C-47 Dakota Darwin 17 August?
Thread Starter
C-47 Dakota Darwin 17 August?
Anyone know where the C-47 that overnighted in Darwin last night is heading to? Not sure what the tail number was, but it was in green military duco with U5 painted on the forward fuselage.
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From Australian Warbird News Facebook.
Former RAAF C-47 is now flying its way to China for its new life.
It had resided at Bathurst airport for last few months due to operational issues but now all fixed and test flying, It is leaving Australia for the last time it seems to become a museum item in China, regarding the Hump famous flights of WW2.
Former RAAF C-47 is now flying its way to China for its new life.
It had resided at Bathurst airport for last few months due to operational issues but now all fixed and test flying, It is leaving Australia for the last time it seems to become a museum item in China, regarding the Hump famous flights of WW2.
VH-XUX a 1944 built C-47A has been flown in recent times after a lengthy restoration. The aircraft has seen service with the USAAF as 42-92709 and then with the RAAF as A65-41. After wartime service the Aircraft was transferred to MacRobertson Miller Aviation Company (MMA) in Western Australia and put on the Australian civil register as VH-MMF. Sadly the news reaches us that the aircraft is to leave our shores headed for China.
https://www.facebook.com/HistoricAus...01945986554754
https://www.facebook.com/HistoricAus...01945986554754
I am advised that the registration XUX was the next available and has no other significance.
Nope. Someone has specifically chosen that rego, it was not next in line. Probably a simple reason like it sounded cool at the time.
This aircraft has had an interesting history and like a cat 9 lives.
VH-MMF Douglas DC-3
During its stay with Air Tasmania the seating was increased to 36Y.
VH-MMF Douglas DC-3
During its stay with Air Tasmania the seating was increased to 36Y.
What a history. Thanks for the link B772
Slim Rosier told me they got some interesting comments climbing straight to Fl250 in
the survey machine, with paddle blade props (and IIRC a manual two stage super charger).
I guess it was MMF.
From your link
Terry Burns - quite a character down in Tassie 
Slim Rosier told me they got some interesting comments climbing straight to Fl250 in
the survey machine, with paddle blade props (and IIRC a manual two stage super charger).
I guess it was MMF.
From your link
Aircraft was granted a liquor licence and classed as a public place - February 1974
Licensee was Air Tasmania's Chief Pilot Captain Terry Burns and aircraft configured with 32 seats
Licensee was Air Tasmania's Chief Pilot Captain Terry Burns and aircraft configured with 32 seats
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ENGINE CHANGE
It's not looking good for XUX.
She's done an engine. Safely on ground at Surabaya, Indonesia.
Some details here:
FLYING THE HUMP -- Commemorative Flight across the Himalayas to China
Post purchase look at aircraft, Bankstown Airport, Sydney
Landing at Surabaya, left engine feathered
Not looking good
She's done an engine. Safely on ground at Surabaya, Indonesia.
Some details here:
FLYING THE HUMP -- Commemorative Flight across the Himalayas to China
Post purchase look at aircraft, Bankstown Airport, Sydney
Landing at Surabaya, left engine feathered
Not looking good
Last edited by Wingnuts; 23rd Nov 2021 at 07:38.
Thread Starter
Sad news, however there is hope - if we chip in, even if it's a few dollars. Didn't realise the history of this aircraft.
I'm really happy I opened this thread!
I'm really happy I opened this thread!
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Singapore Departure
LANDING at SELETAR, SINGAPORE
Tow into business jet maint facility...to add a bit of class!
Fine tuning of "new" engine
Pre dawn, pre flight and looking good
DEPARTURE
Tow into business jet maint facility...to add a bit of class!
Fine tuning of "new" engine
Pre dawn, pre flight and looking good
DEPARTURE
Last edited by Wingnuts; 19th Nov 2021 at 03:58.
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Engine Failure
After flying over 'The Hump' (13,000 ft), the R engine blew a cylinder
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A World War II-era C-47 aircraft awaits repairs at Kunming Changshui International Airport in Yunnan province on Saturday after a commemorative "Hump" flight.Li Zhe / For China Daily:
Plane donated to preserve memory of Flying Tigers, wartime alliance.
An aging World War II-era C-47 aircraft, heading for Guilin in the Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, landed at Kunming Changshui International Airport in Kunming, Yunnan province, on Saturday after a commemorative "Hump" flight, widely known as the most dangerous aircraft route in China during World War II.
The plane will be donated by the Flying Tigers Historical Organization to the Flying Tigers Heritage Park in Guilin for permanent display.
