Airworthy DC-2s

[JDK]

Hi folks!

Good news is that the Dutch have got their DC-2 flying again. With one flying in the USA, that makes two worldwide, if I'm correctly informed, but there's two on the US register. One is N1934D registered to the Museum of Flight, and is airworthy at the moment, I understand. The other is N39165 (C/No.1404) registered to AIRCRAFT GUARANTY TRUST LLC TRUSTEE of Texas. My question is is it airworthy, likely or what's going on?

The Dutch machine:

Back in July 2005 DC-2-142 (Douglas R2D-1) NC39165 c/n 1404 suffered a
landing gear collapse at Den Helder Airport in the Netherlands while
taxiing after landing. The propeller and gear were damaged as was some
sheet metal (the engine wasn't severely "shock-loaded" fortunately) which resulted in the "Dutch DC-2" being grounded.

Not anymore! Click at
http://www.robertmeerding.nl/events/...ow/impage1.htm . You will
be directed to a slideshow depicting the first "post-repair" testflight at
Lelystad made yesterday, i.e. Tuesday the 29th of May 2007!
According to a press statement sent by the Aviodrome Museum the DC-2 will
appear at several Dutch airshows. These are the Dutch Air Force Open Days
on Friday the 15th and Saturday the 16th of June, the Ameland Airport
Island Fly-In during the weekend of 23/24 June and the Texel Airshow on
Saturday the 21st of July.
I am not sure whether all of these will be flying displays.

There are also very strong hints that this freshly polished aircraft will
attend Flying Legends 2007 at Duxford. The term "Foreign airshows" has
been mentioned in the press statement by the Aviodrome.

Erik Jan Hartman

Photos:
http://www.robertmeerding.nl/events/dc2 ... mpage1.htm

(I could post in the civil section, but a) this hangar gets more traffic, and b) these are warbirds too...)

[CrazyCavia]

The N39165 is the Dutch one.

[blurrkup]

Think the clue is in the first line of the quote you posted.

[mennie]

I thought the Dutch one is the only flying one.

[JDK]

(Must read the numbers)...

[Eric Friedebach]

I was on a KLM flight recently, and during boarding there was a video playing with old movie footage of the aircraft they operated in the past.

Really cool! In fact, I tried to find it again on the IFE during the flight but no joy.

[Roger Cain]

:rock: I thought the Dutch one is the only flying one.

I was told by a friend that Clay Lacy was flying the other DC-2 here in CA a couple of weeks ago, at a private fly-in.

[stumac]

Clay was flying it just a couple of days ago

[JDK]

Anyone else curious as to which DC-2s are where? From my notes, derived from various sources, starting with the excellent 4+ book on the DC-2:

Douglas DC-2 survivors
Type C/N Current Regn Previous Identities Location / owner notes

DC-2-112 1286 N/A NC13736, A30-11, VH-RCG(?) VHCRE ‘PH-AJU’(3) Albury West Rotary Club Albury, NSW Painted as PH-AJU / ‘44’, but not registered as such.

DC-2-112 1288 N/A NC12738, A30-14, ‘UIVER’(2) Dutch Dakota Association Lelystad, Netherlands Used for spares by Sid Marshall, stored, incomplete.

DC-2-112 1292 N/A NC13782, A30-9, VHCRK Australian National Aviation Museum, Moorabbin, Vic Complete, with corrosion issues. Externally stored, pending restoration to static.

DC-2-115E (Fokker No.15) 1354 N/A PH-AKH, SE-AKE, DC-1, DO-1 Suomen Ilmavoimat (Finnish AF) Keski-Suomen Ilmailumuseo, Tikkakoski, Finland A very historic Finnish military aircraft, currently under long term restoration.

DC-2-118B 1368 N/A NC14296, XA-BJL(1), LG-ACA, TG-ACA, N4867V, N1934D, NC1934D Museum of Flight Foundation, Seattle, WA, USA Previous Certificate of Airworthiness issued 1987, but recently re-flown, with new CofA currently airworthy.

DC-2-115G / C-32A 1376 N/A PK-AFL, 41-1376, 42-83227, VH-ADZ, CH-CDZ, VHCXH, ‘N8486D’ (NTU) International Air Parts Bankstown, NSW Denied export permit from Australia and never used N8486D. Stored (possible long-term restoration).

DC-2-142 / R2D-1 1404 PH-AJU 9993, NC39165, N39165, PH-AJU ‘Uiver’(1) Aviodrome Museum, Lelystad, Netherlands. Airworthy.

DC-2-200 (Fokker No.37) 1562 N/A OK-AIC, D-AAIC, OH-DLB, OH-LDB, DO-3 Suomen Ilmavoimat (Finnish AF) Suomen Ilmailmuseo Helsinki Finland fuselage only, stored.

DC-2-243 / C-39 2072 N/A 38-515, XA-DUF, XB-YAV, N6097C, 38-515 USAF Museum Wright Patterson, Dayton Ohio, USA. C-39 is a hybrid design of DC-2 fuselage with the fin and rudder and centre section of the DC-3. The C-39 was designated by Douglas as a DC-2-243.

