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).
Aerolineas de Guatemala Aviateca DC-3/C-47 TG-AKA,USAF 42-93418, RAF KG956 to Aviateca as LG-AKA, later TG-AKA.
Crashed on a cargo flight at Flores - Santa Elena in 1977 when a tyre burst on touchdown.
Crashed on a cargo flight at Flores - Santa Elena in 1977 when a tyre burst on touchdown.
Air Caribbean Douglas DC-3C N8661 awaiting its passengers at the gate, San Juan airport Puerto Rico.
Originally delivered to the USAAF as a Douglas C-53 Skytrooper,
but later converted to DC-3C with rear passenger door.
Originally delivered to the USAAF as a Douglas C-53 Skytrooper,
but later converted to DC-3C with rear passenger door.
AEROVIAS QUISQUEYANA Douglas DC-3(C-49) HI-221 Santo Domingo DR (1978).
Aeronica Douglas DC-3 YN-BVK photographed at Managua Nicaragua early 1990s.
AIR CREEBEC INC Douglas DC-3/C-47A C-FBJE, crashed in Pikangikum Lake,
Ontario Canada on approach and in bad weather. November 1988.
Ontario Canada on approach and in bad weather. November 1988.
Eldorado – NTCL Douglas DC-3 CF-CUW & CF-OVW photographed on a cold winter’s day at Edmonton municipal airport Alberta Canada.
Servicio Aereo de Honduras, S.A. Douglas DC-3/C-47A HR-SHC, later to Servivensa as YV-769C (Venezuela).
Central Mountain Air – CMA Douglas C-47B Dakota Mk.4 C-FQNF (ex First Air / Bradley Air Services),
crashed in Thudate Lake, BC April 1991.
crashed in Thudate Lake, BC April 1991.
PEM-AIR early model Douglas DC-3-277 C-FGLA (ex Ozark Airlines N131D converted to DC-3A).
COPA PANAMA - Compañía Panameña de Aviación Douglas DC-3 HP-86 (6144) ex Panam NC22434, flew onwards in Colombia as HK-3286.
AEROPOSTAL Douglas DC-3/C-47A YV-12C (ex YC-C-AZK) mid 1970s later with Rutaca Airlines used for scenic flights to Angel Falls as YV-226C.
Faucett Perú / Compañía de Aviación Faucett Douglas DC-3/C47 OB-R-676 ex Aero American Corp Miami N87657 early 60s and wfu Lima.
AVENSA DC-3/C-47 YV-C-AVL later to Rutaca as YV-214C and withdrawn from use at Ciudad Bolivar Venezuela by 1979.
AEROVIAS CARIARI S.A. - ACASA Douglas DC-3/C-47 TI-ACB. Crashed into the side of the Cerro Alto Santa Rosa,
near the Irazú Volcano, Costa Rica at an altitude of about 2300m, flying for Sansa as TI-SAA, April 1984.
near the Irazú Volcano, Costa Rica at an altitude of about 2300m, flying for Sansa as TI-SAA, April 1984.
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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