C-47 civil conversion

[Lordflasheart]

Between the C-47 Skytrain and the C-53 Skytrooper, the Douglas DC-3 also appeared as the -

C-48, C-49, C-50, C-51, and C-52.

I think most of these were pre-war airline models press-ganged by the military and given C- numbers according to their airline or engine or other configurations of which there were plenty. Lots of detail available out there. LFH

[scotbill]

The BEA conversion to Pionair was a major mod. The wireless operator station was removed to permit an extra row of seats - total 32 until performance requirements became more stringent. These aircraft can be identified by having 8 windows rather than 7.
The passenger entry door had an airstair built in.

[avionic type]

I believe the British European Airways C47s were overhauled and modified by Scottish Aviation and then had the routine check2,3,and4s done by themselves at Renfrew until B.E.A.consolidated all their checks to L.H.R.in around 1955 where I started working on them [Happy Days]we had a large fleet around 46, 8 of which were freighters I think [fading memory]
If you go to the British Airways Museum web site or the aviation photo libraries on the web here are plenty of pictures of airline Daks.

[4Greens]

Qantas used them purely to give to give Command hours to pilots ie as training aids no pax.

[Flightwatch]

Does anyone remember the story of a BEA Dakota calling in at 25,000 feet. It was intercepted by hastily scrambled jets as they couldn't believe a Dakota up there. It had been fitted with RR Darts to prove them for the oncoming Viscount service. Carried only certain cargo and the pilots naturally were on O2. Must have given them a laugh or maybe a scare?

My father used to tell me tales of these two Dart powered aircraft. I am not sure if he actually flew them as I had thought he was on the Viking in the early 1950s but apparently they were received with much confusion all over Europe. In one early rotation to Rome they managed to wind themselves up to 31,000' and on first contact with the Italians over the Alps, the controller upon asking for the type refused to believe them and offered little help thereafter, I had not heard of any interception though and I think he would have told me if this had happened. It's a good story though even if apocryphal.

The two aircraft were "Pioneer-Leopards" as BEA called them, i.e. convertible pax/freighters and were only used as the latter during the Dart trials, a central O2 system was installed for the crew and observers but I doubt fare payers would have appreciated it! After the trial finished they were reconverted to piston power and continued in service until their ultimate sale in the early 60s.

More info here. 1952 | 3204 | Flight Archive

[JW411]

Apart from the C-47 and the C-53, there were also C-48, C-49, C-50, C-51, C-52, C-68 and C-84 military variants.

[avionic type]

Re the Dart Daks G-ALXL and G-AMDB were converted by Rolls Royce between January 1951 and June 1951 and reconverted in November 1953. From a former BEA Captain he said they were special Dakota crews and as you say flew on Oxygen at all times, because of the Mod the Dak was nose heavy and always carried bags of stone ballast in the rear aft of the freight door to off set this.
As you say the stories are legion grown more embellished by the passing of time .
My one regreat is I never worked on those 2 aircraft till after they were de-modded as the overhaul facilities were not moved down to LHR till
1955 . There is a splendid picture of the instillation in the British Airways Museum web site in the photo section

[JW411]

I think you will find it was G-ALXN (not G-ALXL).

[pigboat]

Anybody know what Mk of Dart that was installed?

[Dak Man]

Mk1, I would imagine.......

[Flightwatch]

Anybody know what Mk of Dart that was installed?

Mk505 according to the article I gave the link to in my previous post.

BEA were similarly involved a few years later with the Tyne Ambassador although this time it was a re-engined prototype involved. BEA supplied a few dedicated crews who flew it all around the med - I used to fly with a couple of the then F/Os in the 70s.

[avionic type]

Sorry lads JW411 is correct it was G-ALXN the old eyes you know, he is 10 years younger than I, the only thing different as far as we" Graunchers" were concerned on both a/c was how the Magneto points were adjusted the fire wall bulkhead was not moded with removeable panels behind the mags so it needed a mirror to make the adjustment not something to do out on a wet night .