The Douglas C-47 Skytrain is a military development of the civilian DC-3 aircraft. It was a military transport used widely by the Allies of World War II and had been in service with different military operators for several years.
Table of Contents
- Specifications
- Photo Gallery
- Description
- Manufacturer:
- Douglas Aircraft Co.
- Country:
- United States
- Manufactured:
- 1940 to: 1945
- ICAO:
- C47
- Price:
- Performance
- Weights
- Dimensions
- Avionics:
- Engine:
- 2x Pratt & Whitney R-1830-90C Twin Wasp
Piston - Power:
- 1,200 horsepower
- Max Cruise Speed:
- 200 knots
370 Km/h - Approach Speed (Vref):
- Travel range:
- 1,800 Nautical Miles
3,334 Kilometers - Fuel Economy:
- Service Ceiling:
- 24,000 feet
- Rate of Climb:
- 1130 feet / minute
5.74metre / second - Take Off Distance:
- Landing Distance:
- Max Take Off Weight:
- 14,061 Kg
30,999 lbs - Max Landing Weight:
- 12,227 Kg
26,956 lbs - Max Payload:
- 2,721 Kg
5,999 lbs - Fuel Tank Capacity:
- 882 gallon
3,339 litre - Baggage Volume:
- Seats - Economy / General:
- 32 seats
- Seats - Business Class:
- Seats - First Class:
- Cabin Height:
- 1.5 metre - 4.92 feet
- Cabin Width:
- 1.7 metre - 5.58 feet
- Cabin Length:
- 9.1 metre - 29.86 feet
- Exterior Length:
- 19.4 metre - 63.65 feet
- Tail height:
- 4.1 metre - 13.45 feet
- Fuselage Diameter:
- 2 metre - 6.56 feet
- Wing Span / Rotor Diameter:
- 29.1 metre - 95.47 feet
- Wing Tips:
- No Winglets
click / tap to open full screen gallery
Douglas C-47-DL 'Skytrain' - ‘315087-9X P’ landing.
credit: Alan Wilson
Douglas C-47-DL 'Skytrain' - ‘315087-9X P’ landing.
credit: Alan Wilson
Douglas C-47A Skytrain.
credit: Eric Denison
Douglas C-47A Skytrain.
credit: Eric Denison
'C-GDAK' Douglas DC-3-G202A/ C-47 Dakota - CWHM
credit: Reinhard Zinabold
'C-GDAK' Douglas DC-3-G202A/ C-47 Dakota - CWHM
credit: Reinhard Zinabold
Interior view of a Douglas C-47 Skytrain.
credit: Air Force Historical Research Agency
Interior view of a Douglas C-47 Skytrain.
United States Air Force C-47A 'Skytrain'
credit: Adrian Pingstone
United States Air Force C-47A 'Skytrain'
credit: Adrian Pingstone
The Douglas C-47 Dakota of the BBMF flying.
credit: Robert Sullivan
The Douglas C-47 Dakota of the BBMF flying.
credit: Robert Sullivan
Douglas C-47 'Skytrains' -12th Air Force Troop Carrier Wing
credit: Robert Sullivan
Douglas C-47 'Skytrains' -12th Air Force Troop Carrier Wing
credit: Robert Sullivan
The Douglas C-47 Dakota of the BBMF.
credit: Robert Sullivan
The Douglas C-47 Dakota of the BBMF.
credit: Robert Sullivan
Douglas C-47A Skytrain
credit: Eric Denison
Douglas C-47A Skytrain
credit: Eric Denison
'C-GDAK' Douglas DC-3-G202A / C-47 Dakota
credit: Reinhard Zinabold
'C-GDAK' Douglas DC-3-G202A / C-47 Dakota
credit: Reinhard Zinabold
Douglas C-47-DL 'Skytrain'- ‘315087/9X-P’
credit: Alan Wilson
Douglas C-47-DL 'Skytrain'- ‘315087/9X-P’
credit: Alan Wilson
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Blog Mentions
Blog posts that mention the Douglas C-47 Skytrain:
- How Airplanes Were Used in World War II
The C-47 was adapted from the twin-engine civilian DC-3 but differed in various modifications such as being configured with a large cargo door incorporating a hoist, reinforced floor for weighty loads, and more powerful engines.
On December 23, 1941, the aircraft conducted its maiden flight. In January 1942, the production of C-47 began. In 1945, the production ended with a total of more than 10,000 aircraft built. Throughout the Second World War, the military forces of different countries employed the C-47 and converted DC-3s to carry heavy cargo, transport troops, and as an air ambulance.
Several variants were built for different purposes such as for search and rescue (SC-47), for photographic reconnaissance and electronic intelligence missions (RC-47), for VIP transport (VC-47), for gunships, for test roles, and a few more versions for different missions around the world.
The C-47B version was powered by two Pratt and Whitney R-1830-90C Twin Wasp engines. It is a two-row, fourteen-cylinder, air-cooled, radial type with seven cylinders on a row. Each engine produces a maximum thrust of 1,200 horsepower. It is also equipped with three-bladed constant-speed propellers.
The aircraft had a maximum speed of 195 knots at 10,000 feet, a range of 1,400 nautical miles, and a ferry range of 3,100 nautical miles. The service ceiling is 26,400 feet and the rate of climb is 1,130 feet per minute. The maximum takeoff and landing weights are 14,061 kg and 12,227 kg respectively.
It has an empty weight of 8,226 kg, a gross weight of 11,793 kg, and a maximum payload of 2,721 kg. The fuel capacity is 882 gallons. The C-47B has a wingspan of 29.1 meters, a wing area of 91.7 square meters, and a wheelbase of 10.5 meters.
The exterior length is 19.4 meters, the exterior height is 5.18 meters, the tail height is 4.1 meters, and the fuselage diameter is 2 meters. It could accommodate four crew members including the pilot, co-pilot, navigator, and radio operator, and up to twenty-eight troops.
All Douglas Aircraft Co. Aircraft
- Douglas A-1 Skyraider |
- Douglas A-1 Skyraider |
- Douglas A-26 Invader |
- Douglas A-3 Skywarrior |
- Douglas A-4 Skyhawk |
- Douglas AC-47 Spooky |
- Douglas B-66 Destroyer |
- Douglas C-124 Globemaster II |
- Douglas C-133 Cargomaster |
- Douglas C-47 Skytrain |
- Douglas C-54 Skymaster |
- Douglas C-74 Globemaster |
- Douglas DC-1 |
- Douglas DC-2 |
- Douglas DC-3 |
- Douglas DC-4 |
- Douglas DC-6 |
- Douglas DC-7 |
- Douglas DC-8 |
- Douglas DC-8-51 |
- Douglas DC-8-53 |
- Douglas DC-8-61 |
- Douglas DC-8-62 |
- Douglas DC-8-63 |
- Douglas F3D Skyknight |
- Douglas F4D Skyray |
- Douglas SBD Dauntless |
- McDonnell Douglas DC-9-10 |