Douglas DC-3 - N34

Here are some online photos and videos of N34 that we've found
Last Flight of N-34 by Donald McGough

Small group of FAA employees watched Thursday's Departure from Will Rogers World Airport

N34 Arrives at English Field - Photo: Chuck Accurso
Crew of N34 on last flight - Photo: Richard Warner
N34 Cockpit - Photo: Gary Jones
N34 Cockpit Overhead - Photo: Gary Jones
On February 13, 2014, five aviators from the FAA delivered N34 to the Texas Air & Space Museum in Amarillo, Texas

Mechanic                Tom Solinksi
Co-Pilot                   Dean Alexander
Captain                    Mike Ahern
FAA Rep.                  Don Harper
FAA Check Pilot     Chris Grotewohl
SERVING THE NATION This aircraft was completed in May 1945 at the Douglas Aircraft Company plant which is now Building 3001 at Tinker AFB, OK. It was finished as a US Army Air Force TC-47B (SN 44-77027) but immediately re-assigned to the US Navy as an R4D-6 (Bureau No 99856). It served in the Navy in various transport squadrons at Norfolk VA, Quonset Point RI, London England and NAS Glenview IL until 1956. In 1958, it was loaned to the CAA—the FAA’s predecessor—where it was converted to and operated as a Flight Inspection aircraft. In 1966, its title was finally transferred to the FAA where it was modified to the present configuration and became a DC-3C-R 1830-94, type II Flight Inspection aircraft. Between 1966 and 1979, it spent most of its time operating out of California. It ended its career as the main flight inspection training aircraft in Oklahoma City in 1980 and 1981. In 1985, it was taken out of storage, refurbished and operated as a recruiting/information tool at air shows around the country. It was again placed in storage in 1995. Reconditioned for a third life in 2002, in 2003, it participated in the US National Centennial of flight and played a key role in celebrating the Oklahoma State Centennial in 2006 and 2007. In 2008 and 2009, its principle mission was to help celebrate the 50th anniversary of the FAA.
EQUIPMENT ON BOARD All racks and black boxes in the cabin of the aircraft are used to perform Flight Inspection, the process of airborne calibration of FAA radio navigation devices such as instrument landing systems, omni range transmitters and radars. This equipment checked for and recorded proper signal strength, clarity and direction for each of these systems. Today, much smaller, faster and more efficient Beech King Air 300s, Learjet 60s and Canadair Challengers accomplish the same job.

INTERESTING FACTS N34 is one of three moveable items—the others being San Francisco's famed cable cars, and New Orleans Streetcars—that have a place on the nation’s National Register of Historic Places. It was placed on the register on May 29, 1997. More than 17,000 DC-3s were built by the US, Russia and Japan. Of these, there are over 400 still registered in the US inventory alone and there may be 1,400 flying worldwide. Oddly this number continues to grow, as many DC-3 airframes are converted to turbine powered Basler BT-67's.

Statistics
Wingspan 95'6" (29.11 m)
Cruise speed 130 knots or 150 MPH (241KPH)
Length 63’9" (19.43 m)
Gross weight 26,900 pounds (12,202 Kg)
Height  17' (5.18 m) to the top of the tail when parked; 15' (4.57 m) from the pilot's windowsill to the ground
Engines 2 Pratt and Whitney R-1830-94 radials rated at 1,350 Horsepower (1006 Kw)
  
Fuel 802 gallons (3035 L) total: 201 gallons (760 L) in each of 2 main tanks, and 200 gallons (757 L) in each of 2 auxiliary tanks.



If you find other great shots or videos of N34, please let us know at webmaster@texasairandspacemuseum.org



Large scale model of N34
built by Walter Sedlak

Additional military and civilian aircraft may be seen at the Texas Air & Space Museum.