Why Alaska Uses Old Planes

[@oldsagejoe7169]

I was returning to work on the North Slope after Thanksgiving 1968 and caught a ride with Bill Nugent in a C46 he had recently purchased in Florida. It was his 3rd trip to the Slope in this aircraft although he had plenty of previous experience in Alaska and a dang good reputation. I rode in the jump seat behind pilot and copilot and we had 24 barrels of stove oil in the cargo hold. The air temp was somewhere close to -40 or -50F. Soon after we reached 11,000 feet cruising altitude first one engine quit then the other. I watched the altimeter spinning counter clockwise as we glided down. If “Cap’n Bill” Nugent had to belly it in it wouldn’t be his first time. He later said he had spotted a lake he could have used if he needed to. The altimeter was somewhere between 5500 and 5800 when he got one engine started again and then the other. We returned to Fairbanks coming in high in case something happened over town, Nugent wanted to have some extra glide room. When I asked what happened up there he said it was ice in the fuel lines and all he could do was crank the starters hoping to suck the ice through and clear the line before we hit the ground. It was probably condensation that had been in the tanks in Florida. He grounded the plane until he could dry out the tanks. Some years later I heard he was still flying and doing well. A common sentiment back then was “There’s old pilots and there’s bold pilots, but there are no old, bold pilots.”

[@gripdeath]

Lemme sum it up for you. They are still being used because they are good.

[@atranas6018]

It's fascinating to see these old birds still serve not as museum piece or worst as scrap.

[@ad356]

its just a damned good, rugged design. one of the strongest aircraft structures to leave the design board. the only replacement for a DC3 is another DC3 in allot of cases.

[@wmfife1]

I still remember when the DHC-4 Caribou was rolled out. The magazines hailed it as a replacement for the DC-3 /C-47. But ever try landing one in mud? That shoulder wing meant long landing gear legs and those small wheels meant a snag looking for a place to happen. Broken main mount here we come. Lesson learned: don't fix it if ain't ain't broke. Douglas got it right the first time. Speed isn't everything. Flying still beats driving hands down. Don't mess with it.

[@ad356]

the DC3 is an extremely rugged, reliable, versatile aircraft. perhaps a new batch of air-frames should be produced. i bet they would actually sell.

[@nemo227]

And it's delightful to see Larry Csonka in a different roll than crashing through the line on a football field.

[@16rumpole]

it's a testament to their reliability and durability that they still fly today, I love the simple design of this plane. It wasn't as elegant and beautiful as the lockheed constellation but it was much more durable.

[@KowboyUSA]

Great seeing DC-3s still flying. 50 years from now a few will likely still be airworthy.

[@Salvador_but_he_plays_gd]

Doubt it, there are companies that keep these dc3's in service, in fact they even bring back dc3s from retirement

[@donaldparlettjr3295]

The DC-3 is one overbuilt acft, well suited for job. You gotta love the old Gooney bird.

[@mightress]

easier to repair than modern airplanes. know someone who lives very remote, he drives an old toyota land cruiser. not because it is comfy or fast but because it is easy to fix with minimal tools. no shite electronics that fail.

[@marcelogouveia9614]

Got an old Land Cruiser myself brother... all the way in Brazil with a Mercedes Benz diesel engine the most bad ass jeep ever! ;)

[@LedzeppelinDogsGuns]

sound like me no new junk in my garage

[@albertopalma1663]

@@LedzeppelinDogsGuns Same here.

[@MrOlgrumpy]

Love the oldies,takes me back to when Constellations flew with Qantas,awe inspiring sound and bright blue exhausts

[@beaconrider]

These planes can be maintained in the field without a massive support infrastructure.

[@Garythegangster]

They're simple, rugged, take some punishment well but are easy to fix (relatively). I think they're just cool old aircraft and have great character.

[@misterfunnybones]

Why? Because de Havilland Canada failed to learn about manufactured obsolescence, saturating the market with planes that were not built to fail. It was a simple time, when honest people did an honest day's work...

