.

Douglas C-47 Skytrain

 .
.

                  .

Development

Entwicklung

 

The Douglas DC-3 is a propeller-driven airliner with tailwheel-type landing gear. The DC-3 developed as a larger, improved 14-bed sleeper version of the Douglas DC-2. It had many exceptional qualities compared to previous aircraft. It was fast, had a good range and could operate from short runways. It was reliable and easy to maintain and carried passengers in greater comfort. Before the war it pioneered many air travel routes. It was able to cross the continental United States, making transcontinental flights and worldwide flights possible, and is considered the first airliner that could make money by carrying passengers alone.
 


The Douglas C-47 Skytrain or Dakota is a military transport aircraft developed from the civilian Douglas DC-3 airliner. It was used extensively by the Allies during World War II and remains in front line service with various military operators. The C-47 differed from the civilian DC-3 in numerous modifications, including being fitted with a cargo door, hoist attachment, and strengthened floor, along with a shortened tail cone for glider-towing shackles, and an astrodome in the cabin roof.

  

Die Douglas DC-3 ist ein Propellerflugzeug mit Heckfahrwerk. Die DC-3 wurde als grössere, verbesserte Version der 4-Bett-Schlafversion der Douglas DC-2 entwickelt. Sie hatte viele aussergewöhnliche Eigenschaften im Vergleich zu früheren Flugzeugen. Sie war schnell, hatte eine gute Reichweite und konnte von kurzen Start- und Landebahnen aus operieren. Sie war zuverlässig und einfach zu warten und beförderte Passagiere in mehr Komfort. Vor dem Krieg war sie der Pionier vieler Flugstrecken. Sie war in der Lage, die kontinentalen Strecken der USA zu durchqueren, transkontinentale Flüge und weltweite Flüge zu ermöglichen, und es gilt als das erste Verkehrsflugzeug, das allein mit Passagieren Geld verdienen konnte.
Der Douglas C-47 Skytrain oder Dakota ist ein militärisches Transportflugzeug, das aus dem zivilen Flugzeug Douglas DC-3 entwickelt wurde. Es wurde während des Zweiten Weltkriegs von den Alliierten ausgiebig genutzt und steht weiterhin in vorderster Reihe mit verschiedenen militärischen Betreibern. Die C-47 unterschied sich von der zivilen DC-3 in zahlreichen Modifikationen, darunter mit einer Frachttür, Hebezeugbefestigung und verstärktem Boden, einem verkürzten Heckkonus für Segelschlepper und einem Astrodom im Kabinendach.
                  .

Variants

Versionen
 

C-47A

  

C-47A

  
 

AC-47D

  

AC-47D

  
 

EC-47A

  

EC-47A

  
 

RC-47A

  

RC-47A

  
..

Operational history

Einsatzgeschichte

 

      

 

RC-47A

The RTAF operated the Douglas C-47 Dakota from 1947 to ca. 1991. There were some Special Dakotas the RTAF has used like the VC-47A, RC-47A, AC-47D and EC-47D. Only three RC-47A where identified, one was converted in 1967 the other two where taken over in 1976 and are former South Vietnamese planes.

  

RC-47A

Die RTAF verwendete von 1947 bia ca. 1991 die Douglas C-47 Dakota. Darunter waren auch einige Spezielle Dakota-Varianten wie die VC-47A, RC-47A, AC-47D und EC-47D. Nur drei RC-47A wurden identifiziert, eine wurde 1967 umgebaut zwei weitere wurden 1976 übernommen und gehörten früher der Südvietnamesischen Luftwaffe.

..

Designations

Bezeichnungen
บล.๒

BL.2

Douglas C-47A & D Dakota

Transport
บตล.๒

BTL.2

Douglas RC-47A Dakota

Reconnaisance
บล.๒อ

BL.2OR

Douglas EC-47A Dakota

Electronic
บจล.๒

BJL.2

Douglas AC-47D Spooky

Attack
..
 

 

 

    
 

1. Transport Squadron

    
 
 
Specifications Douglas C-47A

Wingspan

Spannweite

 29.41 m

Length

Länge

 19.43 m

Height

Höhe

 5.18 m
Wing area Flügelfläche 91.70 m²

Engine

Motor

 2× Pratt & Whitney R-1830-90C Twin Wasp radial engines, 1,200 hp each

Maximum speed

Höchstgeschwindigkeit

 360 km/h

Empty weight

Leergewicht

 8,226 kg

Loaded weight

Startgewicht

 14,061 kg

Climb Rate

Steigrate

 5.73 m/s

Service ceiling

Gipfelhöhe

 8,045 m

Range

Reichweite

 2,575 km

Armament

Bewaffnung

 Misc.

Capacity

 Zuladung 2 Pilots, 21–32 Passengers
.

Pictures
   
  Bell 412 (Photo from the collection of Tui Pankem)        
   
           
   
           
   
           
   
  The Douglas VC-47A from the Royal Flight (Photo courtesy of  Phakphum Tangkijjarak). 42-93789 in front of Wing HQ – 1st Air Division at Don Muang (Photo courtesy of  Phakphum Tangkijjarak). 42-93789 in front of Wing HQ – 1st Air Division at Don Muang (Photo courtesy of  Michael E. Fader).    
   
  Douglas VC-47A Dakota BL2-41/18  43-49210 (Photo courtesy of  Phakphum Tangkijjarak). (Photo courtesy of  Phakphum Tangkijjarak). Douglas C-47A Dakota 42-100536 BL2-6/90 100536 (Photo courtesy of  Phakphum Tangkijjarak).    
   