Comments / corrections welcome.

[Chris Brame]

DC-2-142 / R2D-1 1404 PH-AJU 9993, NC39165, N39165, PH-AJU ‘Uiver’(1) Aviodrome Museum, Lelystad, Netherlands. Airworthy.

This plane appeared in the 1956 film Back from Eternity, a remake of Five Came Back - the old story of the emergency landing in the jungle and having to decide who escapes and who gets eaten by the natives... It was owned by Mercer Airlines at the time.

[Mark_Pilkington]

Quote:

Douglas DC-2 survivors
Type C/N Current Regn Previous Identities Location / owner notes

DC-2-112 1286 N/A NC13736, A30-11, VH-RCG(?) VHCRE ‘PH-AJU’(3) Albury West Rotary Club Albury, NSW Painted as PH-AJU / ‘44’, but not registered as such.

DC-2-112 1288 N/A NC12738, A30-14, ‘UIVER’(2) Dutch Dakota Association Lelystad, Netherlands Used for spares by Sid Marshall, stored, incomplete.

DC-2-112 1292 N/A NC13782, A30-9, VHCRK Australian National Aviation Museum, Moorabbin, Vic Complete, with corrosion issues. Externally stored, pending restoration to static.

DC-2-115E (Fokker No.15) 1354 N/A PH-AKH, SE-AKE, DC-1, DO-1 Suomen Ilmavoimat (Finnish AF) Keski-Suomen Ilmailumuseo, Tikkakoski, Finland A very historic Finnish military aircraft, currently under long term restoration.

DC-2-118B 1368 N/A NC14296, XA-BJL(1), LG-ACA, TG-ACA, N4867V, N1934D, NC1934D Museum of Flight Foundation, Seattle, WA, USA Previous Certificate of Airworthiness issued 1987, but recently re-flown, with new CofA currently airworthy.

DC-2-115G / C-32A 1376 N/A PK-AFL, 41-1376, 42-83227, VH-ADZ, CH-CDZ, VHCXH, ‘N8486D’ (NTU) International Air Parts Bankstown, NSW Denied export permit from Australia and never used N8486D. Stored (possible long-term restoration).

DC-2-142 / R2D-1 1404 PH-AJU 9993, NC39165, N39165, PH-AJU ‘Uiver’(1) Aviodrome Museum, Lelystad, Netherlands. Airworthy.

DC-2-200 (Fokker No.37) 1562 N/A OK-AIC, D-AAIC, OH-DLB, OH-LDB, DO-3 Suomen Ilmavoimat (Finnish AF) Suomen Ilmailmuseo Helsinki Finland fuselage only, stored.

DC-2-243 / C-39 2072 N/A 38-515, XA-DUF, XB-YAV, N6097C, 38-515 USAF Museum Wright Patterson, Dayton Ohio, USA. C-39 is a hybrid design of DC-2 fuselage with the fin and rudder and centre section of the DC-3. The C-39 was designated by Douglas as a DC-2-243.

JDK, no corrections just some clarifications,

The 3 former RAAF aircraft A30-11, A30-14 and A30-9 carried radio "callsigns" on their fins such as "VHCRE" and "VHCRK" that "appear" as Australian civil registration codes "VH" but that is not the case.

The same is true of the other remaining Australian DC2 the former PK-AFL which was impressed by the USAAC as a C-39 in Australia and carried the callsign "VHCXH". also the CH-CDZ appears to be a typo for VH-CDZ which it did carry as a civil registration.


I am not aware of A30-11 ever carrying VH-RCG as a callsign or civil registration? I am not sure of your source?


A30-11 spent the last 20 years on a pole at Albury airport presented as UIVER from the 1934 air-race and was under a cloud as to its future following condition reports advising it was beyond restoration and better suited to being cut up with components like the cockpit being put on dispplay inside the airport terminal, thankfully the Alubry Council and local community rejected that option and have committed to a full static restoration and enclosure in an undercover display - very fitting as A30-11 is both the oldest surviving DC-2 but therefore also the oldest surviving Douglas Commercial Airliner, and therefore certainly worth the effort.

regards

Mark Pilkington

[JBoyle]

Was N1934D formerly with Johnson Air Service out of Missoula, Montana asa smoke jumper aircraft?

If so, I have an old 35mm slide of it taken in 1973 at Missoula.
On a cross country drive with my mom & sisters and conned them into having lunch at the airport so I could take photos of the Johnson Fleet.
In other words, I was in a hurry.
I took a picture of what I thought was a DC-3, it wasn't until later I noticed it was a DC-2.

I was disappointed thgat there were no B-17s or Ford Tri-Motors around.

[JDK]

JDK, no corrections just some clarifications,

The 3 former RAAF aircraft A30-11, A30-14 and A30-9 carried radio "callsigns" on their fins such as "VHCRE" and "VHCRK" that "appear" as Australian civil registration codes "VH" but that is not the case.

