Further Information From the USA

I recently received an interesting email as a result of this blog from the person whose father flew 17221 down on the ice during its time in service. He supplied the following interesting snippets of information:

"Reference US Navy BuNo 17221, LC-47H assigned to VX6; my deceased father, Commander Dennis A. OLSON, USN flew that aircraft from 1964 until about 1966 on the Ice. I have lots of color slides of him and that aircraft as well as other similar aircraft from Antarctica. On 5 Dec 1965, my father landed a LC-47H, “The Deep Freeze Express”, BuNo 17107 in the Horlick Mtns of Antarctica and the aircraft lost a ski. The plane was abandoned on the spot and stricken from the records. Two pilots who were stationed on the Ice with my father at the time are still alive and can confirm this.

Edward A. Olson"

Project on Hold

The DC3 project has had to take a back seat at the moment as I am overseas at the moment working in Africa. Progress continues with many of the other fantastic Ferrymead aircraft such as the wooden Mosquito fighter bomber, the shiny newly completed Viscount passenger plane, and the long term Hudson and Sunderland cockpit projects.

I see the main park website has had an update and the following link is to the Aeronautical Society collection: http://www.ferrymead.org.nz/societies/aeronautical/

Do check back again for further future updates.

Future Plans 2006

The main task ahead is the stripping and repainting of the aircraft. Although not large by modern standards, it is quite a daunting task none the less. There are various areas of corrosion to be treated and repaired, and the engines will require a large amount of work to really preserve them for the future. The wing root corrosion which is typical of many DC3's may well require the removal of the wings for repair.

Work is being undertaken on the starboard side of the aircraft to start with while preserving as far as possible the port side of the aircraft for display in the meantime. At some stage in the future perhaps the aircraft can be turned around to face the other way and the same procedure repeated.

General Cleaning and Engine Checks

The main aircraft has had a number of tasks carried out including smiply lots of cleaning and sorted of parts.

The control surfaces of the aircraft were removed for save keeping sometime in the 80's I believe and this was an excellent move. Stored out of the weather inside the fuselarge they are in very good condition with the exception of the starboard aleron which unfortunately appears to have been stood on and now requires both structural and fabric repairs.

The engines recevied by far the biggest hammering from the elements

[Photos: Aircraft on display 2006, control surfaces and tail cone back in place, example birds nest in removed engine cowling]

Cockpit Work Completed

The cockpit of an aircraft is always a drawcard for any aircraft and so having a look at this area was high on the list. It was also quite the worse for wear with water damage and vandal smashed windows. Having said that though the cockpit is very complete with all instruments in place and with a good clean and polish will not required much further work.

Water leaking in through the cockpit escape hatch had caused the wooden flooring to rot and give way and so this was the first replacement job completed using standard 9mm ply. This floor replacement was also required in the tail area of the aircraft.

Further water coming in through the side windows had rotted and almost completed destroyed the note boxes by the side of the two pilot and copilot seats. Chris, another museum volunteer recreated fantastic copies of the boxes for installation, as well as being able to source and fit new windscreen glass for the cockpit.

The cockpit seats were completely re upholstered as the old seating cushions had rotted and cracked with the effects of water and sun. They are now back in position and look excellent. Some further material work will be required to repair some of the interior insulated lining.

[Photos: cockpit in 2001 before work begain, rotted cockpit flooring, replacement cockpit file box]

My Move to Chirstchurch

I moved to Christchurch at the beginning of 2001 and took up a role with the New Zealand Alpine Club. With my strong interest in aircraft and background working as a volenteer at the Museum of Transport and Technology (MoTaT) in Auckland, I of course wandered along to Ferrymead to lend a hand.

Although my main interest was in the famous and rare Mosquito aircraft also with the museum I was happy to take on the DC3 as it certainly was looking a little under the weather even in its new hanger.

I set about collecting and refitting the various parts of the aircraft from around the place including the skis for the main wheels, the control surfaces, tailwheel etc. I also applied for and was granted a small loan for some required work materials which was excellent. A small work bench was set up inside and some very basic lighting put up to allow work on Wednesday evenings.

[Photo: interior of aircraft fuselarge in 2001 showing stored items]

Permanent Preservation

Over the course of many years a new hanger for the DC3 was contructed completely with volenteer labour.

A concrete floor pad was first laid and the aircraft rolled into place. The rest of the building was built around the DC3 fully enclosing it from the elements and removing the need for large unnessacary hanger doors. Steel beams from an old building were used to form the roof structure, with tiltslab contrete forming the walls.

The aircraft was placed with its nose into the wind during construction and this has meant that the aircraft is in fact facing away from the main enterance. It may be possible in the future to remove the aircraft wings and turn the plan around to face the other way for display purposes.

I believe that there are two other ski equiped DC3 aircraft preserved outdoors overseas. I found the two pictures included here on the internet and would be keen to learn more on these two aircraft.

The first is Que Seria Seria which was the first aircraft to land at the south pole.

The other is at a museum in South America and appears to be a ski equiped example that may have been used for operations to the ice from the bottom of south america.

[Photo: DC3 hanger under construction, Que Seria Seria, South American example on display]

History of the LC47H Aircraft

This aircraft was built in the 1940's.

It was used by the US Navy for transport to and from Antartica. When the US Navy ended its avaiation opertation in Christchurch and passed over to the US Air Force, the aircraft was retired.

There is another similar aircraft preseved in the United States that made the first aircraft landing at the south pole.

Donation and Transport to Ferrymead

The aircraft was donated to Ferrymeand in 1973 on permanent loan from the US Navy who were responsible for its operation. It was towed from Christchurch airport were it was based along the roads to Ferrymead.

Placed on display outside the aircraft formed a fantastic centre piece for the newly formed group set up to preseve avaiation hertitage. The engines were run on occasion for some years.

[Photos: Aircraft being towed through the streets of Christchurch on its way to the Ferrymead museum site, through the museum gates with wings removed, running the starnboard engine]

Beginnings

A place on the internet is important for any organisation. The Ferrymead Aeronautical Society seems to have a lot of members all keyed into the web but still no website of their own. This is my little adventure into seeing if this is an effective way of starting up some news and information on the aircraft I am working on, the collections DC3.