Douglas DC-3 (N763A)

Nice picture but the background isn't attractive.

@James Driskell

However, I would like to suggest that it is quite representative of the types of facilities that DC3s have and continue to serve.

James Driskell, picky $hit!

That's a beautiful bird. Is the DC3 the greatest aircraft ever? I think so. I rejoice when I see one still flying. Lovely photo.

If this DC3 could tell stories what adventures could it unfold from say its time airlifting paratroppers during WW2 to removing the stretchered wounded to a place of safety and refuge?

I live in Houston area and the Lone Star Flight Museum at Ellington Field has a Continental Airlines DC-3 in hanger #2 on display. It has quite a history. Delivered by Douglas to American Airlines on May 8th, 1940 under the flagship name Big Springs. Flew for A/A until 1947. Sold to Trans Texas Airways. It flew out of Houston International Airport(TTA hub) (now Hobby) as part of a fleet of 25 DC-3's. It was sold to a brokerage firm in 1969 in San Antonio, Tx. It was mothballed until 1974. It was bought by Providence-Boston until 1988 and sent to Boston. After 6 months in storage, Continental purchased the plane under a lease agreement. They renovated the plane, inside and out. It is part of the Texas Aviation Hall Of Fame.

When I was eight years old (1958), our mom had booked tickets from Jefferson City,MO (JEF) to Bloomington,IL (BMI). It was my first time flying. The plane, just like the one pictured here, stopped at Joliet for about 30 minutes. We found out later that the pilots stopped not only for fuel, but for lunch before continuing to BMI. On our return flight, when the plane stopped at Joliet, my mom pulled me and my brother off the plane and we had lunch next to the pilots in the terminal!!

Why do I love DC3s so much? Anyone remember the one owned by Hawthorne College?

Again another great photo of a great A/C

My dad flew these (as C-47s) over 130 trips over the Atlantic in WW2. A picture like this always makes me think of him and smile. I do wonder how many are still flying.. Still brings a tear to my old eyes.

Back in the 70's I caught the "Connair" Gooney Bird from Darwin to Elcho Island via Maningrida & Milingimbi. All dirt strips & the right hand side of the aircraft was filled with cargo....very much like an Indiana Jones movie. We had to disembark while the Pilot & Co-Pilot refuelled (from drums in the back of a ute (Pickup) with a hand pump. Lovely old aircraft.

This picture really sent me down memory lane. As a young child I flew on countless DC-3's in South America and Indonesia - my father worked for an American oil company and we lived in some remote places. In 1968 when I finished Air Force ROTC basic training at Amarillo AFB, I boarded a Boeing 727 to Kansas City and then an Ozark Airlines DC-3 to Springfield, MO. I was told it was the last DC-3 in airline service. It was a milk run that landed at four or five airports before landing in Springfield. It was my first jet flight and my last DC-3 flight. I went on to fly C-130's and KC-135's in the Air Force.

I've recounted here my flight from Naples IT to Rota SP. It's hard to believe that the first DC-3 flew Dec. 17, 1935, 32 years to the day after the Wright Brothers' flight. This December 17th will be the 86th anniversary of that flight. Suddenly, I feel REALLY old.

Without trying to be picky it's worth saying that this a modern photo and not one of when the airplane was actually in service with Ozark. How can you tell? Good place to start is seeing no wing, tail or prop deice boots. Rode them back in the day from STL to JLN in the deep Wintertime and ice was a constant companion.

Years ago as we were taxi back to the ramp at SJU, we passed a line of DC-3s (at least 8-10) parked awaiting their next scheduled flight. The DC-3 was/is ideal for service in the islands with many advantages.

Sure looks like a converted C47 with the square pax windows. Another difference is that the DC3 has round passenger windows and C-47s 'square' ones.

There is a very interesting history of the airplane at http://www.douglasdc3.com/ozark/ozark.htm