FAA Technical Data for various DC-3/C-47 Engines

These files can be downloaded and/or opened with Acrobat reader 3.0

These documents explain in full detail the use of various types of DC-3/C-47 engines.

Download FAA document a-618.pdf (68kb)

Download FAA document a-669.pdf (68kb)

Download both FAA documents within this zip file (118kb) dc3-faa.zip

I just received a valuable and complete information from a friend about DC-2 and 3 in military versions. I'd like to share with you all.

Douglas C-32 Original XC-32 was a military version of the DC-2 commercial airliner. Differed from the commercial airliner only in minor details and in being powered by 750 hp Wright R-1820-12 radials. Only one built. Designation C-32A given to 24 DC-2 commercial airliners acquired by the Army in 1942 from civilian sources including 5 aircraft previously acquired by the British Purchasing Commission). 14 seats. 210 mph at 8000 ft. 1000 mile range. Most had their original Wright Cyclone SGR-1820-F3 radials, but a couple were fitted with military 740 hp Wright R-1820-33s. Not all were actually taken on strength by USAAF.

Douglas C-33 Military cargo version of DC-2 series. Enlarged vertical tail, reinforced cabin floor, large cargo door. 2400 lbs of cargo or 12 passengers. Two 750 hp Wright R-1820-25 radials. 18 built.

Douglas C-34 Military version of DC-2 commercial airliner. Similar to XC-32 except for minor revisions in interior arrangements. Two built.

Douglas C-38 Military version of DC-2 twin-engine commercial airliner. Had DC-3 outer wing "married" to a DC-2 fuselage and center section. Prototype of the the series of aircraft sometimes known as "DC 2½". One built. Two Wright R-1820-45 Cyclone radials.

Douglas C-39 Twin-engine military transport. Production version of C-38 aerodynamic prototype. Had DC-3 outer wing "married" to a DC-2 fuselage and center section. Two 795 hp Wright R-1820-55 Cyclone radials. Used primarily as cargo transport. 35 built. Last aircraft in the DC-2 series to come off the production line.

Douglas C-41 C-41 was a "one-off" version of C-39 intended as staff transport for Chief of Staff of Army Air Corps. Two 1200 hp P & W R-1830-21 radials. Generally similar to C-39. One built. C-41A was military version of DC-3A reequipped with military instruments and communication equipment. Two 1200 hp P & W R-1830-21 radials. Served as staff transport. One built.

Douglas C-42 Staff transport for use by Commanding General of the Air Force GHQ. Similar to C-41 but powered by two 1000 hp Wright R-1820-21 radials. One built.

Douglas C-47 Skytrain Redesign of civilian DC-3 twin-engine commercial airliner for role of military cargo transport. Large cargo-loading doors, reinforced floor. Astrodome added behind flight deck. Two P & W R-1830-92 radials. 229 mph at 7500 ft. Crew 3. Up to 6000 lbs of cargo could be carried. Most widely used military transport in World War 2. Used by RAF as Dakota, by US Navy as R4D. "Puff the Magic Dragon" version equipped with three 7.62mm Miniguns and used in Vietnam as heavily-armed gunship.

Douglas C-48 Designation given to 36 DC-3As taken over from the airlines and used by the Army as personnel transports. Two P & W R-1830 radials.

Douglas C-49 Designation given to 138 DC-3s taken over from the airlines and used by the Army as personnel transports. Two Wright R-1820 radials.

Douglas C-50 Designation given to 14 DC-3s taken over from airline orders and used by the Army as personnel transports. Two Wright R-1820 radials.

Douglas C-51 Designation given to a single DC-3 taken over from airline order and used by the Army as paratroop transport. Two Wright R-1820 radials. Crew 3, 28 passengers.

Douglas C-52 Designation given to 6 DC-3s taken over on the production lines before delivery and fitted as paratroop transports. Two P & W R-1830-51 radials. Crew 3, 28 passengers.

Douglas C-53 Skytrooper Paratroop transport version of C-47. Fixed metal seats, no large cargo door, no reinforced floor, no astrodome. Two P & W R-1830-92 radials. Could carry up to 28 fully-armed paratroops.

Douglas C-84 Designation given to four DC-3Bs taken over from the airlines and used by the Army as personnel transports. Two Wright R-1820-G202 radials.

Douglas C-110 Designation given to three DC-5 twin-engined commercial transports impressed by Army from Australian operators. Two Wright R-1820-G102A radials. 230 mph at 7700 feet. Crew 3, 16-22 passengers.

Douglas C-117 Twin-engine staff transport externally similar to C-47, the military version of the DC-3 commercial airliner. Combination of original features developed for DC-3 with latest improvements developed for C-47. 21-seat airline-type interior. Two P & W R-1830-90C radials. Many released for sale to the airlines after the war. One hundred C-47J airliners reengineered by Douglas by introduction of new wings, a new taller vertical tail, modified landing gear, and more powerful engines and used by US Navy under designation C-117D.

Douglas YC-129 Designation given to a single Super DC-3 ordered by USAF in 1951 for trials. Larger horizontal and vertical tail surfaces with squared tips. New outer wing panels with squared tips. Smoother engine nacelles with doors that fully enclosed the retracted wheels. Powered by two Wright R-1820-C9HE radials, 1475 hp. 270 mph. Later redesignated YC-47F. USAF decided not to order the YC-47F and transferred the aircraft to US Navy which designated it R4D-8X. Subsequently, the Navy modified 100 earlier R4Ds to R4D-8 configuration.

Hope this could be useful to someone. Kindest regards, Carlos Oliveira