Douglas C-47 (oz1176)

About this Plan

Douglas C-47 military (or DC-3 civil version). 1/24 sale control line, twin transport model.

Quote: Build your own Douglas C-47. By Walt Musciano.

No other airplane has ever made more flights, carried more people or lasted so long as the world-famous and never-to-be-forgotten Douglas DC-3, or military C-47. When President Eisenhower named the four weapons that, in his opinion, won World War II, the C-47 was among them.

Developed from the earlier and smaller DC-2, in 1935, the DC-3 was handling 93 percent of all the world's air travel by 1939. The commercial DC-3 is credited with bringing standardization to the airlines which accounted for much of the growth of air transportation. C. R. Smith, president of American Airlines, claims that the DC-3 was the first airplane to be able to make money just by hauling passengers.

The 10,691 commercial and military versions built varied in weight from 23,624 lbs. to 34,162 lbs., in speed from 206 mph to 230 mph, and in power from a total of 1,800 hp to 2,400 hp. Operating best at levels between 10,000 and 14,000 feet, this 'work horse' could easily climb to 20,000 feet.

With the advent of WW II the DC-3 was given many military duties. It hauled gliders and carried paratroopers over every front, it dropped food and ammunition to surrounded troops, it ferried supplies to the various battlefronts. Carrying important military personnel as well as U.S.O. entertainers and mail were among this plane's varied duties.

The DC-3 bore numerous military designations. Christened the R4D by the Navy and Marines, the DC-3 was called C-41a, C-47A to D, C-48 to C-48C, C-49 to C-49K, C-50 to C-50D, C-51, C-52 to C-52C, C-53 to C-53D, and C-1I7A by the A.A.F. and the Air Force. Those aircraft fitted for paratroopers were called 'Skytroopers.'

Before we describe our 1/2 in to 1 ft scale control line model of this famous plane we would like to thank 'Red' Rehfield and Don Black of Douglas Air- craft Company for their kind cooperation that made this model possible..."

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