[@bestoutcomes]

I live in Alaska. Part of my work involves aviation safety analysis -- studying crashes which have fatalities, and can attest -- and the evidence backs it up, including NTSB crash investigations -- that the DeHav Beaver and Otter are by far the deadliest aircraft in Alaska ... hundreds of people killed in them ... at least 3 of them crash every summer, which is just 10 weeks duration. The Canadian made aircraft is one I'll never step foot on

[@blahblah7720]

+Brian McD do you have any proof?Documents, etc.Please do not take offense.

[@bestoutcomes]

Yes, in fact. Not just my records. Check the NTSB (Federal US Gov't agency that investigates all crashes). Their website data/ databases have 100's of cases

[@blahblah7720]

Indeed it seems, but some of those are also the pilot fault too it seems.What about your record, are they public, do you have a whitepaper?

[@DJ-Sellout]

Brian, the consumption of ice cream has been linked to the murder rate so should we ban it? Beavers etc. are used in bush work at which they excel and which is dangerous by nature. Alaska is an unforgiving place, I'm surprised the figure's not higher. It sure is near the equator. Also, Bombardier has a decent safety record.

[@51WCDodge]

Why the DC3? Because it does what you want when you want and just keeps doing it.

[@aapoforever2734]

51WCDodge. Weren't they like the most built aeroplane of alltime? Probably because they are common and cheap.

[@michaelparr3928]

The 2 shown are actually Super DC3 (military C-117). They have different tail sections and the wings are longer. They also have enclosed landing gear. I also believe they used uprated engines from those on the DC3/C-47. Worked on C-117D aircraft in the Marine Corps.

[@mx5mke]

"Why the DC3?" ==> You got something better?

[@dibaldgyfm9933]

@@michaelparr3928 :: Thanks for that observation. Wikipedia has an explanation of C-117D changes in th Douglas C-47 Skytrain article.

[@albertopalma1663]

@@mx5mke No.

[@williamcostello8624]

Never thought I would have this opportunity to talk to you. Dr. Herb. Virgin , the Dolphins doctor during your undefeated season 1972 saved me in 1956....a terrific human being. My tanker was in port of New Orleans and I got to see you play in Super Bowl 6 at Tulane Stadium. I see you are also a fan of the DC3. You may be aware that there are three C47s based in Miami at Opalocka Airport used to handle cargo daily to the Bahamas and Carribean. Glad to see you are still kickin and healthy. Regards, WC dolphins

[@d.cypher2920]

Had a teacher....at a vo-tech school...mr csonka. Idk how he spelled it... but he, was an awesome, very genuine dude, who used to play ball somewhere... don't think it's this guy...but i wish... i'd tell him, changed my life forever...not an overstatement. Can't thank you enough...for that talk that day.

[@cpufreak101]

For those curious, I heard that some Alaskan and northern canadian airlines actually still fly 737-200's despite their age, but it's for a rahter similar reason. the -200's were offered with a gravel kit, which made it possible to land it at remote, unpaved runways. as a result, it's one of the larger planes you see up in these remote areas (although compared to modern Jets, it's tiny lol)

[@gamewizard1760]

A lot of those old birds are capable of landing on packed dirt or on grass.

[@MarkBrown-gc6hr]

Served at 44sqn in the SAAF where we had Daks and Skymasters. Amazing aircraft.

[@bstrakos2934]

I remember Trans Texas Airlines flying out of Mathis Field Texas. Also saw about six of these flying out of San Juan AP PR. I think they are gone now. Always liked the sounds of radial engines. Lf D

[@bubbabigmin]

Old prop planes never give me that "I'm about to die any second" feeling like old Jet aircraft do!

[@tananam9782]

I remember long ago reading an account by Chuck Yeager of having flown an early Chinese clone of a Soviet jet fighter. I've forgotten which one. He described it as a "One Way Plane."

[@mr.invisible3123]

simple tough out lived most jets made years after those vintage birds old is reliable in extreme weather conditions

[@atranas6018]

sam kahn because big jet planes hv defined amount of fuselage compression & decompression cycle. They too can fly for hundreds of years if the cabin is not presurized.

[@richardcarew4708]

thanks for sharing 👍... the best part about old airplanes is.. I can fix em myself.. and.. go places without so much... traffic... keep the shiny side ^up^.. you will be glad you did 🙏😊

[@zachatttack3107]

These planes are all simple gems of aviation. They fly, and they fly well.

