Warbird Information Exchange

Climbing aboard the former military plane and taking in the faded, blue-green leather recliners and low-backed couch you can just imagine a group of bigwig corporate heads kicking back, drink in hand, and having a good time.

“You can just see them sitting around, eating and playing cards,” said Bill Alder, owner of Sealand Aviation, as he pulls a wooden TV tray out from the wall.

But the old Douglas DC-3, a propeller-driven aircraft spanning 95 feet (29 metres), hasn’t housed any such group for decades now. Instead, it sits empty just inside the gates of Sealand Aviation at the Campbell River airport.

The aircraft, which is the property of an air museum owner in the United States, is in need of some fixing up to earn its wings again.

“It hasn’t had a certificate of air-worthiness since 2002 so we’ll be correcting all the defects,” said Alder. That includes replacing the windows, overhauling some components of the control and fuel systems, doing some electrical work and installing an old, traditional radio system.

Once able to return to the skies, the DC-3 will be sent to the Historic Flight Foundation, an air museum in Everett, Wash. where it will do flight tours for the public.

The 1,200 horsepower aircraft was manufactured in 1944 as a C-47 and served in the U.S. military as a general’s mode of transportation until it was converted to a DC-3 in 1953 for corporate use. Alder said the aircraft has been owned by several different American companies and has flown extensively all over the U.S. and Mexico. As a military plane, it also spent some time in China. The underside of the starboard wing still even bears a Chinese symbol, a reminder of its history.

Alder said the airplane, which can hold up to 12 passengers, a pilot and a co-pilot, only has 22,000 hours clocked on it, “pretty low-time” for a DC-3, which typically has over 100,000 hours logged.

The aircraft was ferried over from Victoria about three months ago but thanks to a busy summer, Alder has yet to begin the restoration. He figures once the work begins, he should be able to finish the project in about three months. While in Victoria, Alder said the plane underwent a lot of work – new engines were installed and the body of the plane was changed to give it a more traditional look. The body is completely made of aluminum and the wings are fabric-covered.

As for Alder’s role, he said he does not intend to make any major changes.

“We want to retain how it is now and we just want to freshen things up,” said Alder. “We want to maintain the same look inside.”

Which means for now, the six reclining chairs and the two couches will stay, as will the small kitchen and bathroom.

Alder said Sealand was awarded the project through a string of friends between him and the plane’s owner and is thrilled to have the opportunity.

“It’s really cool, it’s really exciting to say the least,” said Alder. “I haven’t worked on a DC-3 in 40 years.”

Alder hopes this won’t be the last project that he does for the Everett air museum.

“I certainly hope we get some other opportunities. I don’t know of any other projects they’re doing right now aside from a spitfire in England,” said Alder. “We’re hoping to build a relationship with them and do more work with them.”

Does anyone know the ID of this DC-3 or have a picture?