Air Niugini's DC3 fleet |
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The first DC-3 (or DST - Douglas Sleeper Transport as it was then known) flew for the first time on 17 Dec 1935.
Number Registrations Notes 9583 VH-MMA, P2-MMA, P2-ANS Ex Ansett 9479 VH-MAB, P2-MAB, P2-ANX Ex Ansett sold as N55894 (derelict Jackson's?) 6108 VH-SBO, P2-SBO, P2-ANT Purchased from TAA 16553 VH-MMD, P2-MMD, P2-ANU Ex Ansett (stored Powerhouse Museum)
Click for Photo (large!)16197 VH-MML, P2-MML, P2-ANV Ex Ansett 15665 VH-SBW, P2-SBW, P2-ANQ Ex TAA - mounted on pole at Jackson's
National Newspaper picture and story13340 VH-MAT, P2-MAT, P2-ANZ Ex Ansett - was derelict at Nadzab 12873 VH-SBG, P2-SBG, P2-ANP Ex TAA 12647 VH-MAN, P2-MAN, P2-ANY Ex Ansett 12187 VH-SBD, P2-SBD, P2-ANO Ex TAA - Now mounted on pole at Cairns Airport 12056 VH-SBL, P2-SBG, P2-ANP Purchased from TAA 10000 VH-SBB, P2-SBB, P2-ANN Purchased from TAA - First Aircraft to be painted in the original Air Niugini Colours
P2-ANU - Air Niugini - DC3
Powerplants
Two 895kW (1200hp) Pratt & Whitney R1830S1C3G Twin Wasp 14 cylinder twin row radial piston engines driving three blade variable pitch propellers, or two 895kW (1200hp) Wright SGR1820 Cyclone nine cylinder radials.
Performance
Max speed 346km/h (187kt), economical cruising speed 266km/h (143kt). Initial rate of climb 1130ft/min. Range with max fuel 2420km (1307nm), range with max payload 563km (305nm).
Weights
Typical operating empty 8030kg (17,720lb), max takeoff 12,700kg (28,000lb).
Dimensions
Wing span 28.96m (95ft 0in), length 19.66m (64ft 6in), height 5.16m (16ft 12in). Wing area 91.7m2 (987sq ft).
Capacity
Flight crew of two. Seating for between 28 and 32 passengers at four abreast or 21 three abreast.
Production
10,655 built in the USA, including 430 for commercial operators prior to US entry to WW2. 2000 or so built in Russia under licence. It is belived that more than 400 remain in service.
It is believed that all DC3's were purchased for AUD$15,000 at the inception of Air Niugini.
(Nov 1 1973 - Air Niugini commenced with 12 DC3's and 4 Fokker F27 aircraft).
