Douglas R4D-8

The Douglas R4D-8 (later redesignated C-117D) is a military transport aircraft developed from the civilian Douglas DC-3S (Super DC-3) airliner. It was used by the United States Navy and United States Marine Corps during the Korean War and Vietnam War.

R4D-8/C-117D
A USMC C-117D formerly based at MCAS Iwakuni now on display at MCAS Miramar
Role Military transport aircraft
National origin United States
Manufacturer Douglas Aircraft Company
First flight 23 June 1949
Retired 1992
Primary users United States Navy
United States Marine Corps
Number built 100 (by conversion)
Developed from Douglas DC-3
Douglas C-47 Skytrain

Design and development

During World War II, the armed forces of many countries used the C-47 and modified DC-3s for the transport of troops, cargo, and wounded. The US Navy designation was R4D. More than 10,000 aircraft were produced in Long Beach and Santa Monica, California, and Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Between March 1943 and August 1945, the Oklahoma City plant produced 5,354 C-47s.[1][2]

Super DC-3

Large numbers of DC-3s and surplus C-47s were in commercial use in the United States in the 1940s. In response to proposed changes to the Civil Air Regulations airworthiness requirements that would limit the continuing use of these aircraft, Douglas offered a late-1940s DC-3 conversion to improve takeoff and single-engine performance.[3]

The fuselage of the DC-3S or "Super DC-3", was strengthened and lengthened by 3 ft 3 in (0.99 m) in front of the wings. The wing center section remained the same but the outer wing panels had a 4° trailing edge sweep and squared-off wingtips that reduced the wingspan by 5 ft 5 in (1.65 m). There was also a new square tail fin with a large dorsal fillet that was 1 ft (30 cm) taller than the DC-3's to compensate for the increased torque from more powerful engines. Either 1,475 hp (1,100 kW) Wright R-1820-80 Cyclones or 1,450 hp (1,081 kW) Pratt & Whitney R-2000 Twin Wasps with short, jet ejection-type exhaust stacks could be fitted.[3]

Other features included fully retractable landing gear, larger engine nacelles, small airliner style door, squared-off tail surfaces, partially retractable tailwheel, flush rivets, and low-drag antenna. With greater than 75% of the original DC-3/C-47 configuration changed, the modified design was virtually a new aircraft.[4] The first DC-3S made its maiden flight on 23 June 1949.[5] The changes fully met the new FAR 4B airworthiness requirements and up to 38 passengers could be carried, with increased speed to compete with newer airliners. Douglas offered to convert existing aircraft to DC-3S configuration for $150,000 per aircraft. However, little interest was expressed by commercial operators in the DC-3S.[4]

Several factors led to the DC-3S being rejected by the airlines:

  • There was a glut of cheap ex-military transport aircraft available for conversion back into civil airliners after World War II.
  • Newer aircraft with greater speed, range, and seating was available.
  • It was too expensive for the smaller operators that were its main target and only three were sold to Capital Airlines.[4]

YC-129/YC-47F/R4D-8X

During the later part of World War II, the United States Army Air Forces ordered a 21 seat VIP transport version of the C-47B and Douglas delivered 17 during 1944/45. These had 1,200 hp Pratt & Whitney R1830 engines, smaller airliner style doors, and were given the designation C-117A. Several were later modified by replacing their two-stage superchargers with single-stage superchargers and given the new designation C-117B. A number of VC-47 VIP transports were also modified to C-117B standard and given the designation C-117C. The USN and USMC also had their versions of the C-47 designated R4D-1, R4D-3, R4D-5, R4D-6, and R4D-7.[3]

Having failed to sell the DC-3S to the airlines Douglas offered a 21 seat VIP transport version with a similar configuration as the C-117B to the USAF and was evaluated under the designation YC-129, later redesignated YC-47F. The USAF declined to buy the YC-129 and opted instead for a version of the Convair CV-240 which was given the designation C-131 Samaritan. The USAF transferred the YC-129 to the United States Navy for evaluation during 1951 and it was given the Navy designation R4D-8X. Unlike the USAF the USN ordered Douglas to convert 100 existing R4D-5s, R4D-6s, and R4D-7s to the same configuration as the R4D-8X and given the designation R4D-8, which was later redesignated C-117D in 1962.[6]

