Brief History
First flight by the prototype was made from Clover Field (now Santa Monica) at 3pm on 17th December 1935, and 32nd anniversary of the Wright brothers' first flight.
For half a century the Douglas C-47 and its numerous derivatives has remained the most versatile aviation workhorse the world has ever known, and can arguably claim the title of World's Greatest Aircraft. Born in brassy years of the mid-1930s, the DC-3 became the world's standard airliner, before donning warpaint as the world's standard military transport. Both these and other roles have continued unabated through to current times.
Restoring the Aircraft
The example under restoration in the Museum was built in 1944 and served with theUSAF for 10 years. This aircraft was donated to the Museum by National Tourism Organisation Malta on 26th April 1996, after having been in storage at the Fire Fighting School Hal Far for the past 10 years.
Recently Malta Aviation Museum acquired another DC3 from Medavia of Safi (Pictured Below). Currently this aircraft is stored in the open air display area of Malta Aviation Museum until sufficient funds are collected to erect a large Bellman Hangar adjacent to the Air Battle of Malta Memorial Hangar.
Click here to view photographs of the massive 9 hour process to transfer the Museum's second DC3 from Luqa Airport to Ta'Qali on the roads during night time
Listen to DC3 taking off
Technical Specification
|
Dimensions
|
|
Performance
|
| Span |
95
feet 6 inches |
Max.
Speed at Sea level |
227
mph |
| Length |
63 feet 9 inches |
Initial climb
rate |
940 ft/min |
| Height |
17 feet |
Ceiling |
24,000
feet |
| Wing
Area |
987 square feet |
Range |
1,600 miles |
|
Power Plant
|
Weights
|
Type
|
Two
1,200-hp Pratt & Whitney
R-1830-92 radial piston engines |
Empty |
18,200
lb |
| Max. take-off |
26,000 lb |
| Cylinders |
14 |
|
| Cooling |
Air |
|
Armament &
Equipment
|
| Small
arms from window grommets |
| Stores
load |
8,000 to 10,000
lb |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
