| The DC-3 is the plane that made civilian
transport that made civilian transport a profitable reality, and has
become a legend in its own time. It has many names and designations -
Skytrain, Spooky, Puff the Magic Dragon, DC-3, C-47, R4D, Li-2 and others.
But the name that most pilots know it by is the "Gooney Bird."
And it has played many roles besides being an aerial workhorse to
transport people and cargo. It has been a bomber, fighter, airborne
communications center, amphibian, living quarters, hospital, flying
washing machine, and command post. When some of the more than 10,000
built, and additional hundreds in Japan and Russia, ended their days, they
have been made into a hamburger stand, tea house, mobile home, seaside
cottage, an officers club and even a chicken coop. Many have been put on
static display at more than 200 museums around the world. After more than
sixty years, 1,000 of them are still flying the world's skies. The
DC-3/C-47 has surpassed all other aircraft ever built in faithful service,
dependability and achievement. This is the story of its conception, design
and amazing life in war and peace. |