[@beegee22]

Zonk! Here's an old Dolphins fan happy to visit your channel. Love this video of the DC-3 - the Super DC-3 on this case with larger engines, fully enclosed main gear and a taller square tail. Is this one of the planes that are used to fly your tour groups around?

[@frankcrawford416]

I so agree with this video. I live in Ca. but understand that an aircraft needs not only to be reliable, but fixable out in the field as well. Or at least easily comparatively than complex electronic type aircraft.

[@Agwings1960]

Older aircraft like the DC-3 were built with simplicity and ruggedness in mind. They were also designed for operating off airport, basically landing on the dirt and sod. I maintained a DC-3 in Alaska for 13 years, the only problem we ever had was keeping the radial engines running, which had been out of production since the 40's. The airframe of the DC-3 was considerably more reliable than any of the more modern turbine engine aircraft we had.

[@oldschoolgreentube]

I wonder if a new DC-3 based on the old design would be profitable?

[@jonathantan2469]

It'll be for a very niche market. The engines can be turboprops. In fact, turboprop versions of the DC-3 exist.

[@willyjimmy8881]

In short, clearly not or they would've done it already.

[@tleone911]

Well the airframe being essentially the same even with Turbo Prop engines on it would Not significantly increase speed, lift capability or much else but Fuel efficiency!

[@obfuscated3090]

Turboprops run jet fuel which is more widely available than avgas besides being less dangerous. Fuel efficiency is of course critical to affordable flying.

[@leevijaaskelainen5386]

DC-3 is a legend!

[@abz124816]

Designed without a computer :)

[@Fadamor]

DC-3's and C-47's were designed to operate out of short rough fields.

[@markfryer9880]

They are one and the same aircraft. DC3 is the civilian designation and C47 the military designation. The aircraft was also known as the Dakota in British and Commonwealth military service.

[@barrygrant2907]

I remember Southern Airlines and Piedmont airlines flying DC-3 out of Charlotte, NC. It was kind of cool flying on them and watching the oil streaks slowly flowing from the engines.

[@philtripe]

planes of these era are over built much like the modal A in that they are still running long past life expectancy, but more importantly you need a bush plane in Alaska with a low stall speed so you can drop in and pop out of small runways in tight or confined spaces, many at high altitude

[@TobiasLeininger]

You can't build big build runways everywhere as planes are a main type of transport there and have to be able to land almost everywhere.

[@Shitt3r6968]

Evi1M4chine the reason you need to land in small and tight spaces is because some of these aircraft are capable of landing on rugged ground many super cub pilots are able to land on small gravel river banks, mountains and even on small lakes which requires a lot of skill and the right airplane. The Super cub is able to fly at high angle of attack at low airpseeds which allows the pilot to land on places like that

[@trevormiles5852]

Look up the history the construction of the Alaskan freeway. you will get your answer..

[@gordonmccoy4537]

Matt Moore ..... A great book out I read many years ago is: "Fly The Mountain" by Cole, I think.... All about Alaska and Bush flying.....

[@bestoutcomes]

Excellent. Absolutely correct. I live here (in Alaska). All of your points are spot on

[@bradtinkham2540]

The DC-3, C47 was know in my Air Force time as the "Gooney Bird". It was said that someday we would colonize the moon and a "Gooney Bird" would be used for local flights on the moon. Considering how many of them there are they will be flying for many more years as there is still no affordable replacement.

[@atranas6018]

I wonder if the cabin is pressurized? Modern jetliner hv a certain amount of lifespan thanks to their limit of how much compression cycles the fuselage can take. Even if the a jetplane seems to be airworthy it's very unsafe to fly because of all the microscopic cracks creeping on the fuselage after all of the compression cycles.

[@SupaKoopaTroopa64]

Most small planes aren't pressurized. Infact, lots of pilots fly with the windows open for fresh air.

[@prylosecorsomething3194]

I think the dc3 was pressurized but the beaver and all the other little planes aren't

[@connormclernon26]

timberjack460 no, DC-3s are not pressurized

[@ad356]

first pressurized military aircraft was the B29 and the first pressurized military aircraft was the Lockheed constellation, the DC3 pre-dates both of them by a decade

[@ovalwingnut]

That's the 1st thing that crossed my mind when I spotted those "square box" 90' windows... Eeeek. Very COoL though.

