The SAAF Forum

Hi Brent, found this in the cabinet and noticed the day glo color band over the wing and at the tip of the elevator. See 6825 third from the bottom. The propeller center also look more like a silver color and the fin antenna is not visible on the roof. I added your profile picture of 6825 for reference.

Cheers
Rickus

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There's no such thing as a good or bad gun. A gun in the hands of a bad man is a very dangerous thing. A gun in the hands of a good person is no danger to anyone except the bad guy.

Great detailed observations Rickus

The SAAF C-47 profiles are all actually in the process of being re-done ... thanks for this scan

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Brent Best

Is 6825 really a DC-3 not a C-47?
AFAIK the easiest way to tell is by the size of the door - C-47's are bigger.

Wasn't aware there was any difference at all, just the designation changed for no apparent reason...

DC-3 was the civilian version, C-47 was military production.

All Dakotas in SAAF service were C-47s (of various versions).

But was there any difference in the aircraft? Apart from the lack of seats I guess...

The size of the door is one difference but there are others. Stronger floor structures, different engines, etc. - the door size (passenger versus cargo door) is just the easiest difference to see in photos.

See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Douglas_DC-3_family_variants

Well the wiki tells us this:



Numerous modifications which aren't actually listed. So other than quoting that line, does anyone know what the actual differences between the original DC-3 and the original C-47 were? Were they actually numerous, or does this only refer to the various derivative versions?

The C-47 had freight doors - the most visible difference. As I recall the undercarriage was also much stronger (to bear the added weight) and below the rudder the civilian version of the fuselage tapered to a point whereas the military version was cut off, as it where, as can be seen in your profile.
I think DC-3 production ended before WW2 and all subsequent examples were C-47s. Technically, only C-47s made for the British should be referred to as Dakotas - USAAF examples were officially called Skytrains and the US Navy ones the R4D (never mind the Russian and Japanese models!)

Officially the B-36 was never called Peacemaker, but it's kinda stuck...


And was it the Russians that were kind enough to stick a (not particularly effective, iirc) gun turret in the roof?

Thanks for pointing it out guys. One is never too old to learn. I’ll definitely think twice before I refer to the Dak as a DC-3 again.

_________________
There's no such thing as a good or bad gun. A gun in the hands of a bad man is a very dangerous thing. A gun in the hands of a good person is no danger to anyone except the bad guy.

The DC-3 is the civillian number as given to it by Douglas.

The DC-3 civillian version in military goes by these numbers

C-41A - DC-3A intial military version
C-48 - DC-3A taken from United Air Lines one only
C-48A - DC-3A taken over on production line 3 aircraft
C-48B - DC-3 16 impressed aircraft
C-48C - DC-3A taken from Pan American
C-49 - DC-3 taken from TWA 6 aircraft
C-49A - DC-3 one taken from Delta on production line
C-49B - DC-3 taken from Eastern
C-49C - DC-3 taken from Delta
C-49D - DC-3 taken from Eastern
C-49E - 22 impressed
C-49F - 9 impressed
C-49G - 8 impressed
C-49H - 19 impressed
C-49J - 34 DC-3 taken over on production line
C-49K - 23 DC-3 taken over on line
C-50 - 4 DC-3
C-50A - 2 DC-3
C-50B - 3 DC-3 from Baniff
C-50C - DC-3 from Central
C-50D - 4 x DC-3 from Penn Central
C-51 - 1 DC-3 from Canadian Colonial
C-52 - 1 DC-3A from United
C-52A - 1 DC-3
C-52A - 2 DC-3A
C-52C - 1 DC-3A
C-52D - 1 impressed
C-68 - 2 impressed
C-84 - 4 impressed

Military Production
C-47 Skytrain (Dakota)
Intial military production with a 6 inch greater span, revised tankage, R-1830-92 radials, small astrodome and accomadation for 6,000lbs of freight or 28 paratroopers.

The SAAF during WWII obtained C-47A and C-47B, main difference is the engines.

then a whole range down to EC-47Q

C-53 Skytrooper
Dedicated troop transport with no cargo/fright door 28 seats and a glider tow cleat

has a small number of variants 53, 53A, 53B, 53C, and 53D
C-117A - generally similar to the C-47B

Hi Kremlin
Have you done 6840 Gooney Bird?

I wanted to do a quick "Gooney Bird" re-colour paint ... however the original C47-TP drawings from 2007 did not impress me. So I started on Thursday with a brand new 10500 pixel TP Dak as a tribute to crew & a/c.

Should be finished in the week

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Brent Best

Would it be possible to also get a top and bottom view?