DC3 Requested and denied...US Ambassador

[sevenstrokeroll]

I just heard today on cable news that the US
Ambassador to LIbya had requested a DC3 aircraft to be standing by for possible evacuation help .

Now, I have heard the saying: the only replacement for a DC3 is another DC3...but I am wondering how popular this fine plane is in the Sahara.

[The Ancient Geek]

Very few left in active service now.
FWIW, the SAAF have a few Basler converted DC3s used for coastal patrol but thats a long way south of the Sahara.

[EladElap]

The US Department of State had a turbo dak operating in Afghanistan last year. Not sure if it's still there or if its been moved.

[Solid Rust Twotter]

...the SAAF have a few Basler converted DC3s...

Not Basler. Some other conversion AFAIK. Dodson bought up a number of the ex SAAF airframes, refurbished them and put them to work on contract when they were sold off.

[booze]

Saw a Turbo-Dak a few months ago in Tripoli Intl'. US markings.
Could be the one.

[howard meredith]

DC3

This US registered DC 3 Basler coversion,is N707BA operated in Kabul till late last year then positioned to Malta for ops to Libya on behalf of the US Gov.

[MarkerInbound]

I think the SAAF planes were converted by AMI in Waco, Texas.

[gerrie123]

Moffie Dak

Gert de Klerk Wonderboom. DC-3TP

[Solid Rust Twotter]

Correct. That hangar later became the Dodson base of ops in SA before they disappeared from the map.

[nch334]

c46

HI nostalgia aside can someone please tell me what possible advantage one can achieve positioning a Dak for something as sensitive as rescuing an Ambassador or any other reason for that matter.Where are the Nightingales, Givs,and special KingAirs would like to know. Cheers

[booze]

Being able to fly low and slow, operating from short, unimproved strips with the payloads they do, just to mention a few of the advantages.

[EladElap]

Saw the Dak N707BA taking off out of Erbil earlier. Guess she's joined the DOS airwing in Iraq. Can't really see the reason, as pretty much every runway out here is 2-3kms +, Erbil is over 4.4 kms. They also have/had a twotter here, in addition to their Dash 8 fleet and numerous choppers. Maybe it was just passing through .

[emptyfly]

N707BA really was there...