[@slspg]

DC3 is such a beautiful plane

[@AnthonyD1986]

Larry, I played hockey with Brudzinski and Duhe's sons!!! Just discovered your channel. Subscribed and hope all is well.

[@christianlebordelais]

Good job of spotting

[@n2uid01]

This is the super Dakota model. Love that late rectangular tail and covered main landing gear! Wright cyclone engines too!

[@dgrantgibson]

Just to clarify with everyone this is a Super DC-3. They took some of the regular 3's and beefed them up in the 1950's. They were short lived as newer aircraft were now overtaking these great birds such as the Convair 240/440 a tricycle gear vs. The 'now' old taildraggers. I was Chief Pilot of a air operator in Canada operating the Super 3. Loved it! In fact, I am sure one of the one's I flew are operated by this air charter company!

[@Red-Magic]

One of the main reasons for the smaller aircraft such as the Piper Cub is that it needs very little runway length, and it is adaptable to different landing conditions. Skids for snow, floats for water, tires for flat and hard ground and tundra tires for soft and/or bumpy ground! There are a lot more reasons, but this is just one.

[@vincesbardella3838]

My first solo, and subsequent private pilot flight test was in a 65 HP J-3 cub, in early 1955 at the Cicero(NY) Airpark, later Michaels Field.

[@rickwestlake3048]

I haven't been to Alaska, but I got a sightseeing flight in an old DC-3 a couple of years ago at Chino, California's "Planes Of Fame" Museum. It was a hot day, temperature over 40°C IIRC, and that Gooney Bird needed a lot of runway to get airborne!

[@bradfordeaton6558]

That last one was a C-117, a sort of super DC-3. As far as I know only the Marines used many of them. Douglas only made a bit over a hundred of them. It's good to see one still flying.

[@timcolledge6813]

Great to see! Alaska must be a brilliant place.

[@alphasportstv]

Glad to see you're still fishin'!

[@oldbaldfatman2766]

April 9, 2018---Stationed at Elmendorf AFB, from 77-79. During that time I was into trading slides of military & ex-military aircraft. Remember going out to Anchorages airport more than once, shooting a lot of ex-warbirds such as C-47's, C-47's and a C-133. Most of the C-47's/C-46's were being flowing by Flying Tigers airline which was way before they went to passenger jets. Was surprised one time by seeing a T-6 which was painted purple(?!) with gold registration numbers/letters. There was a C-123 parked on the far side of the base which had been there for a number of years after the ANG switched to C-130's. Eventually it was taken to the ANG base for display. Don't know how many Beavers and Norsemen I saw that were on the lakes in the area. With everything so far apart distance wise, a lot of people bought a plane instead of a 2nd vehicle.

[@morganbeasley]

What about the Stinsons? I still fly a 1948 -3 every week or so to supply my remote homestead

[@ovalwingnut]

Flying on "radials"... ya got to love that. Very COoL :)

[@richardalexander5758]

My first commercial flight was on a DC-3 in 1958. We flew in some really rough weather, and almost everybody made use of the barf bags.

[@johnnyllooddte3415]

come to the congo sometime.. we got fish that bite back and planes older than you

[@flow5718]

Are you by chance a prince?

[@jeromes6058]

Evi1M4chine french

[@bruzote]

Congolese leaders used their people for generations. It's a human greed problem, not a foreigner greed or native greed problem alone.

[@chrisest6715]

Everything bites back in Africa

[@mikesuch9021]

Fuck the congo

[@ihategigglegigglesucks3081]

DC3 and the military version the C47 can only be replaced by another the same goes for the C130 Hercules

[@flybyairplane3528]

Ihategiggle gigglesucks all depends on type of runway, ain’t going into BUSH

[@arbjful]

I went in a R44 chopper to visit glaciers around Anchorage, that was quite modern.

[@whoknows8678]

VS (Vertical Solutions) Helicopters out of Anchorage? With Leigh Coates as the Chief Pilot and overall owner/boss of that skanky outfit? Shit man, you're lucky you survived that flight. Fuckin' SCARY operation they got there...

[@darkfire6610]

Really? What's so scary about their operations?

