Our C-53D "Skytrooper"
Has Taken to the Air!!

Scroll down to see D-Day Doll's Nose Art!!!
May, 2007

 

The Beginning....October 17, 2003

At approximately 3:45 PM Thursday afternoon, October 17th, 2003, our C-53D Skytrooper touched down at the Riverside Airport, having flown in from Amarillo, TX.  What a beautiful sight she was as she crossed mid-field, then circled to land.  Touchdown was picture-perfect.  She taxied over to a spot next to the visiting CAF B-17 "Sentimental Journey" for lots of picture-taking and "oohing and aahing," then was towed over to our hangar area.  Several Wing members came out to welcome her, and to thank Col. Steve Barinka and crew for getting her here safely.   Once securely tied down, the celebration moved to inside the airplane and out came the champagne.  It was hard to believe she was finally here!!
                                                                                                                                                               (Photos by Linda Colton)

Night falls, the moon rises,
and she rests after her long journey...
 

The MIDDLE years....2004 TO 2006

Various repairs are accomplished...with the help and support
of many dedicated volunteers.

     

New paint in May 2005


Photo by Dave Mihelich

 Weight and Balance Day ~ Aug. 20, 2005
 

     

First Taxi Test - April 2006
 

        

 

First Ride!


 
 

  

 After many, many hours of volunteer work, and lots of "blood, sweat and tears,"
our C53D was made airworthy again. Restored to her former good looks,
and all gussied up inside and out, she was made ready for the air show circuit.
Thank you to all who made this possible!!!

Great photos from Dave Mihelich of the trip to Fairchild AFB in Washington, July 27-30, 2006!!
(Click on the thumbnails)

 

 

  D-Day Doll's Nose Art!!!  
Thanks to Col. Dave Mihelich for these photos!!

 

 

 

Some interesting information about the Douglas C-53 Skytrooper

"221 of these troop-carrying transports were built at Santa Monica, California, and most were powered by Pratt & Whitney 1,200 hp R-1830-92 engines. (Ours has Wright engines on it.)  They did not have the large cargo door, reinforced floor or astrodome of the C-47s.  They were fitted with 28 fixed seats and a towing cleat for use as a glider tug."
(From the book A Celebration Of The DC3 by Arthur Pearcy.)

Additional facts:
C-53 : basically a troop transport version of the C-47, with side seating for 28 troops and a port-side passenger door. But no large cargo door. Total of 219 of this version were delivered.

C-53B: winterized version of the C-53, with extra fuel capacity and separate navigator's station; 8 were built (42-20047/50, 42-20052, 42-20057/59).

C-53C: same as C-53, but with a larger port-side door; specialized as a troop transport and glider tug; 17 were built (43-2018 thru -2034).

C-53D: same as C-53C, but with a 24-volt electrical system. Total of 159 were built (42-68693 thru -68851) at the Douglas Santa Monica plant.  Ours is included in this batch - USAAF Serial #42-68830.

The above information comes from the book:
The "C"-Planes, U.S. Cargo Aircraft 1925- to the Present, by Bill Holder & Scott Vadnais (1996). ISBN 0-88740-912-1.

 

Here's a link to an interesting "DC-3" web site - full of neat stuff!!



Special thanks to Jon Goldenbaum of Poly-Fiber, Inc. for his support of our "Skytrooper."
Click on the logo below.

 

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