DC-3 Flagship Tulsa Restoration
Fri Apr 18, 2008 4:06 pm
Hello folks,
On behalf of the Tulsa Air and Space Museum, I wanted to announce to the WIX community that we have successfully purchased the original American Airlines DC-3 that flew as "Flagship Tulsa." Douglas constructor number 2137, she carried NC18141 during her service with American. In 1949, when American sold all of its DC-3s, FST was sold to Trans-Texas Airways. She flew with Trans-Texas until 1969, when she was sold to Air New England. Following service with Air New England, she was sold to Provincetown-Boston Airways (PBA) where she flew as N38PB. She was then sold to Aero Libertad in Mexico, where she flew as XA-RPE. She was then sold in the early 1990's to Basler Turboconversions in Oshkosh, WI and was flown to their facility. She has been idle ever since. As an original American Airlines DC-3, she has her right-hand entry door and thus is unusable for Basler's purposes.
We will be transporting FST by truck to Tulsa sometime in the next 60 days, at which point a restoration to flyable condition will commence. We are currently working out arrangements with companies here in Tulsa to partner in her restoration, so stay tuned to this space for future developments! In the meantime, below are some photos of FST in her current condition. Any photos or documents of this aircraft in her previous lives would be much appreciated!
I plan on working with the restoration team to post as many updates here as folks are interested in, to allow everyone to follow the restoration of such a wonderful aircraft.
kevin
And who is that rouge standing in the back? Yours truly, standing behind our curator, Kim Jones!
On behalf of the Tulsa Air and Space Museum, I wanted to announce to the WIX community that we have successfully purchased the original American Airlines DC-3 that flew as "Flagship Tulsa." Douglas constructor number 2137, she carried NC18141 during her service with American. In 1949, when American sold all of its DC-3s, FST was sold to Trans-Texas Airways. She flew with Trans-Texas until 1969, when she was sold to Air New England. Following service with Air New England, she was sold to Provincetown-Boston Airways (PBA) where she flew as N38PB. She was then sold to Aero Libertad in Mexico, where she flew as XA-RPE. She was then sold in the early 1990's to Basler Turboconversions in Oshkosh, WI and was flown to their facility. She has been idle ever since. As an original American Airlines DC-3, she has her right-hand entry door and thus is unusable for Basler's purposes.
We will be transporting FST by truck to Tulsa sometime in the next 60 days, at which point a restoration to flyable condition will commence. We are currently working out arrangements with companies here in Tulsa to partner in her restoration, so stay tuned to this space for future developments! In the meantime, below are some photos of FST in her current condition. Any photos or documents of this aircraft in her previous lives would be much appreciated!
I plan on working with the restoration team to post as many updates here as folks are interested in, to allow everyone to follow the restoration of such a wonderful aircraft.
kevin
And who is that rouge standing in the back? Yours truly, standing behind our curator, Kim Jones!
Fri Apr 18, 2008 6:39 pm
Excellent project!
Is Basler going to provide any additional parts/spares/sponsorship/support towards the restoration effort other than the airframe?
Is Basler going to provide any additional parts/spares/sponsorship/support towards the restoration effort other than the airframe?
Sat Apr 19, 2008 7:03 pm
Woo-HOO!! That's GREAT! 
Thanks for sharing and keep us posted!
Thanks for sharing and keep us posted!
Sat Apr 19, 2008 11:44 pm
At this point, Basler has offered to sell us anything we need from their substantial collection of stores, but since they are in business restoring/converting C-47/DC-3 airframes, anything they give us directly impacts their core business. But they've been quite helpful thus far!
Thanks for the encouragement, we're looking forward to showing you all of our progress!
kevin
Thanks for the encouragement, we're looking forward to showing you all of our progress!
kevin
Sun Apr 20, 2008 11:54 am
Neat project!
Mon Apr 21, 2008 12:44 pm
Great news!
Looking forward to future reports!
Looking forward to future reports!
Mon Apr 21, 2008 6:29 pm
Looks like you've got your work cut out for you, but great project! Can't wait to see it all shined up and flying proudly again!
???
Tue Apr 22, 2008 7:34 am
Your truck driver's a busy boy!!
Tue Apr 22, 2008 9:46 am
Yes, Jack, he is! 
We'll mention that other little thing here this evening...