[@tananam9782]

Glaciers around Anchorage? Must have been a long flight in a Robinson.

[@lostcreek163]

Old man professing to be wise beyond his years! Fun stuff! I'm older and a pilot and think its great!

[@ReflectedMiles]

When you post a video of your takeoff in a DC-3 on one engine at gross, let us know. Well, never mind--we'll see it on Kathryn's Report and from Dan Gryder. "Legend" is the key word in the story of this video, as in tribal legends and urban legends. The DC3 is cheap and slow with repair easily available (since it is needed so often--in the Amazon, they typically fly them with a mechanic onboard since getting remote service could take a week or two). That is why the DC3 is used in Alaska. No one ever buys it for airworthy performance or reliability. One was just geared-up into Merrill Field in Anchorage after departure at Ted Stevens because there was no way it was going to hold altitude, even near sea level, with an engine out, let alone climb.

[@timrobertsgb]

We used to operate DC3’s in Papua New Guinea when I was a kid …… still had the jumps seats in them so we could get cargo down the middle. Because of the short grass strips in the highlands a couple of them had JTOs fitted. There was a bunch of aluminium to that had to be picked up and as the pilot came off the strip he thought it was a bit sluggish and hit the JTO. When he landed late found it will stead that he was carrying. Three times the weight! Great plane rarely bettered

[@ErnestJay88]

If it still works, don't fix it !

[@gregorymac7662]

Hey Zonk, at MIA there used to be a lot of old prop planes servicing Latin America and the Caribbean The Dolphins and I miss u.

[@Kurtwaldheim2]

It doesn’t hurt that they are almost all Taildragger‘s. That is probably the biggest factor that enables them to do short takeoff and landing because the wing is already at the angle of attack for taking off without having to rotate

[@panduwidagdo7051]

When it comes to a solution, I believe in simple solution, just like these planes, simple and plain, no computer things.

[@gordonmccoy4537]

When you see the aircraft you use to fly, as a young man, in a museum you KNOW you're getting old.....

[@fermainjackson2899]

because those aircrafts still work hard enough..... 👍😎👉✈

[@CorruptionDestroyer]

Fermain Jackson i Gonna ride the A6m Zero when my age is 24 im still 10 years old

[@alasdairblack393]

The plural of aircraft is aircraft, not aircrafts.

[@adamsadventures9919]

love me some csonka! was my favorite nfl-er as a kid. all those alaska planes are badass too.

[@cameronalexander359]

They're beautiful.

[@HighAway]

They need to make a comeback of those DC3's

[@tananam9782]

I'll scroll through the replies, but I'm rather annoyed that the video does not answer the question offered in the title. In fact, very little real and substantive information is offered in the video at all.

[@nickjcal2819]

James Simmons James Simmons 1 year ago Because they fly a low speeds. Because propeller aircraft get power immediately the throttle is pushed forward unlike jets which have to spin up to high RPM first. They take off and land at lower speeds than jets so short runways are OK. etc etc.... They don't have a bunch of damned computers that take a college degree and much expense for the maintenance personnel to master. No fly by wire.... Cable with hydraulic backups. Easy to understand and trouble shoot. Lastly they tend to be "tin canny" which is a phrase no one under 80 is likely to recognize. And they don't need much to be airworthy thanks to simplicity of design.

[@nickjcal2819]

James Simmons 1 year ago Because they fly a low speeds. Because propeller aircraft get power immediately the throttle is pushed forward unlike jets which have to spin up to high RPM first. They take off and land at lower speeds than jets so short runways are OK. etc etc.... They don't have a bunch of damned computers that take a college degree and much expense for the maintenance personnel to master. No fly by wire.... Cable with hydraulic backups. Easy to understand and trouble shoot. Lastly they tend to be "tin canny" which is a phrase no one under 80 is likely to recognize. And they don't need much to be airworthy thanks to simplicity of design.

[@nickjcal2819]

The first comment by James Simmons has the answers.

[@38911bytefree]

Of course, its a Douglas Aircraft plane, the mighty DC-3. Just wait to see any A320 after 60 years in working condition.

[@garethonthetube]

Absolutely, the more complex a machine, the harder it is to keep it going after its design life.

