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Douglas DC3 (C47 Dakota)
World's Most Famous Transport Aircraft- from 1935 VH-MMD was delivered to the USAAF as C-47B-35-DK (Serial Number 44-76969) on the 15th of May, 1945. On the 31st of May, 1945 it became RAAF A65-109. Over the years she flew to Malaya, Darwin, Baucau and Dili. The aircraft was listed for disposal from the RAAF on the 16th of June, 1958 and sold to Commercial Aviation Pty Limited as a DC-3C-S1c3g named "RMA Durack" As VH-MMD the aircraft flew a number of years for MacRobertson Miller Airlines before heading for New Guinea in Ansett livery (AAOPNG) and Air Niugini as P2-MMD and P2-ANU. On the 12th of August, 1977 the aircraft was purchased by Travmar Holdings, operating as VH-MMD until 1981 when Travmar ceased trading. In 1982 it was sold to Setair, Essendon for spares, along with VH-SBO (Norman Gunstonšs former DC-3). The DC-3 was then acquired by the Australian War Memorial who swapped it with the Powerhouse Museum (then the Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences) for a Hawker Sea Fury. It was donated to the Australian Aviation Museum in 1999. Wingspan: 28.96 metres, length 19.66 metres, height 5.17 metres, typical cruising speed 266 km/h, ceiling 21,900 feet (with passengers, 10,000 feet as the aircraft is not pressurised). Powered by two 1,000 hp Curtiss-Wright R-1820-G2 Cyclone single row 9 cylinder radials, or 1,200 hp Pratt & Whitney R-1830-92 twin Wasp two-row 14 cylinder radials. Donated by the Powerhouse Museum, Sydney |