The Hump was one of the most important air routes connecting China with allied forces in South Asia. During the war, about 850,000 metric tons of supplies reached China from India via the route, though about 1,500 US planes crashed along the way - victim to the formidable mountains of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and their fickle, often nasty, weather conditions. Pilots said the huge ridges looked like humps, thus the moniker.
The American Volunteer Group, also known as the Flying Tigers, took on the dangerous mission, and American C-47s delivered the first, small load of supplies in July 1942.
Aircraft flies final Hump to China
The plane currently has five crew members, including two from the United States and three from Australia. Their average age is above 70 years.
Larry Jobe, the captain of the first flight who now serves as president of the historical organization, said he wants to honor the men and women who risked their lives flying the Hump and preserve the memory of what China and the United States accomplished.
Beginning in Australia on Aug 13, the final flight over the legendary route was pretty smooth until Indonesia, where one of the aircraft's engines blew out. After six weeks of repairs, the plane took off again and finally made it over the mountains to Kunming on Saturday.
"Unfortunately," Jobe said, "before landing in Kunming, we had to shut another engine down. The plane is not flyable."
As the single most important aircraft for China's survival of the war, the C-47 once transported fuel, ammunition and oxygen that China needed in the China-Burma-India theater.
"Without the supplies, Burma and its fighters would be nothing more than ground targets for the Japanese," he said.
The plane has served many useful missions during its life.
Before the historical organization bought the plane, it was used in movies, Jobe said.
"They painted it up and named it 'Buzz Buggie'. We kept the name because we found a B-24 Burma aircraft called Buzz Buggie had also flown the Hump," he said.
At the moment, the plane cannot continue its journey. The plan is to fly it to Guilin after repairs are made.
"Although she is in Kunming, she did cross the Hump and came back to Chinese soil," Jobe said.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Kunming International Airport. Mixing it with the heavy metal...but looking a little broken.
...but they made it. The "Humpers" and middle flag carried over "The Hump" on 15 Oct 2016 to honour the crews of over 600 aircraft lost flying The Hump in WWII.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A World War II-era C-47 aircraft awaits repairs at Kunming Changshui International Airport in Yunnan province on Saturday after a commemorative "Hump" flight.Li Zhe / For China Daily:
Plane donated to preserve memory of Flying Tigers, wartime alliance.
An aging World War II-era C-47 aircraft, heading for Guilin in the Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, landed at Kunming Changshui International Airport in Kunming, Yunnan province, on Saturday after a commemorative "Hump" flight, widely known as the most dangerous aircraft route in China during World War II.
The plane will be donated by the Flying Tigers Historical Organization to the Flying Tigers Heritage Park in Guilin for permanent display.
The Hump was one of the most important air routes connecting China with allied forces in South Asia. During the war, about 850,000 metric tons of supplies reached China from India via the route, though about 1,500 US planes crashed along the way - victim to the formidable mountains of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and their fickle, often nasty, weather conditions. Pilots said the huge ridges looked like humps, thus the moniker.
The American Volunteer Group, also known as the Flying Tigers, took on the dangerous mission, and American C-47s delivered the first, small load of supplies in July 1942.
Aircraft flies final Hump to China
The plane currently has five crew members, including two from the United States and three from Australia. Their average age is above 70 years.
Larry Jobe, the captain of the first flight who now serves as president of the historical organization, said he wants to honor the men and women who risked their lives flying the Hump and preserve the memory of what China and the United States accomplished.
Beginning in Australia on Aug 13, the final flight over the legendary route was pretty smooth until Indonesia, where one of the aircraft's engines blew out. After six weeks of repairs, the plane took off again and finally made it over the mountains to Kunming on Saturday.
"Unfortunately," Jobe said, "before landing in Kunming, we had to shut another engine down. The plane is not flyable."
As the single most important aircraft for China's survival of the war, the C-47 once transported fuel, ammunition and oxygen that China needed in the China-Burma-India theater.
"Without the supplies, Burma and its fighters would be nothing more than ground targets for the Japanese," he said.
The plane has served many useful missions during its life.
Before the historical organization bought the plane, it was used in movies, Jobe said.
"They painted it up and named it 'Buzz Buggie'. We kept the name because we found a B-24 Burma aircraft called Buzz Buggie had also flown the Hump," he said.
At the moment, the plane cannot continue its journey. The plan is to fly it to Guilin after repairs are made.
"Although she is in Kunming, she did cross the Hump and came back to Chinese soil," Jobe said.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Kunming International Airport. Mixing it with the heavy metal...but looking a little broken.
...but they made it. The "Humpers" and middle flag carried over "The Hump" on 15 Oct 2016 to honour the crews of over 600 aircraft lost flying The Hump in WWII.
Last edited by Wingnuts; 25th Nov 2021 at 00:28.
