Douglas DC-3
“90 Years and Still Flying”
17 Dec 1935 – 17 Dec 2025
Pictorial Tribute
Pictorial Tribute
In the fast paced world we live it today; it is refreshing to pay tribute to an airplane, the term obsolete and not reusable may never apply: the legendary Douglas DC-3 /C-47 still linger on. Although it has been over 90 years it has first flown, as many as a 900 examples still survive as wrecks/relics in museums and some even keep hauling passengers and cargo.
This page pays tribute to the different Dakota′s, DC-3s and C-47s from around the world, restored show-birds, nostalgic airliners, VIP transports, tired cargo haulers and decaying hulks from the past and present. According to the latest Air Britain worldwide DC-3 survey as off October 2010, stated there are 164 derelict airframes, 219 stored examples, 336 preserved airframes and 250 active airframes, totalling 991 DC-3s and 9 DC-2s.
(According our own studies from the last few years, the total number of flying (airworthy) DC-3s has dropped down to 172 airframes, January 2022).
In the fast paced world we live it today; it is refreshing to pay tribute to an airplane, the term obsolete and not reusable may never apply: the legendary Douglas DC-3 /C-47 still linger on. Although it has been over 90 years it has first flown, as many as a 900 examples still survive as wrecks/relics in museums and some even keep hauling passengers and cargo.
This page pays tribute to the different Dakota′s, DC-3s and C-47s from around the world, restored show-birds, nostalgic airliners, VIP transports, tired cargo haulers and decaying hulks from the past and present. According to the latest Air Britain worldwide DC-3 survey as off October 2010, stated there are 164 derelict airframes, 219 stored examples, 336 preserved airframes and 250 active airframes, totalling 991 DC-3s and 9 DC-2s.
(According our own studies from the last few years, the total number of flying (airworthy) DC-3s has dropped down to 172 airframes, January 2022).
YEMEN AIRWAYS Corporation DC-3 4W-ABY (c/n 13174) built as a C-47A-20-DK ex USAAF 42-93280, NC91053.
Somali Airlines DC-3 6O-SAB (c/n 20016) build as C-47A-85-DL ex 43-15550, N925/N512GL photographed at
Djibouti – Ambouli airport 1977.
Djibouti – Ambouli airport 1977.
Central Mountain Air Services DC-3 C-FAAM (c/n 9862) Constructed as a C-47A-40-DL by
Douglas at Long Beach ex USAAF 42-24000/RAF FD941, ex N9993F, and Austin Airways.
Douglas at Long Beach ex USAAF 42-24000/RAF FD941, ex N9993F, and Austin Airways.
Austin Airways Ltd DC-3 CF-NAO ( c/n 12332) Constructed as a C-47A-5-DK by Douglas at Oklahoma City
ex USAAF 42-92522. ex RAF KG333, G-AIOF, SX-BBB, N3339/N12CA in Canada Nordair.
ex USAAF 42-92522. ex RAF KG333, G-AIOF, SX-BBB, N3339/N12CA in Canada Nordair.
Austin Airways DC-3 C-GNNA (c/n 12483) built as a C-47A-10-DK delivered as 42-92658, to RAF as KG448 later RCAF 993 and 12964.
Laurentian Air Services Ltd DC-3 CF-POX (c/n 20875) built as C-47B-1-DL delivered as 43-16409 USAAF, ex F-BTDG.
Operating as Queen Charlotte Airlines damaged beyond repair during landing at Port Hardy BC Canada. 23 June 1957.
A/c rebuilt DC-3C N8059P and later converted to a Basler BT-67 for the Colombian AF PNC-0213.
Operating as Queen Charlotte Airlines damaged beyond repair during landing at Port Hardy BC Canada. 23 June 1957.
A/c rebuilt DC-3C N8059P and later converted to a Basler BT-67 for the Colombian AF PNC-0213.
