The Douglas C-47 was the military adaptation of the civilian Douglas DST/DC-3. Nicknamed the "Skytrain", SkyTrooper, Dakota and was was very often affectionately called the "Gooney Bird". It was used in all the theaters of operation during the Second World War. The Army Air Corps took the standard Douglas airliner, strengthened the lower fuselage and installed larger cargo doors. The C-47 had a cargo capacity of only 6,000 Lbs. (example: two jeeps, or three aircraft engines, or 28 fully armed troops, or 14 stretchers and three attendants).
 

The C-47 was powered by two Pratt & Whitney R-1830 engines each rated at 1200 hp. It had a cruising speed of 230 mph at an altitude of 8,500 feet. Empty, the C-47 had a maximum ceiling of 23,200 feet, this ceiling was considerably lower when the aircraft was fully loaded. The C-47 had a wing-span of 95 feet and a length of 64 feet, 6 inches. Its range was 1200 miles.

BEFORE STARTING ENGINES

Check Form 1. and status today. (Navy Yellow Sheet).

Check Form F. Weights and Balance Clearances, AN-01-1-40.

Wheels chocked.

Landing gear pins installed.

Determine whether carburetor air filters are installed.

Cowl flaps—OPEN.

Mixture—IDLE CUT-OFF.

When fuselage tanks are installed, valves should be—CLOSED.

L .H. fuel selector to L.H. main or to fullest tank.

R. H. fuel selector to R.H. main or to fullest tank.

Check fuel quantity gages.

Cross feed—OFF

Propeller controls—LOW PITCH.

Carburetor heat controls—COLD.

Oil shutter controls as required.

Battery cart—ON.

Instrument switch—ON.

Wobble up fuel pressure.

Prime 2 to 3 seconds with outside temperature 40 to 60 F. (4.4 to 15.6 C.)

Below 40 F. (4.4 C.) 5 to 8 seconds. With primers in nacelle, manual priming necessary.

Ignition switches—ON.

Energize—ENGAGE STARTERS.
 

DURING WARM UP

When engine catches mixture control—AUTO RICH.

Warm up a 800 to 1000 rpm.

Check engine instruments in green.

Master battery—ON.

Move propeller pitch controls to--FULL HIGH PITCH at least twice.
 

DURING FLIGHT

Retrack gear control—NEUTRAL.

Cross feed—OFF

Cowl flaps-TRAIL for climb. Closed to OFF for cruise.

Mixture control AUTO RICH for takeoff and climb.

Take off and indicate 110- mph. or 120 mph. as soon as possible.

FLIGHT INSTRUCTIONS

Takeoff: 2700 rpm. 48" Hg (100 oct) auto rich 42.7" Hg (91 oct) auto rich Max cyl head temp 260 C.

Nomal Rated Power: 2550 rpm. 40" Hg (100 oct) auto rich 38.6" Hg (91 oct) auto rich Max cyl head temp 260 C.

Maximum Cruising: 2230 rpm. 33" Hg (100 oct) auto lean 27.5" Hg (91oct) auto rich Max cyl head temp 232 C.

Desired Cruising: 2150 rpm. 28" Hg (100 oct) auto lean 28" Hg (91 oct) auto rich Max cyl head temp 232 C.

Cruise for minimum specific fuel flow:

1700 rpm. 30" Hg (100 oct) auto lean 30" Hg (91 oct) auto lean Max cyl head temp 232 C.
 

BEFORE LANDING

L. H. fuel selectors to L.H. main or fullest tank.

R. H. fuel selectors to R.H. main or fullest tank.

Carburetor heat—COLD.

Mixture-AUTO RICH.

Gear DOWN control NEUTRAL and LATCHED green light

Cross feed—ON

Cowl flaps CLOSED and in OFF position.

Set propeller controls for 2230 rpm.

Extend flaps (Max speed for extension 112 mph). Use full flap unless gusty condition or cross wind.
 

AFTER LANDING

Propeller—LOW PITCH.

Flaps—UP.

Tail wheel—UNLOCKED.

Cowl flaps—OPEN.

Use oil dilution as required T.O. No. 02.1-29.

Mixture control—IDLE CUT OFF—with engines turning 1000 rpm.

Ignition switch—OFF.

Fuel selector—OFF.

Electrical switches—OFF.

Landing gear lever—DOWN.

Cowl flaps—CLOSED—when engines cooled.

Set parking brakes when cooled. Install landing gear pins.

Wheels chocked. Surface controls installed.