[@superunknown314159]

Ha, there won't be any A320's in working condition after 60 years 😂😂

[@dave_riots]

There may actually be some flyable examples still serving in 60 years, they just won't be as common.

[@massacmongo995]

Perfect example of " Keep it simple Stupid ".. Proven Tech and reliability

[@mx5mke]

"Omitted parts" rarely fail. "Deleted options", ditto.

[@LedzeppelinDogsGuns]

well said

[@Justwantahover]

Cos the old radials are more reliable in the freezing cold?

[@prestonkd]

Larry Csonka was always my favorite growing up.

[@seriousgoat76]

But turbo props provide more power cost less to maintain than a radial, also they are less prone to failure.

[@flybyairplane3528]

Its MAGIC the only thing going for turbines, is FUEL IS MORE AVAILABLE WORLDWIDE

[@kellyreim6627]

Turbeans are not that reliable in low altitude and tough dirty conditions and their acquisition costs are prohibitive and they burn more fuel at low altitudes.

[@AngeliqueKaga]

Because these airplanes were built tough!

[@erictaylor5462]

I have a very faint memory from when I was 5 or 6 and flew on what I think was a DC-6 or DC-7. I was going with my mom to see Grandma in Michigan, and part of the flight was on an old 4 engine prop job. This would have been mid 70's, around 1975 or 1976.

[@Petra44YT]

Cool! I want to go there and fly on all these old planes :-)

[@dennism103]

Dc3s are incredible planes

[@jovanholland36]

That makes me wanna go to Alaska even more

[@ombralol]

Quick answer: Because old plane are the ak47 of planes good in rough conditions

[@PMLT3400]

Assault plane Reeeeeeee

[@tleone911]

My Father flew C-54(DC-2) in Africa during WW2. After that he got a job with The Mead Corp. Flying a DC-3(C-47). He flew that Airplane for several years before transitioning to a Fan Jet Falcon.Hell of a pilot had over 23,000 hrs flight time!

[@dougrogan379]

Maybe they should manufacturer a few more of these old beauties

[@hifinsword]

When he said at 1:20 it's one heck of an airplane, Doolittle was also one heck of a pilot!

[@eliasbabich1938]

The old DC-3 I recall used to flap their wings in flight

[@binaway]

Large but thinly populated areas with small runways only require smaller planes that don't need sophisticated technology to maintain. Just good mechanics with simple tools. Dads first flight in 1945 was courteous of a USAAF C-47 from Moosburg to Reims. Then an RAF Lancaster to England.

[@Definitelynotasam]

what they could do is refit the radials with turboprops..thats what we did with the planes at MFI. Makes them more overall efficient. Radials nowadays are incredibly unreliable, especially if you utilize still the original parts etc.

[@kellyreim6627]

Sam the man radials are less reliable because of the loose nut hanging on the throttle.

[@billbright1755]

Non pressurized means the fuselage skin rivets are not unduly stretched. Modern jets must be cycled out due to limited number of skin flexings. Weather corrosion at seams a constant concern. The Vickers Vimy now those were rugged pilots. No heat, rain, wind, cold open cockpit. Unable to fly above weather. A strong head wind meant a ground speed of maybe 10 miles an hour.

[@reesemcclain3261]

Doolittle wasn’t just a test pilot he was a crazily amazing test pilot

[@pierrechristian6767]

Was trans northern DC3 a super DC3. The tail fin looked larger than normal.

[@willyjimmy8881]

A reasonable experienced bush mechanic can keep these planes flying. Newer planes have so much government mandated electronic crap, in them it's just not practical for such an austere environment. K.I.S.S.

[@originalfiremancancelled7303]

Does Larry still play the bass?

[@Graybear78]

because their cheap, rugged, and easy to work on, plain and simple.

[@Graybear78]

Finding a nitch for oneself in the extremely crowded field of commercial flight, when one does not have a benefactor, does not make one either a loser or retarded. It takes a great amount of strength and fortitude to create a business out of nothing or very little, in an area that has the most hazardous flying conditions anywhere. I applaud those who have the courage to put everything on the line to create a place for themselves in this business world. Instead of sitting back and judging others and name calling, try doing what these brave souls have done. Frankly, I have to question those who would make such statements whether they have the courage themselves to do what is necessary to make a place for themselves in this world.

