My childhood witnessed slow and lazy flying DC3s spiced with majestic and mesmering sound of engines, flying past at low altitude above my house was really an experience.  Inspired by those memories, I assembled a C-47 display model in D-Day livery.

If any of the member ever clicked pictures of a real Dakota, I will appreciate if they can share it here.  I am sharing one from IAF Museum, Palam.

Thanks

Another close-up of legend that laid the foundation for modern aviation.

First aircraft to have largest circular fuselage of its time.  Again a first timer to introduce sleepers on board for American Airlines with 14 sleepers.

At one point of time in 1944, one C47 produced every 34 minutes during WW2.

Today, even after more than 80 years, a large number still serve some remote locations in Latin America on regular schedules.

If I am not wrong, DC3 was first aircraft to use engine heat to warm the food on-board.

If i am not wrong, Old DC-3 fuselages are being rebuilt as Bassler BT-67s. The are putting TurboProp engines and glass cockpits in the rebuilt fuselages.
These planes are not anywhere near retirement. Incredibly rugged Aircraft capable of almost anything.....

It sounds illogic and beyond the imagination of anyone.  In 1959, a USAF DC3 ran out of fuel in mid air.  Both pilots bailed out safely while flying in Missouri.  The DC3 glided safely without any pilot in a perfect glide path. Ready for next take-off.  Such is the reliability of DC3.

One of the companies has started refurbishing old DC3 and installing turboprop engines increasing speed and ceiling service.

Thats what i was talking about. The Bassler BT-67.
Completely stripped and rebuilt DC-3s....

Hi,

I would like to visit the IAF Museum, Palam.


Can you guide me how to get around there. Im in Noida sector 127 and have access to metro which drops at IGI, terminal 1.

regds

To visit AF Museum, take the route to Palam Village. Before the flyover (crossing the Palam railway line) you will see the board. There is no fees and it's open most working days.
But last I visited I do not remember seeing the DC 3 in the visitors area. There are some aircraft like the Packet that are parked in the technical area and not open to public, may be the DC 3 is in that area.
Although most of the aircraft on display are poorly maintained and even paint/markings etc is pathetically done. Some precious vintage aircraft are rotting in the open.

Dreamliner, when did you photograph the DC3 there?   

I think they moved the DC-3.
Last time, it was not there.
There is however, one DC-3 sitting at IGI Airport without engines and windows......

@flyingboxcar

This DC 3 was placed in the museum  last year.   I clicked this picture in January 2018.  It is parked by the side of AN12 and Boxcar.

In fact, IAF has acquired another DC3 sometime around April 2018 which was refurbished in UK and it is live and airworthy.

Condition of historic legend B24 Liberator at the museum is really bad.  Parked in open.  All windows are painted silver.

B24s served IAF till 1968.  After that, one of the B24s abandoned by IAF for almost 13 years was purchased by a British collector who further sold it to  Collings Foundation, USA.  They refurbished and painted it in USAF livery.  It flies perfectly and it is also an active  participant at air shows in USA.  They are flying a B24 which was once abandoned by India for years and served/belonged to Indian Air Force heritage.

Here is a B-24 Liberator.  Once a trustworthy bomber with longest range during WWII.

Perhaps, the only piece left in India.  

Left in open at the mercy of weather god.  Counting leftover years fighting cruel winters, harsh summers, sometimes incessant rain and dusty storms of Delhi.

It will be nice if authorities take a good care of it and make efforts to revive this four engined beauty as it used to be in its glorious years.  Otherwise, coming generation will see it only in pictures or old vedeos.

Top gunner's canopy missing.  Cockpit windows and side windows of fuselage are all painted silver.

Also, a Packet C-119 with yellow and red paint job on nose cone.  C-119 has a jet engine on top of the fuselage which was mainly used for JATO (Jet Assisted Take Off) for short run and quick airborne purpose.

I used to read the Commando comics , and wow , there were such wonderful stories of the DC3 and B24 Liberator, and with such fantastic line diagram illustrations too. Once i have seen a DC 3 cockpit without wings and tailplane lying at the Sainik School in Rowriah air force base in Jorhat, Assam, Some 20 years ago.

In  30s and 40s, DC-3 became first choice of airlines worldover.  During its “youth years”, DC-3 carried 90 percent of passenger traffic.

Baba Mehar Singh, later Air Commodore of Indian Air Force landed first DC3 at world’s highest airfield, Leh, on 24th May 1948.

Leh is/was not the world's highest airfield FYI.

Leh was highest airfield during 1948 but not now.

Hello all,

Visited the IAF museum on Sunday, but was closed for maintenance and will remain till 7th oct.

It was closer from Sadar Bazar cantonment metro.(magenta line)

Hope to visit after it re-opens.
regds

DC-3 of Eastern Air Lines at Smithsonian, Washington DC.  It seems to have been perfectly preserved.  In late 80s, visitors had access to its cockpit.  Cockpit had a glass barrier.  It seems that Americans have preserved their aviation heritage with great care.  

A visit to this museum is treat to every visitor.

Last of the DC-3 rolled out of assembly line in 1946.