Highest Time DC-3?

m charters · **Posted:** Thu Dec 17, 2009 11:37 pm

We were discussing at the museum (Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum)today our DC-3 and were wondering where we sit as far as high time DC-3's. (Not sure if this has ever been discussed)
At one time ours (C-GDAK) was considered the second highest time DC-3 in the world. I know the one at the Henry Ford Museum was once the highest but had been surpassed by one but not sure if they refer to ours or another.
Any thoughts on this?
Ours as of today has 81,449.5 hrs flying time!!!
Not bad for the old girl! It has been at CWH since 1981 and still going strong. It is one of the few Wright powered DC-3's flying. It is currently painted to represent a C-47 Dakota flown by 435/436 Squadron in Burma wearing the Canuck's Unlimited logo.

tulsaboy · **Posted:** Thu Dec 17, 2009 11:42 pm

As of November 12, 1996, s/n 2137, ex- American Airlines "Flagship Tulsa" had 81,655:40 hours total airframe time. It sat at Basler in Oshkosh, WI from that date until we brought it back to Tulsa last August for the start of a rebuild to flight. If we get it done before you run another 200 hours or so, I guess we'd have you just beat!

kevin

m charters · **Posted:** Thu Dec 17, 2009 11:46 pm

Maybe I should restate it as current flier or under restoration!
Nice to see so many DC-3's still going with that many hours! When do you plan on having her back in the air?

Jerry O'Neill · **Posted:** Thu Dec 17, 2009 11:47 pm

If it does have that many hours on it, then it would the highest time C-47.

This would mean there is still room out there for a highest time DC-3 to be crowned king! :lol:

(I'm just splitting hairs for fun!)
Jerry

m charters · **Posted:** Fri Dec 18, 2009 12:01 am

This is true enough Jerry. Ours is definately a DC-3....lets break this up a bit further than.

Highest Time DC-3... Airworthy
Highest Time DC-3... non-Airworthy
Highest Time C-47... Airworthy
Highest Time C-47... non-Airworthy

mustangdriver · **Posted:** Fri Dec 18, 2009 8:56 am

The NMUSAF C-47 was the last C-47 in USAF inventory, but it has been retired to the museum for many years. I wonder if I can find out how many hours it has on it.

Jack Cook · **Posted:** Fri Dec 18, 2009 9:15 am

I believe N3006 s/n 42961 based in Aurora, OR and owned by Music big wig John Phelps is the high time a/c.
It was formerly owned by Bob Irvine and was up at Preason field. Saw her flying last week and it's a real looker!!
http://www.airliners.net/photo/Untitled-(DC3-Entertainment)/Douglas-DC-3/1218461/&sid=470cbead086cdea5b7439d4fa2a72fe7

Cvairwerks · **Posted:** Fri Dec 18, 2009 9:33 am

At one time BPA had one that was well over 95,000 hours I seem to remember......It made a lot of news at the time.

Stoney · **Posted:** Fri Dec 18, 2009 10:52 am

The one at Aurora, OR is the BPA DC-3, I forget how many hours it had when Bob own it, but I'll ask him.

mustangdriver · **Posted:** Fri Dec 18, 2009 11:00 am

Jack Cook wrote:

I believe N3006 s/n 42961 based in Aurora, OR and owned by Music big wig John Phelps is the high time a/c.
It was formerly owned by Bob Irvine and was up at Preason field. Saw her flying last week and it's a real looker!!
http://www.airliners.net/photo/Untitled-(DC3-Entertainment)/Douglas-DC-3/1218461/&sid=470cbead086cdea5b7439d4fa2a72fe7

Good god Jack, that thing is awesome!

Stoney · **Posted:** Fri Dec 18, 2009 12:19 pm

Irvine said it had 91,400 hours when he sold it. I think this is the highest time aircraft flying in the world.

Michel Lemieux · **Posted:** Fri Dec 18, 2009 1:37 pm

91,400 hours flying hours is 10.43 years...in the air :shock:

Second Air Force · **Posted:** Fri Dec 18, 2009 1:49 pm

Stoney wrote:

Irvine said it had 91,400 hours when he sold it. I think this is the highest time aircraft flying in the world.

There are a number of 747s with over 100,000 hours on them. Not recips, I realize, but I think the record active airplane is a 747-200. As fast as the older cargo 747s are being retired the champion active airframe probably changes frequently. My employer has an active 767-200 that is sitting at 92636.3 hours as of this morning.

In the end, a DC-3/C-47 will probably end up leading the pack of the flyers!

Scott

m charters · **Posted:** Fri Dec 18, 2009 5:53 pm

So who is keeping score as far as DC-3's and C-47's!? LOL

John Phelps aircraf is gorgeous...the only one years ago that ever looked like that regularly was the one that is now in the National collection in Ottawa that was owned by Goodyear, it was polished beyond belief when it was kept up in Toronto.
It's far from looking like it did in it's hayday!

http://www.airliners.net/photo/Goodyear ... ff59270df6

vernicator · **Joined:** Fri Apr 14, 2006 11:42 am **Posts:** 350

Cvairwerks wrote:

At one time BPA had one that was well over 95,000 hours I seem to remember......It made a lot of news at the time.

If you are referring to PBA's (Provincetown Boston Airlines) N136PB (c/n. 1997), the highest time DC-3 in their fleet, it is now registered NC18121 with the Pearson Air Museum in Vancouver Washington (at least as of 2007). it has ovr 91,000 hrs!

Do a search for this airframe on airliners.net. Many pics of it throughout it's history.

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