   (Photo courtesy of  Phakphum Tangkijjarak). The King Ananda Mahidol and his brother Bhumipol in front of an C-47A (Photo courtesy of  Phakphum Tangkijjarak). Douglas C-47A Dakota 42-100536 BL2-6/90 100536(Photo courtesy of  Phakphum Tangkijjarak). The King in front of Douglas C-47A Dakota 42-100536 BL2-6/90 100536 (Photo courtesy of  Phakphum Tangkijjarak).  
   
  Douglas C-47A Dakota 42-12248  (Photo courtesy of  Phakphum Tangkijjarak). Douglas C-47A Dakota 44-76517 BL2-8/90 #476517  (Photo courtesy of  Phakphum Tangkijjarak). Douglas C-47A Dakota 42-12248 (Photo courtesy of  Phakphum Tangkijjarak). Douglas C-47A Dakota (Photo courtesy of  Royal Thai Air Force Museum via Sakpinit Promthep).  
   
   Douglas C-47A Dakota Photo courtesy of  Royal Thai Air Force Museum via Sakpinit Promthep). Douglas C-47A Dakota (Photo courtesy of  Royal Thai Air Force Museum via Sakpinit Promthep). Douglas C-47A Dakota (Photo courtesy of  Royal Thai Air Force Museum via Sakpinit Promthep). The Douglas VC-47A in the Museum of the RTAF in Don Muang Bangkok (Photo courtesy of  Christian Stuerchler).  
   
  The Douglas C-47A during tha Handover Ceremony  (Photo courtesy of  Phakphum Tangkijjarak).     Douglas C-47A Dakota (Photo courtesy of  Royal Thai Air Force Museum).  
   
  Douglas AC-47D Spooky, possible BJL.2-47/18 #079 whith guns removed (Photo courtesy of  Phakphum Tangkijjarak). Douglas AC-47D Spooky, Note the 6 Wing Insigna on the nose on the plane. (Photo courtesy of  Phakphum Tangkijjarak). Douglas AC-47D Spooky BJL2-19/00 #876 with three SUU-11 7.62 mm Miniguns Douglas AC-47D Spooky BJL2-19/00 #876 (Photo courtesy of  Phakphum Tangkijjarak).  
         
  Douglas AC-47A  BJL.2-25/01, Note the Serial under the second Minigun. (Photo courtesy of  Phakphum Tangkijjarak).        
                  ..
 
Douglas C-47 Dakota / Skytrain
Type Thai Serial

US Serial

Reg.

s/n

Delivered

Withdrawn

Remarks
C-47A BL2-1/90 42-24009 24009 9871 19. Aug. 1946 1. Jun. 1951 Ex. RAF FD950, w/o
C-47A BL2-2/90 42-93045 293045 12913 19. Aug. 1946 10. Oct. 1957 Ex. RAF KG509, w/o at Tachikawa
C-47A BL2-3/90 42-93629 293629 13562 19. Aug. 1946 11. Mar. 1965 Ex. RAF KG695
C-47A BL2-4/90 42-23680 223680 9542 19. Aug. 1946 11. Jul. 1984 Ex. RAF FD890
C-47A BL2-5/90 42-24354 224354 10216 19. Aug. 1946 11. Mar. 1965 Ex. RAF FL541
               
AC-47D BJL2-19/00 43-48876 876 26137 15. Sep. 1957 Apr 1986 Converted to AC-47 23. Mar. 1977
AC-47D BJL.2-20/00 43-49418 418 26679 15.9.1957 13.12.1967 Converted to AC-47 9.1967
AC-47D BJL.2-25/01 43-49919 9191 27180 5.11.1958 17.10.1990 Converted to AC-47 9.1967
AC-47D BJL.2-30/07 43-49641 641 26902 13.3.1964 9.8.1983 Converted to AC-47 22.6.1970
AC-47D BJL.2-32/11 43-48501 501 25762 30.5.1968 22.10.1986 Taken over as AC-47D
AC-47D BJL.2-34/13 42-93789 789 13740 21.9.1970 31.5.1988 Converted to AC-47 2.1976
AC-47D BJL.2-35/14 42-108865 865 12498 16.2.1971 2.1984 Converted to AC-47 2.1976
AC-47D BJL.2-36/14 42-93224 224 13112 8-.2.1971 2.1984 Converted to AC-47 5.1972
AC-47D BJL.2-37/14 44-76734 734 33066 27.1.1971 2.1984 Converted to AC-47 5.1972
AC-47D BJL.2-42/18 43-49254 254 26515 9.9.1975 1991 Taken over as AC-47D
AC-47D BJL.2-43/18 43-49516 516 26777 9.9.1975 27.2.1984 Taken over as AC-47D
AC-47D BJL.2-44/18 44-77152 152 33484 9.9.1975 2.1984 Taken over as AC-47D
AC-47D BJL.2-45/18 45-1116 116 34386 12.9.1975 23.4.1991 Taken over as AC-47D
AC-47D BJL.2-46/18 43-49010 010 26271 11.11.1975 7.9.1989 Taken over as AC-47D
AC-47D BJL.2-47/18 45-1079 079 34349 14.11.1975 30.3.1978 Taken over as AC-47D
              -
EC-47A BL.2Or-1/07 43-49250 106 26511 7.11.1963 26.1.1964 -
               
RC-47A BTL.2-7/90 43-15106 106 19572 6. Nov. 1946 20. Aug. 1996 Converted to a BT-67
RC-47A BTL.2-50/19 45-1093 093 34363 30. Mar. 1976 15. Jan. 1987 -
RC-47A BTL.2-51/19 45-0882 882 34141 19. Mar. 1976 4.14.1991 -
               
.
- Last update 27. December 2012

Written 1. November 2005

-

 -
- Corrections, additions and remarks please send to the Webmaster Michael E. Fader -
- If information from this site is used as source material please credit www.wings-aviation.ch  -
- If this page does not have a navigational frame on the left, click HERE to see the rest of the website. -