The empty and loaded weight of the R4D-8 increased but so did top speed 270 mph (230 kn; 430 km/h) and cruise speed 250 mph (220 kn; 400 km/h). Fuel capacity also doubled to 1,330 US gal (1,110 imp gal; 5,000 L) and despite doubling the fuel capacity range was only increased to 2,500 mi (4,000 km).[3] In USN and USMC service the R4D-8 was mostly used as a transport and was also used by the USN parachute demonstration team the "Chuting Stars".[7]

Operational history

Korean War
U.S. Navy C-117Ds at RAF Mildenhall in 1967

R4D-8s were used as staff transports as well as para dropping supplies and flares during the Korean War.

Vietnam War

C-117Ds were used as staff transports and some were converted to ELINT aircraft as well as dropping flares during the Vietnam War.

Operation Deep Freeze

Four R4D-8Ls participated in Operation Deep Freeze and three were lost.[8]

Civil

Several ex-military C-117s are still in operation with civil airlines in Alaska and South America.

Variants
Main article: List of Douglas DC-3 family variants
YC-129
DC-3S prototype for evaluation by USAF redesignated C-47F and later passed to USN as R4D-8X.
R4D-8
Remanufactured R4D-5, R4D-6, and R4D-7 aircraft with stretched fuselage, Wright R-1820 engines, fitted with modified wings and redesigned tail surfaces; redesignated C-117D in 1962.
R4D-8L
R4D-8 converted for Antarctic use with deleted oil coolers, ski landing gear, nose mounted weather radar, and JATO gear redesignated LC-117D in 1962.
R4D-8T
R4D-8 navigation trainer, redesignated TC-117D in 1962.
R4D-8Z
R4D-8 converted as a staff transport, redesignated VC-117D in 1962.

Operators
 United States

Incidents and accidents

Surviving aircraft

Bolivia

Iceland
  • 17191 – C-117D in storage at the Egill Olafsson Museum in Hnjotur, Vesturbyggð.[11]

New Zealand

17221 - LC-47H on display at Ferrymead Aeronautical Society, Christchurch https://ferrymeadaero.org.nz/about/douglas-lc-47h-17221/

United States

Specifications

Data from

General characteristics

  • Crew: 4 (pilot, co-pilot, navigator, radio operator)
  • Capacity: 21-32
  • Length: 67 ft 9 in (20.65 m)
  • Wingspan: 90 ft (27 m)
  • Height: 18 ft 3 in (5.56 m)
  • Wing area: 969 sq ft (90.0 m2)
  • Empty weight: 19,537 lb (8,862 kg)
  • Max takeoff weight: 31,000 lb (14,061 kg)
  • Fuel capacity: 1,330 US gal (1,110 imp gal; 5,000 L)
  • Powerplant: 2 × Wright R-1820-80 Cyclone 9-cylinder air-cooled radial piston engines, 1,475 hp (1,100 kW) each
  • Propellers: 4-bladed constant-speed propellers

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 270 mph (430 km/h, 230 kn) at 5,900 ft (1,800 m)
  • Cruise speed: 250 mph (400 km/h, 220 kn)
  • Range: 2,500 mi (4,000 km, 2,200 nmi)
  • Ferry range: 3,042 mi (4,896 km, 2,643 nmi)
  • Service ceiling: 22,500[3] ft (6,900 m)
  • Rate of climb: 1,300 ft/min (6.6 m/s)
  • Wing loading: 32 lb/sq ft (160 kg/m2)
  • Power/mass: 10.5 lb/hp (4.8 kg/hp)[20]
  • C-117Ds flying over MCAS Iwakuni 1981. One of these aircraft is now on display at MCAS Miramar.
    C-117Ds flying over MCAS Iwakuni 1981. One of these aircraft is now on display at MCAS Miramar.
  • A C-117D at the Pima Air & Space Museum.
    A C-117D at the Pima Air & Space Museum.
  • The final flight of a USMC C-117D in 1992. This aircraft is now on display at MCAS Cherry Point.
    The final flight of a USMC C-117D in 1992. This aircraft is now on display at MCAS Cherry Point.
  • A C-117D being moved from NAS Keflavik to the Aviation Museum of Iceland.
    A C-117D being moved from NAS Keflavik to the Aviation Museum of Iceland.
  • C-117s at the Pima Air & Space Museum.
    C-117s at the Pima Air & Space Museum.
  • A LC-117D "Semper Shafters USMC" with ski landing gear and weather radar in the nose near the Beardmore Glacier, Antarctica, 1961.
    A LC-117D "Semper Shafters USMC" with ski landing gear and weather radar in the nose near the Beardmore Glacier, Antarctica, 1961.
  • A Trans Northern Aviation Super DC-3.
    A Trans Northern Aviation Super DC-3.
  • US Navy C-117D Sólheimasandur Iceland Crash.
    US Navy C-117D Sólheimasandur Iceland Crash.

