Happy birthday DC-3!

aerovet · **Posted:** Thu Dec 17, 2020 7:04 am

The Douglas DC-3 / C-47 celebrates its 85th birthday today!
Post your best/most interesting /rare Skytrain/Dakota photos here!
A salute to an icon............

Gert Jan

Archer · **Joined:** Tue Nov 30, 2004 3:13 pm **Posts:** 433

DSC_3267_resize by Jelle Hieminga, on Flickr

mike furline · **Joined:** Wed May 05, 2004 3:45 pm **Posts:** 2632

Anyone know the oldest DC-3 airframe in existence?

Oldest DC-3 still flying?

Edit: Some Contenders,
C/N 1499 https://www.airport-data.com/aircraft/p ... 58148.html (6th airframe http://www.cityofgriffin.com/Department ... stDC3.aspx )
C/N 1910 https://www.flickr.com/photos/acw367/25676892748
C/N 1918 https://www.jetphotos.com/photo/2526
C/N 1920 https://www.flagshipdetroit.org/index.htm
C/N 1997 http://dc3dakotahistory.org/dc-3-storie ... c-3-12181/ (Highest Time, per Stoney below)

C/N's https://www.spottingmode.com/douglas_dc ... n/rundown/

Michel Lemieux · **Posted:** Thu Dec 17, 2020 8:44 am

Stoney · **Posted:** Thu Dec 17, 2020 11:18 am

N18121, based in Aurora, OR, the 119th built and has over 91,200 hours and is the highest time DC-3 in the world.

Mark Allen M · **Joined:** Fri Feb 03, 2012 1:48 pm **Posts:** 7813

The Douglas Aircraft plant opened in Long Beach in 1940 and produced the C-47 in mass quantities.

C-47 Skytrain line at the Douglas Long Beach plant in 1942.

Factory Workers Cheer 3000th Douglas C-47 Skytrain 2-13-1944-Long Beach.
(Original Caption) 2/13/1944-Long Beach, California- Workers of the Douglas Aircraft Corporation give a big send off to the plant's 3000th C-47 "Skytrain" transport plane as it rolls off the assembly line and heads for the battle zone.

Long Beach's Douglas Aircraft plant in 1943, with workers signing off on the 2000th C-47 Skytrain to roll of the assembly line.

ricusa · **Joined:** Sat Aug 14, 2010 10:12 pm **Posts:** 30

I know the DC3 N21728 at the Henry Ford Mus, in Dearborn Mi was the highest hours when they got it in 1975 84,875 hrs.

ErrolC · **Posted:** Thu Dec 17, 2020 8:33 pm

Enthusiastic display of ZK-DAK 43-49219 by Geoff Cooper and Jolon Marshall at funeral of NZ Warbirds founding President TT Bland Dec 24 2014.

Bringing ZK-DAK around - TT Bland by Errol Cavit, on Flickr

CoastieJohn · **Joined:** Fri Feb 11, 2011 5:37 pm **Posts:** 1380

Just seen this on a link I posted on another topic. A Japanese DC-3.

https://www.reddit.com/r/WWIIplanes/com ... known_but/

Quote:

A Japanese DC-3 falls in flammes. Little known but in fact it was the most important Japanese transport of WW2. It was produced under license and known as Shōwa L2D and Nakajima L2D reaching almost 500 units.

Stoney · **Posted:** Fri Dec 18, 2020 10:25 am

N18121 went to Normandy last year and is still flying. Eddie Rickenbacker picked it up for Eastern Airlines in '37

Archer · **Joined:** Tue Nov 30, 2004 3:13 pm **Posts:** 433

If we're going to post Japanese DC-3s, this one should be included as well: :wink:

Lisunov2_EHV19940430 by Jelle Hieminga, on Flickr

Bearcat SA · **Posted:** Sat Dec 19, 2020 1:44 am

mike furline wrote:

Anyone know the oldest DC-3 airframe in existence?

Oldest DC-3 still flying?

Edit: Some Contenders,
C/N 1499 https://www.airport-data.com/aircraft/p ... 58148.html (6th airframe http://www.cityofgriffin.com/Department ... stDC3.aspx )
C/N 1910 https://www.flickr.com/photos/acw367/25676892748
C/N 1918 https://www.jetphotos.com/photo/2526
C/N 1920 https://www.flagshipdetroit.org/index.htm
C/N 1997 http://dc3dakotahistory.org/dc-3-storie ... c-3-12181/ (Highest Time, per Stoney below)

C/N's https://www.spottingmode.com/douglas_dc ... n/rundown/

Both C/N 1984 (ZS-PAA) and C/N 2008 (ZS-KEX) are at my local airfield, Rand Airport (FAGM), Germiston, South Africa.
Neither are airworthy, but could be made airworthy

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Happy birthday DC-3!

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