CC-129 Douglas Dakota
DND Archives, WGT85-613-12.
Three Dakotas on the tarmac at Winnipeg, including “Pinocchio" from Cold Lake, in 1985.
Overview
Overview
First flown on December 17, 1933 at Clover Field in Santa Monica, California, the Douglas DC-3 is arguably one of the most successful aircraft ever built. Designated “Dakota” or C-47 by the RAF/RCAF, the aircraft was also known by a wide variety of different names (Skytrain, Skytrooper, DAK, Goonie Bird) and different designations (DC-3, C-47, C-53, R4D) in various services. Highly adaptable, this transport aircraft could be fitted with skis or Jet Assisted Take Off (JATO) bottles. In the RCAF and Canadian Armed Forces, it served in a wide variety of roles including various training purposes such as navigation, radio and radar training, along with numerous other roles such as target towing, transport, search and rescue duties.
| Characteristic | Detail |
|---|---|
| Designation | CC-129 / CT-129 |
| Model No | DC-3 / C-47 |
| Marks | Mk III, Mk II ICSC, F, FP, P, R, S&R, U, and Mk IVM, MF, MFP, P, ST, T |
| Role | Transport, training, target towing, search and rescue |
| Taken on strength | 1943 |
| Struck off strength | 1989 |
| Number | 169 |
| Service | RCAF and Canadian Armed Forces |
Technical Specifications
Technical Specifications
| Characteristic | Detail |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Douglas Aircraft Corporation |
| Crew / Passengers | Two pilots + up to 3 crew or 36 passengers |
| Powerplant | Two 1200 hp Pratt & Whitney R-1830-92 radials |
| Maximum speed | 199 knots (369 kilometres per hour) |
| Cruising Speed | 145 knots (269 kilometres per hour) |
| Service Ceiling | 24,100 feet (7,345 metres) |
| Range | 1,300 nautical miles (2,414 kilometres) |
| Maximum takeoff weight | 26,000 pounds (11,793 kilograms) |
| Span | 95 feet 0 inches (28.95 metres) |
| Length | 64 feet 5.5 inches (19.64 metres) |
| Armament | None |
| Original cost | $165,000 |
Source: Canadian Combat and Support Aircraft: A Military Compendium by T.F.J. Leversedge ©2007. Translated and reproduced with the permission of the author.
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