The DC-3 in South Africa


John Millar asked a couple of questions regarding DC-3 ZS-LVR. I was fortunate enough to fly this aircraft from June 95 to April 97. It was indeed a special Dak, it was originally built in 1942 and I believe was operated by the US navy and then the CIA and was used in early radar trials (hence the longer nose) and I believe it did actually fly off an aircraft carrier. It was then operated by Pan Am and was one of 7 aircraft modified by Pan Am for their South American routes, it also had P&W 1830-94 upgraded engines. I believe it is the only one of this configuration left in existence. When I stopped flying the aircraft it had only 16,000 hours total time and was in superb condition, however the Memphis Belle decals (which I personally fitted under threat of being sacked if I refused) were not my idea. The aircraft was used in a South African TV commercial for Volkskaas bank which I did all the flying for. I think it is now operated by Central air Cargo out of Lanseria. 

Mark Mainwaring

c/n#20475 43-16009 D07Jun44 - Alaska ATC 10J - Salvage Elmendorf, AK

16Aug48 - N4 Northern Consolidated A/L Inc (Nov53 to 19 Colorado

Interstate Gas Co - N950 Electric Au Co - N5000C Swiflite Acft Corp

- Rr N5000E Fe) Western Geophysical L until 1975 - Aero Svce (

Houston, TX R14Jan76.



South Africa 
C9-STF 12205 Preserved Milnerton. 
N148RD 27199/15753 Dodson Aviation, Wonderboom. C47TP. 
N149RD 33552/16804 Dodson Aviation, Wonderboom. C47TP. 
N376AS 27047 Dodson Aviation, Wonderboom. C47TP. 
N8190X 33467/16730 Dodson Aviation, Wonderboom. C47TP. 
N8194Z 12166 Dodson Aviation, Wonderboom. C47TP. 
N8241T 33134/16386 Dodson Aviation, Wonderboom. C47TP. 
N81949 12582 Dodson Aviation, Wonderboom. C47TP. 
N81952 32825/16077 Dodson Aviation, Wonderboom. C47TP. 
ZS-BXF 12107 South African Airways Museum and Historic Flight, Swartkop. 
ZS-BXJ 12413 South African Airways Museum and Historic Flight, Swartkop. 
ZS-DHX 15908/32656 Wonder Air. Turbo DC3. 
ZS-DIW 11991 Phoebus Apollo Aviation, Rand. 
ZS-DRJ 12026 Africa Charter Airlines, Rand. 
ZS-GPL 9581 MJ Vermeulen, Wonderboom. 
ZS-KEX 2008 MJ Vermeulen. Fuselage at Wonderboom. 
ZS-KIV 33257 Pretoria Air Services, Lanseria. 
ZS-KCV 15268/26713 Professional Aviation Services. Turbo DC3. 
ZS-LJI 16965/34225 Professional Aviation Services, Lanseria. Turbo DC3. 
ZS-LVR 20475 Nelair, Nelspruit. 
ZS-LYW 14357/25802 Wonder Air. Turbo DC3. 
ZS-MFY 12073 Speed Courier Services, Wonderboom. Turbo C47. 
ZS-MRU 4363 Speed Courier Services, Wonderboom. 
ZS-NKK 13143 Speed Courier Services, Wonderboom. Turbo DC3. 
ZS-NTD 26438/14993 Aero Air, Lanseria. 
ZS-NTE 11926 Phoebus Apollo Aviation. 
ZS-NZD 19104 Aero Air. 
ZS-NZE 13368 Aero Air. 
ZS-OJD 4890 TAC Air Services, Rand. 
ZS-OJE 32844 TAC Air Services, Rand. 
ZS-OJI 14994/26439 Turbo DC3. 
ZS-OJJ 16213/32961 Rossair, Lanseria. Turbo DC3. 
ZS-OJK 14165/25610 Nature Links Air Charter, Wonderboom. Turbo DC3. 
ZS-OJL 16565/33313 Dodson Aviation, Wonderboom. DC3TP. 
ZS-OJM 14101/25546 Dodson Aviation, Wonderboom. DC3TP. 
ZS-OSO 12590 National Test Pilots School, Cape Town. C47TP. 
ZS-PAA 1984 Phoebus Apollo. Under restoration at Rand. 
ZS-PTG 13331 Debon Air. Turbo DC3?. Seen as ZS-CVR
6811 11986 South African Air Force. Turbo DC3. 
6814 11990 South African Air Force. Turbo DC3. 
6816 12112 South African Air Force. Turbo DC3. Wreck Ysterplaat. 
6825 12160 South African Air Force. Turbo DC3. 
6828 12415 South African Air Force. 
6829 12413 South African Air Force. Turbo DC3. 
6832 12478 South African Air Force Museum, Ysterplaat. Under complete restoration. 
6837 13539 South African Air Force. Turbo DC3. 
6839 13540 South African Air Force Flight Test and Development Centre, Bredasdorp. Turbo DC3. 
6840 25311 South African Air Force. Turbo DC3. 
6845 26087 South African Air Force. Turbo DC3P. 
6850 15654/27099 On roof of shopping mall in Johannesburg. 
6852 27002 South African Air Force. Turbo DC3. 
6854 32635 South African Air Force. Turbo DC3. 
6859 12586 South African Air Force Museum, Swartkop. 
6864 12580 South African Air Force. Turbo DC3. 
6866 12090 South African Air Force. Turbo DC3. 
6870 32935 South African Air Force. Turbo DC3. 
6875 11746 South African Air Force. Turbo DC3. 
6877 11925 South African Air Force. Turbo DC3. 
6882 32644/15896 South African Air Force. 
6884 12064 South African Air Force. Turbo DC3. 
6885 12596 South African Air Force. Turbo DC3. 
6887 12704 South African Air Force. Turbo DC3. 

