Douglas C-47 Skytrain

Douglas C-47 Skytrain
Země	SPOJENÉ STÁTY
Roli	Vojenská dopravní letadla
První let	23. prosince 1941
Postaven	10174

Tá Douglas C-47 Skytrain nebo Dakota (označení RAF) je vojenský transportní letoun vyvinutý z civilního dopravního letadla Douglas DC-3. Během druhé světové války byl hojně využíván Spojenci a zůstává ve službě v první linii u různých vojenských operátorů.

Zdroj: Douglas C-47 Skytrain na Wikipedii

Douglas C-53D Skytrooper Walk Around
Specializovaný transportní letoun C-53 Skytrooper se začal vyrábět v říjnu 1941 v továrně Douglas Aircraft v Santa Monice v Kalifornii. Chyběly mu nákladové dveře, úchyt kladkostroje a zesílená podlaha C-47. Celkem bylo vyrobeno pouze 380 letounů, protože C-47 byl shledán univerzálnějším.
Fotograf	Vladimir Jakubov
Lokalizace	Ústřední muzeum ozbrojených sil
Fotografie	217

Douglas C-53D Skytrooper 001

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Douglas C-53D Skytrooper 009

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C-47 Skytrain/Dakota Walk Around
Fotograf	Neznámé
Lokalizace	Neznámé
Fotografie	45

Douglas C-47 Skytrain Walk Around
Fotograf	Bill Maloney
Lokalizace	Polní HARP Floyda Bennetta
Fotografie	37

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Douglas C-47 Skytrain Walk Around
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Lokalizace	Neznámé
Fotografie	56

Douglas C-47 Skytrain 01

Douglas C-47 Skytrain 02

Douglas C-47 Skytrain 03

Douglas C-47 Skytrain 04

Douglas C-47 Skytrain 05

Douglas C-47 Skytrain 06

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The Legend of the DC-3

Tá Douglas C-47 Skytrain (known as the Dakota in British service) was the military conversion of the revolutionary DC-3 airliner. General Dwight D. Eisenhower famously cited it as one of the four most vital pieces of equipment that won WWII (alongside the Jeep, the Bazooka, and the Atomic Bomb). While the German Ju 52 was a product of the late 1920s, the C-47 was a generation ahead—featuring a sleek, all-metal semi-monocoque design, retractable landing gear, and significantly more power. It was the plane that made reliable global air transport a reality.

Attribute	Technical Specification (C-47A)
Roli	Military Transport / Cargo / Glider Tug
Posádky	3 (Pilot, Co-pilot, Radio Operator)
Kapacita	28 fully equipped paratroopers or 2,722 kg (6,000 lbs) of cargo
Motory	2 × Pratt & Whitney R-1830-92 Twin Wasp radials (1,200 hp each)
Maximum Speed	370 km/h (230 mph) at 8,500 ft
Cruise Speed	260 km/h (160 mph)
Rozmezí	2,575 km (1,600 miles)
Service Ceiling	8,045 meters (26,400 feet)

Design Engineering: Simple, Strong, and Streamlined

The “Gooney Bird” Durability: The C-47 earned its nickname from its albatross-like endurance. Its multi-cellular wing design meant that even if a large portion of the wing was shot away, the internal structure could often still carry the load, allowing “mutilated” planes to limp home.
Military Modifications: To turn a DC-3 into a C-47, Douglas added a large double cargo door on the port side, a reinforced floor to support the weight of Jeeps or 37mm anti-tank guns, and a shortened tail cone for glider-towing shackles.
Astrodome Navigation: Unlike the civilian version, military C-47s featured a small clear bubble (astrodome) on top of the cockpit. This allowed the navigator to use a sextant to plot the plane’s position by the stars during long over-water flights.
Pratt & Whitney Reliability: The R-1830 “Twin Wasp” engines were legendary for their ability to keep running even when damaged or poorly maintained. This reliability was crucial for the treacherous “Hump” flights over the Himalayas.

Operational History: D-Day and Beyond

Operation Overlord: On the night of June 5/6, 1944, over 800 C-47s filled the skies over Normandy, dropping more than 13,000 paratroopers behind enemy lines. This remains the most iconic moment in the aircraft’s history.
“The Hump”: C-47s provided a vital lifeline to China by flying over the Himalayas from India. They braved extreme turbulence, ice, and Japanese fighters to deliver supplies that kept Chinese forces in the war.
Berlin Airlift: After the war, the C-47 (and later the C-54) saved the city of West Berlin during the Soviet blockade. C-47s landed around the clock, delivering food and coal to a starving population every few minutes.
Puff the Magic Dragon: In the Vietnam War, the C-47 was modified into the **AC-47 Spooky** gunship. Armed with three side-firing 7.62mm miniguns, it could saturate a target area with 18,000 rounds per minute, earning it a terrifying reputation among enemy ground forces.