Indeed. Looks like a '-' crept in there!

The same is true of the other remaining Australian DC2 the former PK-AFL which was impressed by the USAAC as a C-39 in Australia and carried the callsign "VHCXH". also the CH-CDZ appears to be a typo for VH-CDZ which it did carry as a civil registration.

Correct, that's a typo. One reason I hate doing database work! VH-CDZ is right.

I am not aware of A30-11 ever carrying VH-RCG as a callsign or civil registration? I am not sure of your source?

The 4+ DC-2 book (an excellent work, BTW, highly recommended) has it down as a possible registration in Marshall airways hands, as the only reg listed in their ownership between '46 and '79 when it went to Albury.

A30-11 ... thankfully the Albury Council and local community rejected that option and have committed to a full static restoration and enclosure in an undercover display - very fitting as A30-11 is both the oldest surviving DC-2 but therefore also the oldest surviving Douglas Commercial Airliner, and therefore certainly worth the effort.

Indeed. I'd feel happier if I'd heard reports of activity, progress, or indeed anything.

Was N1934D formerly with Johnson Air Service out of Missoula, Montana asa smoke jumper aircraft?

Again the 4+ book says that it was indeed registered to Johnson Flying Service, Missoula, MT between '52 and '72; 'used for cargo transport and carrying smoke jumpers'. See:

Thanks for the input, and the film ref, Chris. Interesting.

Any more?

[Mark_Pilkington]

Code:

, no corrections just some clarifications,

The 3 former RAAF aircraft A30-11, A30-14 and A30-9 carried radio "callsigns" on their fins such as "VHCRE" and "VHCRK" that "appear" as Australian civil registration codes "VH" but that is not the case.

Indeed. Looks like a '-' crept in there!

Actually JDK I didnt suggest you had placed a "-" I was just clarifying for others the status of those particular identities against the normal "VH" identities.

Quote:
I am not aware of A30-11 ever carrying VH-RCG as a callsign or civil registration? I am not sure of your source?

The 4+ DC-2 book (an excellent work, BTW, highly recommended) has it down as a possible registration in Marshall airways hands, as the only reg listed in their ownership between '46 and '79 when it went to Albury.

I would agree it is an excellent book, however I am surprised that it identifies "VH-RCG" as the only DC-2 registered in Marshall Airways as the only DC2 I was aware they operated was VH-CDZ? and I would have thought that should have been listed as being in their ownership in addition to "VH-RCG".

Other than a suggested operation of A30-9 by the CSIRO early post war I wasnt aware any of Syd Marshall's former RAAF DC-2's flew outside RAAF Service in Australia.

It is possible that CSIRO operation, and other ADAT related operations by Australian National Airways of the RAAF DC-2's was undertaken while the aircraft remained on RAAF strength, the only civil registration I was aware of being allocated to any of the 10 RAAF DC-2 aircraft was VH-AEN allocated to A30-6 "VHCRJ"

Eric Allen's "Airliners in Australian Service" lists the service and identities of all 20 DC-2 / C39's that operated in Australia and he doesnt list a "VH-RCG" identity at all? A30-13 carried callsign "VHCRG" during RAAF service but did not operate post war, and apparantly did not enter Marshall Airways ownership? This CRG callsign is the nearest reference to a "VH-RCG"? in his information?

I am aware a number of Marshall Airways DC-2's were first purchased by MacAir as spares for their aircraft, perhaps a "VH-RCG" registration was reserved but not taken up?

Quote:
A30-11 ... thankfully the Albury Council and local community rejected that option and have committed to a full static restoration and enclosure in an undercover display - very fitting as A30-11 is both the oldest surviving DC-2 but therefore also the oldest surviving Douglas Commercial Airliner, and therefore certainly worth the effort.

Indeed. I'd feel happier if I'd heard reports of activity, progress, or indeed anything

.

I guess they are doing what they can, many argued the aircraft should have simply been allowed to be scrapped, but at least the local council and community are working together to save it, a Trust has been formed and fund raising has been commenced, with a local restoration project plan put in place - here is a dedicated webpage on the local council website - http://www.alburycity.nsw.gov.au/help/uiver.htm

The future



In early 2006, AlburyCity Council established the Uiver Memorial Community Trust to raise sufficient funds to restore the aircraft to display conditions.

Long term, it's planned to house the restored aircraft in a permanent climate controlled environment at the Albury Airport .

The restoration program is estimated to take three to four years,

The Uiver Memorial Community Trust is seeking donations and support for the restoration program from patrons, sponsors and donors.

Further information

If you would like to receive a restoration brochure from The Uiver Memorial Memorial Community Trust, please send your contact details to the Trust Chairman, Mr. Howard Hinde at e-mail - HowardHinde@bigpond.com.au

Regards

Mark Pilkington

[CrazyCavia]

I saw our Dutch DC-2 fly today, so I can confirm the sound of a flying DC-2 is very nice..