I’ve had a major thing for the DC-3 since I saw one land in Innsbruck when I was a wee lad. And yes, I love old Chevy pickups too, but not nearly as much as the DC-3.
I know I’ve been talking about this documentary series (Deadliest Roads) a lot here, but the episode I watched last night was about the many DC-3 still being used in Columbia (as of 2009) hauling cargo and passengers (at the same time). Amazing to see them still at work after almost 80 years.
I will join you – the DC-3 is a favorite of mine too. I remember being shocked back in the mid 80s when I learned that there were more DC-3s in service than there were 707s, a plane that was rapidly leaving circulation around that time.
My father was an accomplished pilot and got to fly one once – he described the experience as like flying a truck. How appropriate for this photo’s tie-in.
In the mid 1980s my second wife and I honeymooned on Nantucket Island. Flying there from LaGuardia (LGA) airport was in a small twin engine commuter aircraft (not sure what make or model).
The return trip was more memorable. After a long delay “due to mechanical issues” a DC-3 was flown in from the mainland and my eyes got wide. The plan was to be ferried to the mainland and then catch a commuter flight to LGA.
A DC-3! A genuine tail dragging, square windowed, DC-3. In 1985.
We entered from the rear, walked up the relatively steep aisle, and sat down at that strange angle. There were only about 6 or 7 passengers making the DC-3 mostly empty. The interior was modern and immaculate; this was not a regular commuter aircraft. I tried to explain to my new wife what a historic plane we were in, but she was worried about all the delays and “mechanical” issues with the other, much newer, aircraft.
I’m not sure if the engines were modern replacements, but the takeoff, flight, and landing were gentle, soft, and relaxed. This was quite an experience. The final leg of the trip in a small modern commuter aircraft was quick, cramped, and crowded.
That must’ve been a blast! I believe PBA Airlines flew DC-3s in some of their regional routes in New England and as well as down in Florida up until the late 80s. They were still using P&W radials – and not re-engined with turboprops – albeit undoubtedly rebuilt many times over.
https://www.sunshineskies.com/pba.html
Paul, do you ever watch any of the Buffalo Airways films on YouTube? I think that they are on some other streaming services, too. Buffalo still flies DC -3 and a few other old piston pounders in regular service in the Northwest Territories. Still, even today.
Great episode, thanks for putting us on to this series.
Below is a photo of KLM DC-4 PH-TLW, which is the plane that brought my mother’s family to Canada. It’s pictured here in 1948 after a landing gear collapse at Schipol airport.
This particular plane started out in the US Air Force and ended it’s career flying freight in Columbia in the 1970’s. I’m continually amazed at how much info you can find online.
My last trip to Puerto Rico in 2003 found me leaving out of the farthest most gate at the Luis Munoz Marin International Airport. Looking out the terminal window was a time portal- three DC-3s in various states of repair parked next to a 1940s vintage hanger. Amazing aircraft!
Yes, I was just going to mention how these are – or at least were reasonably recently – still in service in the Caribbean. I too used to enjoy that exact hanger space you mention on taxis in or out of San Juan, where I marveled at the DC-3s still in service. My understanding is that until the early 2000s, a few of those were original American Airlines “Flagship” planes, retired but still in constant use. Cool stuff.
Throw in a streamlined diesel of the period and we have some great design work. Why can’t we have that today????
I know it’s probably function over form….
GET OFF MY LAWN
Basler Turbo Conversions will be glad to build you a better-than-new DC-3 with Pratt & Whitney Canada turboprops.
My step father-in-law (ah just Norm, and a great guy) was a toolmaker at Douglas from the days of the DC3 to the DC8. According to him, and others, the DC3 was the best plane Douglas ever made. Not the fanciest, fastest, or most advanced, but the best all round.
Without a doubt it was the plane that made commercial aviation a viable enterprise, and gave wings to the world.
Good looking truck too.
Basler is in Oshkosh – home also to the EAA and the recently completed annual “Air Venture”.
A day at OSH for this event can occupy a DC-3 fan for a good while. There are often five or more private DC-3s pretty far down south, just east of the ultra light field and there will be two or three C-47s up north in the warbird area.
There was a truck in that picture? – Let me scroll back and see. 😉
The DC-3… Huge fan here. While I’ve never had the pleasure of flying in one, it is definitely on of my favorites to pilot in Microsoft’s Flight Simulator. Tail dragging… it’s a totally different kind of flying all together.
Years ago, I went out to Fredrick, Maryland (KFDK) to visit a buddy of mine with a Cessna 172 (that I’d later get to fly). While hanging around, a bright green and yellow DC-3 lands, taxis over to the gas pumps, and just turns back around and taxis back out to Runway 5 and takes off again. He never did get gas. Perhaps he didn’t like the price.
The paint scheme on the DC-3 is reminiscent of a pre-war United DC-3A ‘Mainliner’. It’s definitely supposed to be a DC-3A with the deeper engine cowlings to house the P&W 1830, a 2 row 14 cylinder radial. Early DST’s and DC-3’s had single row 9 cylinder Wright Cyclones.
Read the Ernest K. Gann book ‘Fate is the Hunter’ for some inspiring DC-3 adventures.
Also see
http://www.douglasdc3.com
I flew in them regularly in 1960s New Guinea. Mostly trimmed to airliner levels, but at least one flight was in the military spec with seats along the sides.
I’d forgotten how steep the floor sloped until I revisited one in 2011.
Both are fantastic designs .
-Nate