Classic Airforce logo

Newsletter Sign up

From the Blog Header

G-AMSV Returns to Coventry

An old friend returned to Coventry yesterday when G-AMSV, in her striking Indian Air force livery, landed here for extensive maintenance by our engineers. Sierra Victor was part of the Air Altantique fleet here for many years. She'll...

Read more>>


Baginton Air Pageant

The initial details for the Baginton Air Pageant are up on the website! As we don't have the space for a full-on air show attracting 20,000 or so people, we're aiming for low-key, themed days like this. A couple of thousand people,...

Read more>>


Newquay Pleasure flights

We promised we'd be back to fly in Cornwall, and here we are. We'll be heading south with a Rapide and Chipmunk to spend a week at Newquay from 25th July, with a further visit planned in August. The flights are bookable in the normal...

Read more>>


New Dakota Book

Geoff Jones just told me that his new book on the DC-3, released to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the Dak's appearance, is now available. The cover sports a lovely shot of G-ANAF, shot by Simon Westwood before her radome goiter was...

Read more>>


Nimrod Engine Run

We've just confirmed plans by NPT to run all four of the Nimrod's Rolls-Royce Speys on Saturday 9th May. We expect the thunder to start just after lunchtime. Come along and enjoy some audio power - and please dip into your pockets...

Read more>>


From the Blog Header
Become a member of the Classic Air Force
Douglas Dakota: Possibly the greatest propliner of all time
SPECIFICATION
Manufacturer: Douglas Aircraft Company, Long Beach, California
In Service: 1936 to... Still working for its living!
Purpose: Airliner and transport carrying 21-32 passengers
Construction: Wings: All Metal
Fuselage: All Metal
Tailplane: All Metal
Control surfaces: All Metal
   
Length: 64 ft 8 in (19.7 m)
Wingspan: 95 ft 2 in (29.0 m)
Height: 16 ft 11 in (5.16 m)
Weight: 16,865 lb (7,650 kg)
   
Power Plant: 2 × Wright R-1820 Cyclone 9-cyl. air-cooled radial piston engine, 1,100 hp (820 kW) each
2 × Pratt & Whitney R-1830-S1C3G Twin Wasp 14-cyl. air-cooled two row radial piston engine, 1,200 hp (890 kW) each
   
Maximum Speed: 200 kn; 370 km/h (230 mph) at 8,500 ft (2,590 m)
Cruising Speed: 180 kn; 333 km/h (207 mph)
Range: 2,125 miles (3,400km)
Service ceiling: 23,200 ft (7,100 m)
Initial rate of climb: 1,130 ft/min (5.7 m/s)