Douglas C-47 Skytrain

A picture of the Douglas C-47 Skytrain

The Douglas C-47 is arguably the most successful aircraft to come out of World War II.  It was designed in 1935 as the DC-3 commercial airliner.  The aircraft was so far ahead of its competitors that over 400 had been built by 1940 when the U.S. Army Air Forces expressed an interest in a militarized cargo and troop transport version.  The main modifications from the DC-3 version are a large cargo door on the left side of the aircraft and a strengthened floor.  More than 9,500 Skytrains were built for all branches of the American military and for export.  Large numbers of C-47s entered civil service after the war and as many as 400 of them were still flying around the world in 2017.

Wingspan

95 ft 6 in.

Length

63 ft 9 in.

Height

17 ft

Weight

26,000 lbs (loaded)

Maximum Speed

230 MPH

Service Ceiling

24,000 ft

Range

1,600 miles

Engines

Two Pratt & Whitney R-1830-92 with 1,200 horsepower each

Crew

4 with 27 passengers

Manufacturer
Douglas

Markings
U.S. Army Air Forces, England, June 6, 1944

Serial Number
41-7723

Designation
C-47

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