Warbird Information Exchange

After 30+ years of sitting dormant at Sycamore Strip (9F9) airport in Fort Worth, Texas DC-3 N583V took to the air. It was a short ferry hop that occurred 25 September from Sycamore to Mid-way (JWY). A trip of about 25 miles.

Prior to the flight the aircraft had an engine replaced and additional ferry preparations tended to. About a months worth of work. Following that the aircraft was fueled and then towed to the north end of the airport tailfirst to get it as far north as possible.

The first flight was uneventful. After arrival at JWY the aircraft was disassembled for the necessary inspections and upgrades to bring it back to full airworthiness. This included avionics, interior, mission equipment mods to say the least.

The aircraft has just recently headed to Mississippi for airborne mapping work.

At the pumps


Getting towed to the north end


Take off!


Disassembled in the hangar at JWY


Interior during refurb after complete gut out


Polished and painted


Almost there


Pilot's side


Heading east...


These pictures came to me from several sources and I just gathered them all here. Not sure who took what but thanks to all. Most importantly thanks to John at Airborne Imaging Corp for taking a chance and saving this aircraft. I hope the best for them!

_________________
Bill Goebel
aka TPFD

Vintage Aircraft Services
Aircraft restoration and rebuilding
Rhome, TX

http://www.vintageaircraftservices.net

Sure is shiny mister!
DC-3C reman 1956, l/n 12369, 4292555 to RAF as DAKOTA III KG 360, returned to U.S. 1946, CF-ESO, then N 583V. Anyone have her history in the GWN?
The FAA registration page lists it powered by R-1830 Turboprop engines

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Don't make me go get my flying monkeys-

after sitting for 30 years!! those dc-3s dont want to give up. looking good.

As the registration suggests, it was owned by Imperial Oil (dba Esso) and used primarily to ferry workers to and from the oil wells in the NWT. I have no info on any other Canadian operators.

They also owned the appropriately registered CF-IOC.

Wally,
THANX DUDE, if she was a 'roughneck' that's probably her only job while North of 54. Looks like she was treated like a friend her whole career. A bit off the usual that in 70 years a C-47/DC-3 has only had 3 different registrations.

_________________
Don't make me go get my flying monkeys-

This is from 1000 photos.com website. Quite the looker even back then...



Here is a youtube during the first takeoff at 9F9

http://youtu.be/p9R-8d81yIU

_________________
Bill Goebel
aka TPFD

Vintage Aircraft Services
Aircraft restoration and rebuilding
Rhome, TX

http://www.vintageaircraftservices.net

I remember an article in Wings/Airpower way back when. Someone made a comment like "The C-130 will be the DC-3 of the 21st century". Someone promptly replied "The DC-3 will be the DC-3 of the 21st century!!"
Because they are not pressurized they will not cycle out. If they are kept free of corrosion then they just keep going!
Thanks for posting this great compilation!
BTW, That insulation looks suspiciously like it was swiped from my house!

Andy Scott

This is so good to hear! I have an aunt & Uncle who live just down the street and when I would visit
I always stopped in to see the 3. When I heard it was sold and would fly out I couldn't believe it, although it did take a few years but man what a sight .
Only wish I could have been there to see it happen, looks like a decent crowd watched the old girl
fly away.
Best of luck to the new owners and may she fly forever .

Whats the future of the airport now, will it get sucked into the housing blackhole now that the 3 is gone??
When that happens that will be even sadder than when the 3 left.

A working DC3 is a thing of beauty,though I love the airshow C47s,and R4Ds, as a former DC3 freightdog guy examples of the working breed are my favorite !!!(YAF Yankee Doodle Dandy excepted !!!)

Interesting details of its history as a drug runner here;

http://federal-circuits.vlex.com/vid/ni ... e-38394411

The airport is in good hands. The owner Ron G. has just had the old asphalt runway replaced with a brand new concrete runway and associated taxiways. The flight school is active. The DC-3 leaving allows him to straighten up the ramp and hangar area. I believe he is going to possibly augment the facility further by putting in an improved maintenance shop. Good news all around.

_________________
Bill Goebel
aka TPFD

Vintage Aircraft Services
Aircraft restoration and rebuilding
Rhome, TX

http://www.vintageaircraftservices.net

I somehow missed this thread....I drove by the airfield today expecting to see the DC-3 still sitting there...WOW! what a surprise to find her gone.

I talked with Ron about it for a bit. Glad to hear that she is working after all this time sitting there.
Ron said he got a ride in the airplane a few weeks ago...that brought a smile to his face!

I found this little video of the departure.

Cool beans!

http://youtu.be/p9R-8d81yIU

I really thought that she would become a pile of scrap. But she LIVES!

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Zane Adams
There I was at 20,000 ft, upside down and out of ammunition.
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Se here's an interesting twist. I just watched an episode of the Discovery Channel's Airplane Repo and this DC-3 was featured on it. They try to hide the reg but you can see it in a couple of shots. The show itself is an absolute laugh and for some reason as they spool up the the 1830s (which the narrator called 1380s) they kept dubbing in the sound of a Rolls Royce Dart turboprop spooling up.

Anyway, here's a link if you're curious:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=THxPiY4_EuA

From a chum associated with the DC-3 operation...

..."That show has gotten so funny since the FAA made them quit actually repossessing the aircraft."...

I guess maybe all that reality television may not be real after all!!! A couple days income for filming from the Discovery folks is good business too...

_________________
Bill Goebel
aka TPFD

Vintage Aircraft Services
Aircraft restoration and rebuilding
Rhome, TX

http://www.vintageaircraftservices.net