Flying in a DC3

Aboard the 75-year old royal PH-PBA dakota

Oct. 19, 2019 - Willem L. Middelkoop

As a wonderful birthday gift I was honoured to fly in a DC-3 classic plane. It was the 75-year old PH-PBA, a C-47A Skytrain or Dakota, formerly owned by H.R.H. Prince Bernhard from The Netherlands. It's a very special plane operated by the enthusiastic people from the Dutch Dakota Association (DDA Classic Airlines). Read along for some aviation history!

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The R-1830 Twin Wasp piston engine at work - it feels alive!

KLM Captain flying the C47-A PH-PBA over the Markermeer

PH-PBA wing over Friesland, the Markermeer on the horizon

Inside the cabin you have a clear view into the cockpit as there is no door separating the pilots from the passengers

Rosie the Riverters work on the C-47 at the Douglas Plant in Oklahoma City (1944, Tinker Air Force Base History Office)

Electrical generator control panel inside the platform car

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