Warbird Information Exchange

Museum lands plane that set commercial flight aloft
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
By Kurt Eckert
The Hillsboro Argus
The Argus

The Classic Aircraft Aviation Museum at the Hillsboro Airport recently added to its collection a 1942 Douglas C-47A aircraft, the reliable American fixed-wing, propeller-driven carrier that revolutionized military, freight and passenger air travel over long distances.

Early amenities included comfortable seating for 35, and later developments like sleeping berths and in-flight galleys debuted on the military C-47 and its counterpart the DC-3, says museum director Doug Dunkel.

Its larger size and faster cruising speeds of up to 150 knots cut coast-to-coast travel time to about 17 hours, later leading to feasible and affordable commercial air travel in the United States, Dunkel said.

"It was one of the first that carried enough of a load," to make air travel for about 35 possible, Donkel said. "In its day it was quite an advance on anything they had previously."

Thousands of surplus military C-47s were converted for civilian use after World War II, and others became the standard equipment of almost all the world's airlines. The affordable and easy-to-maintain ex-military C-47 jump-started the worldwide post-war air transport industry.

Donated by a Roseburg collector, the Hillsboro plane once flew in the Canadian Air Force before taking off on a colorful history with a number of freight companies. For decades it belonged to Buffalo Airways in Canada before going through the hands of several smaller U.S. carriers. Purchased by the man in Roseburg, the plane spent several years in Chino, Calif., before he gave up on refurbishment and donated it to the museum, Donkel said.

The Roseburg owner put a lot of work into keeping it in flying condition. Many DC-3s are still used to this day in all parts of the world, and this one will be no exception, Donkel said.

The working order contributes to the museum's multi-pronged educational program, including both static displays and flight demonstrations at air shows, historical reenactments and other aviation events.

Volunteers maintain the aircraft and conduct all of the tours and exhibitions, Donkel said.

"All of our airplanes are ultimately intended to fly," Donkel said. "They're either operational or headed in that direction,"

Though the museum is a wonderful static resource interested for those interested in aviation facts and figures, the "living history" events are the best way to understand and appreciate the engineering and manufacturing achievements these exhibits represent, Donkel said. True appreciation comes only by hearing the roar of the engine, feeling the thunder of the aircraft as they fly past and seeing them climb into the blue.

Though today the C-47 is an indistinct gray, the museum plans to soon move it to a private location for cosmetic improvements, perhaps restoring it to its look from the Canadian Air Force days, Donkel said. It should be back on display in two months.

Another popular Hillsboro exhibit, the A-26 Invader light bomber, is in McMinnville for some mechanical work, but will also return soon.

The museum is open 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays at 2140 NE 25th Ave. in Hillsboro. Offsite lectures to schools, clubs and other organizations can be scheduled.

For more, call 503-706-6643.