Date: Wed, 11 Apr 2001 13:44:12 -0400
From: "Alan Richer/CAM/Lotus" <Alan_Richer@Lotus.com>
Subject: Re: LRO: RE: DC 3's
>>The set on the DC-3 in New England
>OK, I missed this - what DC3 on floats WHERE in New England?
At one time the DC-3 in question was based in Maine, but I couldn't
say for sure that's where it is now. It was created several years
ago by mating the only remaining set
of C-47 amphibious floats made by EDO during WWII to a
civilian DC-3, which is for all practical purposes identical to
a C-47. The idea was to create a unique airplane that could be
taken to airshows around the country, thus paying the cost
of the initial project and operating expenses. From talking
to folks I know in the seaplane business, this concept hasn't
really panned out very well. The last I heard, the airplane was for
sale, although finding someone with the money to buy and operate
such a beast won't be easy. At least the plane can be operated
from airports and isn't confined to water operations only, which
would really limit its earnings potential on the airshow circuit. I've
talked to pilots who flew them during testing at EDO during the war,
and they say the plane handled very well, both on the water and in
the air. The program was cancelled after two C-47s had been fitted
with the floats, not because the concept didn't work but because the
planes proved unnecessary in the Pacific theatre, where the Navy
Seabees could construct an operational runway with days of an
amphibious landing on an island.
___________________________
C. Marin Faure
(original owner)
1973 Land Rover Series III-88
1991 Range Rover Vogue SE
Seattle
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