Hmmmmmmm...
kevin
We'll mention that other little thing here this evening...
Hmmmmmmm...
kevin
???
Tue Apr 22, 2008 10:46 am
Jeff said good luck getting it out of the box 
BTW find a C3B Stearman
BTW find a C3B Stearman
Wed Apr 23, 2008 12:24 am
Just a question for you- The C-47(DC3) at "Air Transport Command" restaurant at Wilmington Del. (New Castle County Airport, formerly Wilmington Army Airfield) has a right hand side door- Was this an AA spec only, or could this one have been with any airline? Just idly wondering- I have no other data on this aircraft... Other than it needed saving last I saw it- though I heard the Del AFNG was doing resto work on it in situ. Airliners dot com lists it as DC-3A-197 N18111(CN1983)
Just found an answer to my question- she was with United originally, and not pressed into military service.
AND- I just found some GOOD NEWS regarding it!(other than ATC has reopened after two years of being closed) http://www.masseyaero.org/projects/dc3/progress.html
Robbie
Just found an answer to my question- she was with United originally, and not pressed into military service.
AND- I just found some GOOD NEWS regarding it!(other than ATC has reopened after two years of being closed) http://www.masseyaero.org/projects/dc3/progress.html
Robbie
Thu Apr 24, 2008 3:41 am
Hello
I am new to the Warbirds Information Exchange.
Thumbs up for the "Flagship Tulsa" project.
Trans Texas Airways colours Feb1962:
http://www.airliners.net/photo/Trans-Te ... 0111299/L/
Air New England colours La Guardia, NY May1972:
http://www.airliners.net/photo/Air-New- ... 0119230/L/
Kind regards
Niels Helmo Larsen
Danish Dakota Friends
www.dc3vennerne.dk
I am new to the Warbirds Information Exchange.
Thumbs up for the "Flagship Tulsa" project.
Trans Texas Airways colours Feb1962:
http://www.airliners.net/photo/Trans-Te ... 0111299/L/
Air New England colours La Guardia, NY May1972:
http://www.airliners.net/photo/Air-New- ... 0119230/L/
Kind regards
Niels Helmo Larsen
Danish Dakota Friends
www.dc3vennerne.dk
Thu Apr 24, 2008 9:37 am
Thanks, Niels!
And welcome to WIX! Aren't those old DC-3 liveries good looking?
kevin
And welcome to WIX! Aren't those old DC-3 liveries good looking?
kevin
Sat Apr 26, 2008 8:52 pm
Congratulations, Kevin...this is going to be a great project! Can't wait to follow along online!
Mike
Mike
Mon May 19, 2008 3:04 pm
Hello all!
Couple of things:
First, we are working on getting ready to transport FST back to Tulsa, hopefully sometime in the next 60 days. Details are being worked out.
Second, a question for DC-3/C-47/Oshkosh experts- there are essentially two engine options for the aircraft- the Wright engines or the Pratt and Whitneys. For this early DC-3, the Wright engines would be correct with the smooth cowlings. Later DC-3s and C-47s used the Pratts, from what I understand. From a cost/reliability/maintenance standpoint, which would be preferable? If we took the aircraft to Oshkosh and were hoping to win, would having the Pratts essentially disqualify us? We have to make this decision sooner rather than later, as we start preparing for its restoration. Thoughts?
Third, I was trolling ebay, and look what I found- two photos of FST in its original AA livery! These are the first we have of this aircraft (NC18141) in its AA livery, so we were pumped!
kevin
Couple of things:
First, we are working on getting ready to transport FST back to Tulsa, hopefully sometime in the next 60 days. Details are being worked out.
Second, a question for DC-3/C-47/Oshkosh experts- there are essentially two engine options for the aircraft- the Wright engines or the Pratt and Whitneys. For this early DC-3, the Wright engines would be correct with the smooth cowlings. Later DC-3s and C-47s used the Pratts, from what I understand. From a cost/reliability/maintenance standpoint, which would be preferable? If we took the aircraft to Oshkosh and were hoping to win, would having the Pratts essentially disqualify us? We have to make this decision sooner rather than later, as we start preparing for its restoration. Thoughts?
Third, I was trolling ebay, and look what I found- two photos of FST in its original AA livery! These are the first we have of this aircraft (NC18141) in its AA livery, so we were pumped!
kevin