DC-3 C-47 on ebay
 

Anyone wanna go halves with me? :grin:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/DC-3-C-47-Unbeleviable-Deal-3RD-Price-reducation_W0QQitemZ250244737479QQihZ015QQcategoryZ63678QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Great cargo plane for small loads from South America.

One load of 100 lb. ought to do it.

Might need some extra fuel tanks.............:D


It is a good looking airplane..........I wouldn't want to maintain it.........:o

I'd do it in a heart beat....if I only had the cash.

X2!!

The engines are almost done though... How easy is it to get replacements these days?

I did hear that there was a turboprop conversion for the ole girl though...

Plenty of pick-n-pulls in the airplane graveyard....

I always had kind of a dream of running a small cargo service with a DC-3. Cool plane but like Brian said, I'd hate to have to pay for maintenance. Especially on those engines. Did you see the question about time limits? 45-50k for overhauls... Is that for each one!?!?!

Basler Turbo in Oshkosh does a Turboprop conversion, but it is a BIG deal, lots more than just hanging different engines on it... but they do go then!

I once figured the fuel costs for takeoff and climb to altitude for one of our KC-135E tankers, and I think it ran in the neighborhood of $35-40K. That's just to get up to cruising altitude. I may be way off, but even if you err on the side of caution, and say it's half that -- YIKES!

How much fuel is that?

That's what I'm trying to remember. A lot, though! I sent an email to one of the pilots to ask what a typical takeoff, with typical fuel and cargo load, would be. When I figured it, I think I was counting a pretty heavy load with cargo and passengers. It would be less for a local sortie. I should know this stuff, but my brain's on Monday Morning time right now.

Our esteemed pilot and IL Air National Guard Marathon Team leader just sent me a reply:

"I believe the cost per hour of a tanker is approximately $5000. That
includes everything, and may be higher now due to fuel costs.

However, for a 130k fuel load, 160k airplane, we would burn about 5-6000lbs
of fuel. That is approx. 850-900 gallons, at about $3/ gallon."

So I was a little off. I think my 40K was figuring a full-throttle takeoff (the most fun, of course) with a heavier load (coming back from Guam or Hawaii).

What are the buckets attached with tube to the trays under the engine? Just there to catch dripping engine oil?

I would guess so. My brother is director of an air museum, and they have a retired KC-97 that has been sitting for 20+ years and it STILL drips oil. :grin:

From the Q & A:

Q: I worked for Piedmont for 30 years and have sent this page to some of the PAI pilots who flew this a/c. There is a book of DC3 accidents which contains this story: "...one of the interesting investigations included in this massive digital document is the factual tale of Mr. Oren A. Pruitt, a passenger who fell to his death through the main cabin door on Piedmont Airlines DC-3 N45V. While cruising at an altitude of 6,500 feet, Mr. Pruitt had an unexpected surprise as he waited for the lavatory to become available. After finding the primary lavatory occupied, Mr. Pruitt, who was on his honeymoon and had been drinking, apparently attempted to use the alternative lavatory. Witness state they heard a sudden rush of wind after Mr. Pruitt opened the main cabin door and observed Mr. Pruitt attempting to hold on to the door frame as he fell out of the plane to his death." This happened somewhere over the Shenandoah Valley. Doors were modified after that to not be accidentally opened.

A: Thanks for the info. I knew of this story about Mr. Pruitt. It just so happens that N45V is this airplane. She has a lot of history! Thanks CJ