[@darkfire6610]

Nice reply

[@philipboug]

Lee Boekhout I

[@abz124816]

learn to spell

[@minn0o716]

What’s that music in the backround?

[@williamdavidwallace3904]

I 1st flew a DC3 in 1946 from Cairo to Addis Ababa with a stop in Khartoum.

[@francisvincentcabalatungan3232]

Indeed the radiator oil coolant of a rotarry pistons is in agreement to warm the fuel and tube not to frooze at alaska or cold places and prevents clogging leading to engine malfunctions

[@WILLNOTCOMPLY72]

Simple,practical and tuff as hell!! Just like the people of Alaska!!

[@zakutheferret8182]

I have a weird question just out of curiosity: do small planes have heaters in the cabin? Do the older twin engine somewhat larger ones? Seems like you'd freeze without it but then you always see pilots in old pictures with thick coats and scarves so maybe not.

[@yarpos]

yes but its usually pretty basic

[@tananam9782]

Some really basic planes do not have heaters (say, a Piper J-3 Cub). Others do, still others, older privately owned GA craft, have the equipment, but the pilots generally don't use it because for fear of carbon monoxide poisoning. Most small single engine aircraft have a shroud around part of the exhaust system that draws air over the pipes, which is then blown into the cabin. An exhaust leak can be problematic. Anyway, in case you can't use the heat, don't have it, or it just stops working, it's usually best practice to dress as if you were planning to spend the whole day outside.

[@TruckTaxiMoveIt]

Still used because: a) they work b) they are easy to work on c) new or used parts are easier to come by d) overall cost of maintenance is extremely low even after factoring in the lower fuel economy e) it's more about practicality than ecstatics

[@HarryJohnson1991]

'Cos nothing sounds better than an old piston engine

[@DHMovie100]

"And Then he took off on one engine with a full load" Either he had a round runway or the old guy is full of shit. I've never seen a round runway!!

[@Steve211Ucdhihifvshi]

because old planes are fucking awesome thats why

[@darkfire6610]

Agreed :D

[@MyThoughtzAndOpinionz]

Same reason why I still drive a 2006 car. Because It still runs well.

[@kevinmoore4887]

Because they don't make them like they use to. High fuel costs and lawsuits nearly killed General aviation.

[@MrHenreee]

Evi1M4chine tldr?

[@tananam9782]

I see. A mindless troll.

[@russg1801]

Aren't these piston-engined aircraft getting expensive to fly as high-octane av gas gets phased out? I've heard of DC-3's converted to turboprop power.

[@yarpos]

Phased out or looking for alternatives?

[@gamerfi9451]

Beechcraft V35A or A36 could they work in alaska

[@taketimeout2share]

OMG! That is a rare super DC3 at the end. R4-D2 or something like that That is a special plane. Hope it gets to a Museum at the end of the line.

[@cinnamanstera6388]

What makes it special?

[@JVChester]

If I'm remembering correctly it's a "Super DC3", original US Navy designation RD4-8 - then re-designated the C117D, I used to see them at Mildenhall during the late 60's.

[@taketimeout2share]

+cinnamanster Sorry, didn't see your comment till now.Its special because its a DC-3 with more powerful engines, less drag, better rudder but still as reliable and forgiving to fly. Trouble is, there were possibly 14, 000 DC-3's going very very cheap at the end of WW2 so nobody bought them. So only a comparative few of them were made. So take a DC-3 and feed it a lot of steroids and voila! You have a super DC 3. Carries much more than a plain DC-3 and further. This is even closer to being the perfect all rounder plane. Easy to fly. Easy to fix.

[@cinnamanstera6388]

Interesting. I find these planes fascinating, and am always amazed when I consider what they have been through and how well they still manage to perform. I really should read up on them. Thanks for the info!

[@ryanp3907]

Most of the DC-3s up here are actually Super DC-3s

[@LastExile1989]

The C47 goes back to the pre WWII era was meant for passengers as the DC3 converted for cargo and transport.

[@mx5mke]

"Why the DC3?" ==> You got something better?

[@danielchervin]

The IAF used to operate DC-3 in till mid 90's, they had written sentence in the entrance that translates to "the only good replacement for a Dakota airplane is another Dacota airplane"