See also

Related development

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

Related lists

References
  1. Parker 2013, pp. 13, 35, 37, 39, 45-47.
  2. Herman 2012, pp. 202-203, 227.
  3. Davis, Larry (1995). C-47 Skytrain in action. Carrollton, TX: Squadron/Signal Publications. pp. 56–60. ISBN 0-89747-329-9. OCLC 32799671.
  4. "Super DC-3". dc3history.org. Retrieved 23 June 2010.
  5. Francillon 1979, pp. 464–465.
  6. Francillon 1979, pp. 466–467.
  7. "C-117D (R4D-8) Skytrain". public2.nhhcaws.local. Retrieved 2021-06-09.
  8. Percy, Arthur (1973). Douglas R4D variants (USN's DC-3 / C-47s) (Aircraft Profile No. 249). Profile Publications. p. 24.
  9. Prophet, Michael. "Lineas Aereas Canedo". Vintage Aviation Pictures. Retrieved 10 January 2022.
  10. "Airframe Dossier - Douglas C-117D, s/n 17190 USN, c/n 12979 {2}, c/r CP-2421". Aerial Visuals. Retrieved 10 January 2022.
  11. "Airframe Dossier - Douglas C-117D, s/n 17191 USN, c/n 12980". Aerial Visuals. Retrieved 10 January 2022.
  12. Mozey, Len. "Douglas R4D-8 Super Skytrooper". Blue Angels Alumni. Retrieved 10 January 2022.
  13. "Airframe Dossier - Douglas C-117D, s/n 12437 USN, c/n 09620, c/r N44GH {1}". Aerial Visuals. Retrieved 10 January 2022.
  14. "Airframe Dossier - Douglas C-117D, s/n 39080 USMC, c/n 10207, c/r N28TN". Aerial Visuals. Retrieved 10 January 2022.
  15. "FAA Registry [N28TN]". Federal Aviation Administration. U.S. Department of Transportation. Retrieved 10 January 2022.
  16. "C-117D Skytrain". National Naval Aviation Museum. Archived from the original on 3 July 2019. Retrieved 10 January 2022.
  17. "Airframe Dossier - Douglas C-117D, s/n 50821 USN, c/n 15431". Aerial Visuals. Retrieved 10 January 2022.
  18. "Douglas R4D-8 (C-117D) Super Gooneybird". Pima Air & Space Museum. Retrieved 10 January 2022.
  19. "Airframe Dossier - Douglas C-117D, s/n 50835 USMC, c/n 26998, c/r N835TD". Aerial Visuals. Retrieved 10 January 2022.
  20. Francillon, René J. (1988). McDonnell Douglas aircraft since 1920. London: Putnam. p. 436. ISBN 0-85177-827-5. OCLC 19645408.

Bibliography
  • Davis, Larry. C-47 Skytrain in action. Carrollton: Squadron/Signal Publications, 1995. ISBN 0-89747-329-9.
  • Francillon, René J. McDonnell Douglas Aircraft Since 1920. London: Putnam & Company, 1979. ISBN 0-370-00050-1.
  • Herman, Arthur. Freedom's Forge: How American Business Produced Victory in World War II. New York: Random House, 2012. ISBN 978-1-4000-6964-4.
  • Parker, Dana T. Building Victory: Aircraft Manufacturing in the Los Angeles Area in World War II. Cypress, California: Dana Parker Enterprises, 2013. ISBN 978-0-9897906-0-4.
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