DC3 ceiling

[lluisdc 0]

Hi gents,I am a proud user (since ancient times) of the MAAM DC3 and it is also one of the aircraft of our fleet (http://www.catalonian-airlines.cat/ca/DC3).As long as I remember, this is an unpressurised aircraft and I have always flown it under FL100. However, now I am putting all manuals and technical data toguether and I see in the "CLIMB DATA MAAM Sim R4D.doc" and the "Flight Operation MAAM Sim R4D.doc" that data are given up to FL150. I wonder if this is only for the R4D or is also applicable to the passenger version of the DC3.Thank you for responding.Cheers,Llu

[Dark Moment 0]

Hi LluisWell, you'd certainly not be taking your passengers above FL100... not often, anyway, although it has been done on commercial flights for sure. Not so comfy, though. But the aircraft itself has a service ceiling of approximately 24,000 feet (design spec.. pilots tell me 22,000 feet is more like it). You'd need oxygen up there, of course. The C-47B with its two-stage blowers was specifically designed for the high altitude flying in Nepal over 'The Hump' after WWII. The R4D-6 is the Navy designation of this aircraft.Do get yourself into our forum over at DC-3 Airways (thanks, I got your message). There are many specific charters written for The Hump and for other high alititude journeys, and you'll learn a lot about power management and navigation while mountain flying in the Gooney Bird.Hope this helps.Mark