The DC-3 is a 2 engine, all-metal, low-
wing monoplane.
The airplane has two 1200HP Pratt &
Whitney, 14-cylinder, R-1830-90, Twin-Wasp
engines with Hamilton Standard hydromatic fully
feathering 3-bladed propellers. SOME aircraft
aredesignedforhigheraltitudeyingandhave
2-speedinternal“blowers”tted.
The hydraulic landing gear is of the con-
ventional type. Main wheels retract vertically into
the engine nacelles and extend approximately 11
inches out of the nacelles when fully retracted.
In this position they are free to rotate
andaresubjecttonormalbrakeaction.Inthe
event of a wheels-up emergency landing, the
aircraft can still roll and steer (depending on for-
ward speed) with minimal damage. Once stati-
nary, however, engines cannot be used to taxi or
manoeuvre. The tailwheel is non-retractable and
is of the castoring type.
Various combinations of doors and
hatchesaretted,dependingonthevariant.The
most common variant seen today is the passen-
gercargoversionwithlargecargodoorsttedto
port in the rear of the fuselage.
There are six emergency exits, four at the
windows over the main wings, an escape hatch
in the cockpit roof and a removable door in the
centreof theforwardcargodoor(whentted).
The airplane has two main sections.
In the forward section is the pilots’
compartment, radio operator’s and navigator’s
compartments and cargo space and radio racks
behind the co-pilot’s bulkhead.
The rear section consists of a main cabin
which is divided into stations for cargo loading.
Attimes,long-distancefueltankscanbetted
to the cabin area for long-range missions. We
do NOT include these tanks in this simulation,
however.
Thevariouscongurationsof theair-
frame point to the versatility of the DC-3 design.
Something which has rarely been matched in
over 70 years!
FLYING THE DC-3
DIMENSIONS
WingSpan...........................................95 feet
Length..............................64 feet 51/2 inches
Height (at rest)...................................17 feet
WEIGHT
Empty:
C-47...............................................17,037 lbs
C-47A........................................... 17,237 lbs
Basic:
C-47...............................................17,400lbs
C-47A........................................... 17,700 lbs
Recommended takeoff, maximum gross...
........................................................29,300lbs
Restricted takeoff,maximum gross.............
........................................................31,000lbs
Recommended landing, maximum gross...
.......................................................26,000 lbs
Other figures of interest:
Cruising Speed at 10,000 feet......................
......................approximately 185 mph TAS
Stalling Speed...........................67mph TAS
Service Ceiling...........................24,100 feet
Wingloading..................25.3lbs per sq foot
Power Loading.......................12lbs per HP
Seating capacity.....................28 passengers
Over the following pages, we explore the
engineering and technology employed in an
operational DC-3. This will serve as a cockpit
guide and useful reference for all pilots.
NOTE:
This simulation gives you the choice of aircraft
tted EITHER with a “standard” Gyro-Pilot,
otherwise known as the “Sperry” OR with a
modern GNS suite of GPS and a modern Auto-
pilot.
You can select to y either of these options when
you choose your aircraft from the Liveries section
of the Hangar.
THE PEDESTAL
1
2
3
4
56
7
89
10
12
14
13
15
16
11
The Pedestal control unit is the working
heart of the DC-3. This is where you control the
enginesandadjustthepitch,rollandyawof the
aircraft as you y. Learn it all, you will need to
know every component and where it is located.
Aprocientpilotwillbeabletolayhandsonthe
exactcontrolneeded,atanystageof aight,
without looking.
As we stated earlier, your DC-3
isttedwitha2-stageblower
(supercharger) for each engine.
The controls are the yellow knobs
in the left quadrant (3).
Mixture controls are
restricted to AUTO-LEAN and
AUTO_RICH with an emergency
FULL_RICH position. The controls
arettedwith“triggers”whichinthereal
aircraft are pressed to activate the levers. In this
simulation, that is done for you.
The levers are gated and will take up the
desired position once released.
CONTROL PEDESTAL
1. Throttles
2. Propeller controls
3. 2-stage blower controls
4. Mixture controls
5. Left engine tank selector
6. Tailwheel lock
7. Rudder Trimtab control
8. GyroPilot master valve
9. Elevator trim adjuster
10. Throttle lever friction control
11. Parking Brake (Pull on)
12. Carburettor Heat controls
13. Carburettor heat control lock
14. Right engine tank selector
15. Aileron trim control
16. Fuel tank cross-feed control
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