 Photo ID: 1011614 click image to enlarge |
Model: Douglas C-47B, Basler BT-67 Conversion, DC3-TP67 |
Registration: ZS-ASN (South African) |
| Year: 1945 |
Serial Number: USAF 44-77249, c/n 16833/ 33581 |
| Engine(s): P&W PT6A-67R, 1424-SHP |
Owner: Anglo Operations Limited, Marshalltown, South Africa |
| Location: PAFA, Fairbanks International, Fairbanks, AK |
Photographer: Ken Stoltzfus |
| Date: July, 2004 |
Present Registration: Same |
Present Owner (FAA info): Same |
Notes: 3/4/05 - Son Ken and I were scouting around Fairbanks International looking for photo ops when we saw this thing sitting on the ramp. Whoo-baby, what is that? You wanna talk about weird looking!?
I grabbed my camera and started shooting through the gap between the chainlink fence and gate, when a guy started walking across the ramp toward us. Uh-oh - - what does this mean? I lived in Africa long enough to be jumpy about people being jumpy about people with cameras at airports. I backed away from the fence and looked for "Photos Prohibited" signs. None! I was getting my defense ready when he said, "Would you fellows like to come on in and get some shots up close?" Oh - - thanks, guy!! |
 Photo ID: 1011615 click image to enlarge |
Notes: C-47B-40-DK (Oklahoma City) was delivered June 1945, given USAF s/n 44-77249, tail number 477249, and went to the RAF as KP279 in July. It started civilian life with British European Airways in 1952 as G-AMNV, named "Sir Eric Geddes" and has been registered all over the world since then. This is probably the fourth time it was registered as ZS-ASN! It is referred to as a "DC3-TP67", in the South African registration database. |
| Photographer: Ken Stoltzfus |
 Photo ID: 1011616 click image to enlarge |
Notes: 'ASN is used for geological survey work and it looks like a pretty sophisticated setup. Word was, they were in Alaska under contract to look for gold.
It was converted to a Basler Turbo 67 in late 1992 and has P&W PT6A-67R engines. This was Basler's 11th conversion. The fuselage is stretched 40" ahead of the centersection
|
| Photographer: Ken Stoltzfus |
 Photo ID: 1011617 click image to enlarge |
Notes: They drop these guys down in flight. I wish I could tell you more. Maybe someone out there can |
| Photographer: Ken Stoltzfus |
 Photo ID: 1011618 click image to enlarge |
Notes: Those cables run all the way around the airplane! They're probably pretty careful about flying in icing conditions. |
| Photographer: Ken Stoltzfus |
 Photo ID: 1011619 click image to enlarge |
Notes: Ever see ramjets on the wingtip of a DC-3 before? Just kidding. |
| Photographer: Ken Stoltzfus |
 Photo ID: 1011620 click image to enlarge |
Notes: My guess is that the exhaust coming out the left side of the fuselage is from a turbine generator unit used to power their equipment. Someone correct me if I'm wrong.
Note the exhaust system Basler uses, which reduces the infrared signature for when their aircraft are flown in hostile areas where heat-seeking missiles are a concern. It is very different from the AMI conversion with the PT6A-65AR engines. (See N467SP) |
| Photographer: Ken Stoltzfus |
 Photo ID: 1011621 click image to enlarge |
Notes: If that were the back end of a wasp we'd be in real trouble.
The wavy edges on the trim are actually there. It's not because my photos are jpeg'd. |
| Photographer: Ken Stoltzfus |
|
|
www.FlyingHigher.net - Douglas Aircraft
|
|