C-47 Skytrain transport aircraft the military version of the Douglas DC-3

When pressed into military use the DC-3 Dakota became redesignated the C-47 Skytrain (or R4D in the US Navy). The aircraft was the mainstay aerial transport for the British and American forces during ww2. Uses included troop transport, glider towing and use as a general purpose freighter.

The original Douglas DC-3 first flew on 17th December 1935. This all metal twin engine monoplane transport heralded a new era in aviation, bringing to the world a level of reliability and all round capability that had never been seen before.

Engines used on Dakota aircraft varied but many aircraft including the military C-47 used R-1830 Twin Wasp 14 cylinder radials. These engines produced 1,200 hp each giving a typical Dakota a top speed of around 229mph and a ceiling of 24,000ft.

The aircraft was quite a large one for it's era, wings on a Dakota span 95.5 feet while the length of the plane is about 63.75 feet. A Spitfire by comparison is dwarfed by the Dakota spanning less than 37ft, while the four engined Lancaster is not much larger with a span of 102 feet.
Military production of C-47 transports and variants ended in August 1945. A total of around 10,047 Dakotas had been produced up to this time.
The aircraft was operated by the U.S. forces, the British and the Russians. In the case of the Russians they both received many C-47 transports under lend-lease as well as building there own under licence. The Licence built Russian Dakota was known as the Lisunov LI-2. Japan also built a version of the Dakota.

C-47 aircraft were the major type used for carrying troops into Arnhem for operation Market Garden (the infamous bridge to far). Many were used to tow large cheaply produced troop carrying gliders such as the Waco CG-4. They were also used heavily during the D-Day landings.

Max intended design load carrying capacity of a typical C-47 is about 7,500Ib, (28 soldiers if used as a troop transport) , the aircraft weighs in at around 26,000lbs.

After ww2 for use in Vietnam some Dakotas were converted into aerial gun-ships and redesignated AC-47. These aircraft sprouted several miniguns for ground straffing operations and had the colourful monicas 'Spooky' and 'Puff the Magic Dragon'. This idea has since been taken further with the AC-130 aircraft based on the C-130 Hercules transport.

C47a Skytrain
Engine	2x P&W Twin Wasp R-1830 radials 1,200hp each engine	Top Speed	approx 229mph
Weight	26,000lb	Wingspan	95.5ft
Length	63.75ft	Weps	None
Country	USA	Crew	2