Pictures of my old DC-3.
Great airplane connie. Lotta love went into that one by the looks of it. That one has the toothpick props, which made 'em a little faster than the ones with the paddle blades. We had one, CF-ORD, that we bought from an automobile manufacturer that shall remain nameless. It had both the toothpick props and the 1830-94 engines. Same 1200 hp max power but you could run them at a higher cruise power setting. We used to file 150 kt if I remember right, as opposed to 140 with our standard DC-3's. That engine/prop combination along with a rudder servo tab allowed you to use 26,900 lb MTOW in the passenger config, same as the freighter version of our standard DC-3's.
Just as a footnote, our standard DC-3's were equipped with 1830-92S engines. These were -92's with -94 cylinders. The only external difference on the airplane was the cowl flaps didn't go all the way around the circumference of the cowling, only the lower half. We used two of our DC-3's on skis in the winter, did a couple of hundred hours each with 'em. In the summer, we swapped the engines with the two PBY's we operated when the '3's were not being used.
Just as a footnote, our standard DC-3's were equipped with 1830-92S engines. These were -92's with -94 cylinders. The only external difference on the airplane was the cowl flaps didn't go all the way around the circumference of the cowling, only the lower half. We used two of our DC-3's on skis in the winter, did a couple of hundred hours each with 'em. In the summer, we swapped the engines with the two PBY's we operated when the '3's were not being used.
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These were -92's with -94 cylinders. The only external difference on the airplane was the cowl flaps didn't go all the way around the circumference of the cowling, only the lower half.
The reason my old DC-3 was faster than other DC-3s I flew was, I believe, because of no de-ice boots and the fact it was so low time.
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The old lady would be still under factory warranty.
It is a great aviation story in regards to the fact that all of us love old aircraft.
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I came across this picture and noticed the Wrigley emblem outside the cockpit, think this is the same plane you have been discussing. Wonder who the pilot is? Does anyone have any idea?
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Maybe Con Pilot reaclls a DC3 that based at the north end of the VNY airport in the 60's. It was rumored to have been the Hilton family airplane earlier in its corporate life. Don't know much about the DC3 but this one appeared to have all the mods possible including gear doors, one piece windshield and a very nice corporate interior. Always wondered what happened to it? The guy who flew it was 
Corporate aircraft with a stand up cabin.
The DC3 was used a lot as a corporate aircraft and there legacy, I read somewhere, is that Gulfstream used the DC3 cabin cross-section as a template for the Gulfstream I.
DC-3 in Catalina
There is still a DC-3 operating daily into Catalina from Long Beach, flying freight. It is owned and operated by Catalina Flying Boats who also used Grummans into the harbor at Avalon.
I was in Avalon in Dec. last year and the DC-3 buzzed the town on its way up to the airport one monday morning.
I also saw it do a very abbreviated downwind/base/final into Long Beach last Sept., a very sporty looking approach.
f
I was in Avalon in Dec. last year and the DC-3 buzzed the town on its way up to the airport one monday morning.
I also saw it do a very abbreviated downwind/base/final into Long Beach last Sept., a very sporty looking approach.
f
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Latest on my old DC-3.
It was sold to Cleveland/detroit Flying Services Llc, Chicago, IL, in Janurary of this year.
By chance does anyone know anything about these people? Can't find a thing about them on the internet.
It was sold to Cleveland/detroit Flying Services Llc, Chicago, IL, in Janurary of this year.
By chance does anyone know anything about these people? Can't find a thing about them on the internet.
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Capetonian: Lovely pic of TF-NPK. I wasn't aware that there was one active in Iceland. I haven't been able to find any info on the web - do you have any idea who runs these tourist flights?
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No, but I'll find out for you through my contact at Icelandair. That photo was taken from the window of her flat when we were there last July, hence the rather poor quality as it was on maximum zoom.
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Just got this back from my 'dottir' friend!
It is an association that operates it. They have a website www.dc3.is which has limited information in English.
They are also on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/pages/DC-3-...97145653661538
They are also on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/pages/DC-3-...97145653661538
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Just as an aside: Does any remember an absolutely mint Dak that used to fly into Les Cedres, Quebec weekly in the late 70s/early 80s? I think it belonged to a tyre company, Goodyear maybe?
After an excellent landing etc...
After an excellent landing etc...
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Does any remember an absolutely mint Dak that used to fly into Les Cedres, Quebec weekly in the late 70s/early 80s? I think it belonged to a tyre company, Goodyear maybe?
Canada Aviation and Space Museum - CASM Home Page
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I came across this picture and noticed the Wrigley emblem outside the cockpit, think this is the same plane you have been discussing. Wonder who the pilot is? Does anyone have any idea?
At that time, the Wrigley family owned the Santa Catalina Island and the DC-3 was there quite a bit. In fact when the Wrigley family bought a newer and faster aircraft, a Howard 350, I think, the DC-3 was based on the Santa Catalina airport to ferry people from LAX to the island, as the new aircraft could not use the Santa Catalina airport because the runway was too short.
There is only one hangar on the Santa Catalina airport and it was built for the DC-3, so I was told.
The original log book for the DC-3 was like reading a 'Who's who' of the late 40's to the early 60's when they filled the original log book, which was the size of telephone book compared to the newer style. It had the passengers' names in the log book for most flights, people like Jimmy Stewart, John Wayne and more movie stars than I can remember. Plus many then famous baseball players, mostly the Chicago Cubs baseball team, which the Wrigley family owned.
One more note of interest, from reading the log books, they changed engines every 500 hours, replacing them with overhauled engines. I was always curious about that.
Last I heard, the Wrigley family now has a Falcon 50.
I took this pic at Fiji in 1970 (I was on 48 Sqn at Changi at the time) to show that the old and the new can have similar problems. Sorry it is not a better pic of the DC3 but it may awaken memories in someone on this fascinating thread.
aa62,
Is that an amphibian's float in the foreground of your Fiji picture?
Is that an amphibian's float in the foreground of your Fiji picture?