SATENA C-47 FAC-1124 (c/n 15330/26775) built as C-47B-15-DK and delivered as 43-49514 USAAF. She was photographed at Bogota International Colombia in a late afternoon sun. (ps some confusing about her ID remain in the Air Britain DC-3 book).
Fuerza Aerea Panamena FAP-201 C-47 acc to the AIR Britain DC-3 bible this a/c is the same as HP-291 & HP-11, no ID is given in the book.
(ps: there is a suggestion that FAP 201 became N4693U and for awhile was a gate guard at Nassau airport Bahamas..?).
(ps: there is a suggestion that FAP 201 became N4693U and for awhile was a gate guard at Nassau airport Bahamas..?).
Eastern Airways DC-3 G-AMPO (c/n 16437) Constructed as a C-47B-30-DK by Douglas at Oklahoma City ex USAAF 44-76853,
RAF KN566, later with Polaris Air transport and Intra Jersey.
RAF KN566, later with Polaris Air transport and Intra Jersey.
Perle Airways DC-3 HH-EBA (c/n 14996) Constructed as a C-47B-10-DK by Douglas at Oklahoma City to USAAF 43-49180
later with RCAF KK102 and 12901 as model CC-129, ex Ilford-Riveron Airways C-FBKQ.
later with RCAF KK102 and 12901 as model CC-129, ex Ilford-Riveron Airways C-FBKQ.
Servicios Aereos Petroleros – Colombia DC-3 HK-3176 (c/n 19606) Constructed as a C-47A-80-DL by Douglas at Long Beach,
California as USAAF 43-15140 later with Illinois Air Guard 0-15140 and later with the FAC 1122 and to Alicol.
California as USAAF 43-15140 later with Illinois Air Guard 0-15140 and later with the FAC 1122 and to Alicol.
Basler Airlines DC-3 N792G (c/n 6314) constructed as DC-3-454 converted C-49J USAAF 43-1973. ex NC44792 and N792G.
ow on display at the New England Air Museum Windsor Locks CT in Eastern colors.
ow on display at the New England Air Museum Windsor Locks CT in Eastern colors.
British Caribbean Airways Cargo DC-3 N8666 (c/n 14512) aka ‘Tortola’ was built as a C-47B-5-DK USAAF 43-48696 and
re-designated as a R4D-6 USN 50740) and later conv to a C-47J.
re-designated as a R4D-6 USN 50740) and later conv to a C-47J.
Moormanair Holland DC-3 PH-MOA (c/n 16605/33353) built as C-47B-35-DK delivered as 44-77021 USAF and
later to RAF as KN656. ex N3179Q Weltrade Inc.
later to RAF as KN656. ex N3179Q Weltrade Inc.
Ministerio de Comunicaciones DC-3 YV-O-MC2 (c/n 4234) constructed as a C-47-DL by Douglas at Long Beach, California to
USAAF 41-7747. ex YV-MC-1, YV-O-BYS. (Aircraft was derelict at Caracas by mid 1980s).
USAAF 41-7747. ex YV-MC-1, YV-O-BYS. (Aircraft was derelict at Caracas by mid 1980s).
MOUNT COOK AIRLINES DC-3 ZK-BEU (c/n 13099) built as a C-47A-20-DK for USAAF 42-93212, seen in the
standard livery at Christchurch airport circa 1976. It was converted to a DC3-C “Skyliner” in July 1974.
standard livery at Christchurch airport circa 1976. It was converted to a DC3-C “Skyliner” in July 1974.
Credit: Douglas logo’s and production factory logo’s by Arthur Pearcy "Douglas DC-3 Survivors" Motor books International – Aston Publication Volume 1-2 (1987 and 1988) and Sixty Glorious Years 1995 Airlife Publishing Ltd. Aircraft reference and data: DC-3 history and aircraft date from2006 Air Britain, The Douglas DC-1/DC-2/DC-3 "The First 70 Years" and the 2011 75 Years Celebration Edition + 1996 The Legacy of the DC-3 by Henry Holden. All pictures from Chris Mak slide collection.
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