Warbird Information Exchange

While not strictly a warbird, I wanted to compliment the folks at the Flagship Detroit foundation. FD flew directly over my house in Tulsa yesterday, and it looked and sounded beautiful. Way to go!

You can find out more info at their website:

http://www.flagshipdetroit.org/FSD/Flag ... 0DC-3.html

kevin

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FOUND the elusive DT-built B-24! Woo-hoo!!!

I saw "Flagship Detroit" at Thunder Over Michigan last month. I saw it fly in on Friday and they put it on static display next to the YAM C-47.

The Flagship Detroit DC-3 is an impressive looking airplane, but one disconcerting thing for me was the 'cut-off' squared wing tips. Does anyone know what is up with those wing tips? Did the original American Airlines model have squared wing tips?? It doesn't look right compared to the typical rounded DC-3/C-47 type wing tips.

The only version I remember with squared wing tips is the highly modified Super DC-3/R4D-8/C-117D version (one of my favorites!). I checked my 1988 edition of Rene Francillon's "McDonnell Douglas Aircraft Since 1920: Vol. I" and it looks like all other DC-3 derivatives including early DC-3s/DSTs came with standard rounded wingtips. Maybe "Flagship Detroit" was restored from a DC-3 that went through some unusual post-production/post-airline service modification at some point.

If this is the case, it would be nice if they could restore the original wing tips at some point.

During its life as a bug sprayer it was modified with the square tips. The interior was accomplished at American airlines base here at AFW about a year and a half ago. It's a beautiful DC-3 for sure.

Thanks for the background on those squared wing tips. Anyone know if there is any chance of restoring to the original style wing tips at some point?

Jim C.,

I visited at length with some of the guys that fly Flagship Detroit when it was at Tulsa being polished this winter. I asked one of the pilots about the wingtips, and he smiled and told me they were 1950's winglets! He then looked at the airplane in the next hangar bay (a 757 that was having winglets installed as we spoke) and said "see, just like that!" Seriously, they were called "speed tips" according to him, and actually did help cruise speed and fuel burn somewhat. I don't know if the group maintaining the airplane intend to convert the tips back to stock in the future, but I don't think it really detracts that much from a beautiful bird. Incidentally, when the Detroit was at AA Tulsa in March it celebrated the 70th!! anniversary of it's first revenue flight for American Airlines.



Looking good even before the polish job!
Scott

I got my very first plane ride ever in the Flagship! It was at Tunder this year, it only took 18 years too. My buddy Michael Luther made it happen, thanks!