worked on had this nose, getting the pic from airliners, I got better ones of the airplane.

http://www.airliners.net/open.file/0123755/M/

[N3Njeff]

Ok, I did a search for Pricilla and I found a better shot of the nose.

http://www.airliners.net/open.file/1042450/M/

These are 2 DC-3's that I used to be involved with. If you notice " Mary Lou" (after the song!) was bare metal. Pricilla was painted Silver (thank god!) One was enough, spent my fair share behind a polisher.

They do have a 3rd named bones. She was my favorite. I got a lot of hrs working on her. She had a really good history. Though now marked as one, she was never Aircorps. She is a ACTUAL DAKOTA. I know she was bought by GB in WW2 and did the drop over holland. Her interior was that green that the brits did there interiors. I helped strip the paint and you could still make out the RAF emblem (wreath & bird with a Crown) on the fuselage. I tried like hell to pursuade them to paint it back in RAF, but they would not hear of it. So thats what we painted her as.
http://www.airliners.net/open.file/0761132/M/

[mustangdriver]

Where do they keep those DC-3's? I like them. I ahve seen the ones at Oshkosh, WI. Pretty cool place.

[N3Njeff]

At the former SAC base in Plattsburgh NY

[vernicator]

The ones at the second URL appear to be Super DC-3's.....longer fuselage, shorter wingspan but faster overall.

Actually they are standard DC-3 with right side entry doors even. Here another pic of the one on the left stored at Basler's in Oshkosh. (Also note the black and yellow "Tri-turbo Three" in the background with the firewall on the nose).

http://www.airliners.net/open.file/1050679/L/

[vernicator]

There is also a more aerodynamic nose that can be added, Its $$$$$ but makes the airplane look good.

The last "3" at our local airport, C-GRSB, has that too. I alsways thought that this replacement of the 2 piece nose was for a radar installation. So it's just cosmetic?

[N3Njeff]

its a single piece, composite. Dont know about the canadian bird but 700 and 922 do have radar installed. So there is a practical side other than cosmetic

[N3Njeff]

I know I am hashing a Non warbird thread but I got one more thing to add.

We had a visitor for a while in NY, a Retired Delta Capt brought up his DC-3 and we did a bunch of work on it. I spent a FUN day in the #1 wheel well changing his oil tank. I also spent many hours masking off the stripes down the fuselage and tail to make her into her NORTHEAST Airlines markings. (not a actual NE airplane)

http://www.airliners.net/open.file/0092232/M/

Mike is a great guy. I even bummed a ride to a tailwheel fly in. Made me sit in the left seat...............logged 1.7 hrs dual. My 1st official and only multi-time. (got a good story on that, will post some time)


Mike Henniger, this is the DC-3 of the Dakota Museum in Nashua, NH