Douglas C-47 Skytrain
(also: C-49, C-53, C-84, R4D)
SYNOPSIS: The C-47 Skytrain was the most commonly used transport in the Allied Air Forces and has operated in every theater of war. A version was even built under license by the Japanese (the Showa L2D), as well as by the Russians (the Lisunov Li-2). It was known under different designations (C-47, C-53, R4D) and different names (Skytrain/Skytrooper/Dakota/"Gooney Bird"), and by the civilian designation DC-3. DC-3B's taken over from airlines were given the military designations C-49 or C-84. A special staff transport model was designated C-117, but only seventeen were built. The C-47 was famous for its dependability, versatility, and ability to carry loads far heavier than the official specs allowed. Famous campaigns involving the C-47 were "flying the Hump" (transport over the Himalyas), dropping paratroops behind enemy lines on D-Day, and the post-war Berlin airlift. The C-47 was so useful that it was used by the U.S. military in WWII, Korea, and Vietnam, and many are still flying in different countries around the world today.
LONG HISTORY: for a more detailed history of this aircraft, click HERE.
For additional data and history on the R4D, click here
for Jack McKillop's article on Microworks.net
Click here
for the C-47 page at warbirdalley.com.
To see books about this aircraft on Amazon.com, click here.
Additional information on this aircraft
can be found at Wikipedia
here.
(updated February 2009)
Douglas C-47A Skytrain
Type: Military transport and glider tug Crew: 3, Pilot, co-pilot, radio operator Armament: none Specifications: Length: 64' 2.5" (19.57 m) Height: 16' 11" (5.16 m) Wingspan: 95' 0" (28.96 m) Wing area: 987 sq. ft (91.69 sq. m) Empty Weight: 16970 lbs (7698 kg) Takeoff Weight: 26,000 lbs (11,793 kg) maximum Propulsion: No. of Engines: 2 Powerplant: Pratt & Whitney R-1830-93 Twin Wasp Horsepower: 1200 hp each Performance: Range: 1500 miles (2414 km) Cruise Speed: 185 mph (298 km/hr) at 10,000 ft. Max Speed: 229 mph (369 km/hr) aat 7,500 ft. Climb: 1130 ft/min (345 m/min) Ceiling: 23,200 ft (7,070 m)
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