1943 Douglas "Dakota" DC-3 (C-47 Skytrain)

Display Condition: Conserved
Manufacturer: Douglas Aircraft Company, Long Beach, California, USA
Engine: 2 Pratt & Whitney R-1830-92 Twin Wasp, radial, 14-cylinder, air-cooled
Power Per Engine: 890 kW (1,200 hp)
Weight: Empty - 8300 kg (18,298.2 lb); Full - 11400 kg (25,132.4 lb)
Wing Span: 29 m (95 ft)
Maximum Air Speed: 346 km/h (215 mph)
Range: 2409 km (1,500 mi)
Capacity: 2 crew, 28 passengers

This 1943 DC-3, nicknamed "Dakota," was originally built as a C-47 Skytrain transport for the US Army Air Force. Following a landing accident, it was acquired by Republic Pictures Corporation and used for static shots in the 1954 film Flight Nurse. From 1955 to 1969, it was used to carry passengers and cargo by Shell Oil. It was then sold to Alberta Government Air Services and used for general duties and to transport firefighters to remote areas. This aircraft has flown over 22000 hours and has gone through at least 20 sets of engines. The windows are square; normally, they were round, in order to avoid stress cracks. The wings are bolted on, with no main spar. It is fitted with two Jet Assist Take-Off (JATO) rockets to aid in short-field take-offs; these could provide a total of 8896 N (2,000 lbf) of thrust for 15 seconds.

Donald Wills Douglas Sr. built his first airplane, the Cloudster biplane, in 1920. Early in the history of the company, most Douglas models, most derived from the original Cloudster design, were built for military use. Douglas’ first commercial airliner, the DC-1, was introduced in 1933, and evolved into the DC-2, which was capable of carrying 14 passengers, in late 1933. The DC-2 was also produced as a bomber, called the B-18, which was used by the Canadian air force. The next evolution was the DC-3, introduced in 1936. The model became a plane that changed the world. After its initial year of service, American Airlines president C.R. Smith said it was the first airplane in the world that could make money just by hauling passengers. By 1939, 90% of the world’s airline traffic was carried in DC-3s. According to President Eisenhower, victory in the Second World War would not have been possible without the DC-3.

The DC series still continues today with the DC-10 jet liner. Douglas merged with McDonnell in 1967 to form the McDonnell-Douglas Corporation.

Chronology:
1921 - Following the dissolution of the Davis-Douglas Company, Donald Wills Douglas Sr. founds the Douglas Aircraft Company in Santa Monica, California, USA.
1936 - The DC-3 is developed as a commercial airliner.
1941 - The C-47 Skytrain, known as the Dakota in the Royal Air Force (RAF), is developed from the DC-3 as a military transport plane.
1943 - This DC-3 is manufactured as a C-47 for the US Army Air Force; it remains in service until a landing accident.
1954 - Republic Pictures Corporation acquires this DC-3 and uses it for static shots in the film Flight Nurse.
1955 - Shell Oil uses this DC-3 to carry passengers and cargo.
1959 - Alberta Government Air Services uses this DC-3 for general duties and to transport firefighters to remote locations.
1986 - Stan Reynolds acquires this DC-3.
1992 - This DC-3 is added to the Reynolds-Alberta Museum Collection.