DOUGLAS
DAKOTA
The RCAF Memorial
Museum's Dakota in World War 2 Burma Squadron colours.
First flown on 17 December 1935 at Clover Field in Santa Monica, California,
the Douglas DC-3 is arguably one of the most successful aircraft ever built.
Designated "Dakota" or C-47 by RAF/RCAF, the aircraft was known by a
wide variety of different names (Skytrain, Skytrooper, DAK, Goonie Bird) and
different designations (DC3, C-47, C-53, R4D) in various services.
Highly
adaptable, this transport aircraft could be fitted with skis or Jet Assisted
Take Off (JATO) bottles. In the RAF, RCAF and CF, it served in a wide variety of
roles including flying the "Hump" missions in Burma during World War
2, postwar navigation, radio and radar training, along with other diverse
tasking in target towing, transport,
search and rescue duties.
DETAILS
Manufacturer: Douglas Aircraft Corporation
Designation: CC-129 / CT-129 Model No: DC-3 / C-47
Marks: MkIII, Mk IIICSC,F,FP,P,R,S&R,U, and Mk IVM,MF,MFP,P,ST,T
Role: Transport, Training, Target Towing, SAR
TOS: 1943 SOS: 1989 No: 169
Service: RCAF & CF
SPECIFICATIONS
Crew / Passengers: Two pilots + up to 3 crew or 36 passengers
Powerplant: two 1200 hp Pratt & Whitney R-1830-92 radials
Performance: Max Speed: 222 kts (410 km/h) Cruising Speed: 150 kts
(278
km/h)
Service Ceiling: 24,100 ft (7,345 m) Range: 1,300 nm (2,414 km)
Weights: Max T/O: 26,000 lbs (11,793 kg)
Dimensions: Span: 95 ft 0 in (28.95 m) Length: 64 ft 51/2 in
(19.64 m)
Armament: none
Original Cost: $165,000