 

Spectrem Air operates a much modified Basler DC3-TP67 for airborne mineral exploration based out of South Africa. We had the aircraft converted at the end of 1992, and have been operating her as a turbo-prop since 1993. The aircraft is in Thompson, Manitoba at present.
 
Andrew Lawlor
Safety Officer
www.spectrem.co.za

 

Registration #
ZS-ASN

Make
DOUGLAS AIRCRAFT COMPANY DC3-TP67

Model
33581

Owner
ANGLO OPERATIONS LIMITED 

Address
PO BOX 61587
MARSHALLTOWN
2107
JOHANNESBURG

 

c/n#16833/33581 44-77249 D30Jun45 - KP279 RAF Montreal 02Jul45 - UK

01Feb46 - 46 Sq 16May46 1333 (T)CU 11Dec46 - 1382 (T)CU 07Jan48 -

240 OCU 05Jan48 - St 28Aug48 - 27 Sq 02Mar50 - 8MU 08Nov50 - G-AMNV

BEA "Sir Eric Geddes" R16Jan52 - Tyne Tees Air Charter Ltd R20Jun62

EC-ATM TASSA L 27Nov62 to 02Nov63 - SE-EDI Swedair 05Jan65 - G-AMNV

Autair Intl Ltd R19Feb65 - 6V-AAM Air Scnegal R15Jul65 ntu G-AMNV

Autair Ltd R29Oct65 - VQ-ZEA Bechuanaland Natl A/W R11Nov65 - A2-ZEA

Rr Aug68 - ZS-FKI Protea AAV - Natl Process Air R Dec68 - ZS-NPI Rr

Nov69 - ZS-ASN Acft Operating Co Surveys Ltd R Feb73 - AOC Surveys

Consultants Ltd, Lanseria (1980) - A2-ADL Ae Survey Botswana,

Gaberone, RFeb82.

 

Phillip Evans sent in the following photos of:


C-47 6864
C9-STF
C9-ATG
ZS-DIW
ZS-JMP
ZS-LVR
ZS-DHX
ZS-LJI
SAAF C-47 6854
ZS-LYW
ZS-MRR
ZS-PTG seen as ZS-CVR 2002 c/n 13331 

Andrew Lawlor sent in:
Various shots of ZS-ASN seen as PR-MGF & later Seen as PT-WXE    temporary registration for Brazil

 

 

Below are two pics of ZS-JMP

 


 

Spectrem Air operates a much modified Basler DC3-TP67 for airborne mineral exploration based out of South Africa. We had the aircraft converted at the end of 1992, and have been operating her as a turbo-prop since 1993. The aircraft is in Thompson, Manitoba at present.
 
Andrew Lawlor
Safety Officer
www.spectrem.co.za