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5050 Santa Fe Drive • Atwater, California • 95301
Douglas C-47A Skytrain
MUSEUM HOURS
May 1- October 31
9:00am - 5:00pm
November 1 - April 30
10:00am - 4:00pm
The museum is open
daily year round,
except for the
following days:
New Year's Day,
Easter,
Thanksgiving and
Christmas Day.
The Skytrain, Dakota (Great Britan, Canada and Commonwealth countries), and the Gooney Bird. This aircraft has many names and the well-deserved reputation of being one of the greatest airplanes ever built. The C-47 is the military version of the famed DC-3 airliner, which revolutionized the civilian aviation industry. Likewise, its military sister, the C-47, has had a similar distinguished career. Combined production of the DC-3, DST and C-47 plus other variants totaled 10,654. The last C-47 left Air Force service in 1975.
Pressed into service in World War II, it became the major transport for the allies. It also carried cargo, dropped paratroops and served as a glider tow vehicle in support of major airborne operations such as D-Day and Operation Market Garden. Many of them served with the RAF as Dakotas.
C-47s played a major role in the Berlin Airlift and in Korea. Others were sold to the civilian market and, from these aircraft, many an airline was born. The C-47 saw service well into the Vietnam Conflict era. A gunship version , code named "Puff the Magic Dragon", supported ground troops until being replaced by AC-130 Spectre gun ships.
Every branch of the U.S military and all the major allied powers flew it. The U.S. Navy version was the R4D. The British and the Australians designated it the Dakota (a clever acronym composed of the letters DACoTA for Douglas Aircraft Company Transport Aircraft). The aircraft operated from every continent in the world and participated in every major battle. By the end of World War II, more than 10,000 had been built. For all of its official and unofficial names, it came to be known universally as the "Gooney Bird." General Dwight D. Eisenhower, Supreme Commander of Allied Forces in Europe, termed it one of the most vital pieces of military equipment used in winning the war.
The longest serving Aircraft in the RCAF/CF, the "Dak" entered service in 1943 and some continued to fly until January, 1990. In June, 1970 the Dakotas were redesignated as CC-129 and the remaining fleet of 71 was reserialled causing the Aircraft originally delivered as 42-23971, known to the RCAF as 659 suddenly became 12940 (or just 940). The Dakota has served the Canadian Air Force from the Second World War until its retirement in 1989. In Canadian service, the "Dak" was used for transportation of troops and supplies, navigation training, search-and-rescue and training CF-104 pilots to use the CF-104's radar.
Specifications
Country of Origin: United States
Manufacturer: Douglas Aircraft Corporation
Role/Function: Cargo/Transport
Serial Number: 43-15977
Model Number/Mk. #: DC-3
Crew: 3 + 2 cabin crew and 27 troops or 10,000 lbs. cargo
Power Plant: 2 - 1,200 hp Pratt & Whitney R-1830-90 radial engines.
Maximum Speed: 230 mph.
Cruising Speed: 160 mph.
Service Ceiling: 24,000 ft.
Range: 3,800 mi. (Maximum Range according to Boeing)
Weights: Empty: 26,000 lbs. Maximum: 31,000 lbs.
Wing Span: 95 ft. 6 in.
Length: 63 ft. 9 in.
Height: 17 ft.
Wing Area: 987 ft² (91.70 m²)
Armament: None.
Cost: n/a
# Built: 10,654 (all variants)
# in Current Service: Retired from military service, but still in active civillian service worldwide.
The aircraft on display at Castle Air Museum saw military service from 1944 to 1946, where it primarily flew transport duties in the Caribbean area. It later served as an airways inspection aircraft for the FAA, flight checking radio navigation facilities and instrument landing systems.