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Dakota N2-90 was originally withdrawn from RAN service in April 1974, but was restored to airworthiness by Navy apprentices at HMAS Nirimba in the early 1980s, in time for the RAN's 75 anniversary celebrations. The restored N2-90 is pictured here in its current Oxford blue scheme
Aircraft of the ADF – N2 Douglas Dakota
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N2 – Douglas C-47 Dakota
In July 1949 the RAN was offered up to three Douglas Dakotas on free issue from the RAAF, to serve as transports and assist the training of aircrew. Two RAAF aircraft were chosen, C-47A variants serialled A65-23 and A65-43. The classic Douglas C-47/DC-3 transport was the workhorse of the mid twentieth century. Developed by the Douglas Aircraft Corporation from the revolutionary DC-1 and DC-2 metal stressed skin designs of the early 1930s, the DC-3 series was built in larger numbers than any other transport. The DC-3 entered military service with the US in 1941 as the C-53, but the most common military version became the ubiquitous C-47. A total of 10,655 of the DC-3 family were built, which included 609 civil models and 10,046 of various military versions. These included:
C-41 Two aircraft, one a modified C-39 (DC-2), and the other a C-41A, a modified DC-3. C-47 Military DC-3 with large freight doors, primary subvariants being the C-47 Skytrain or Dakota I (965 built); C-47A Dakota III which replaced the 12 volt electrical system with 24 volts (5254 built); and C-47B Dakota IV with the higher performance of the R-1830-90C engine with two-stage supercharger (3364 built). C-48 Civil DC-3s impressed into US military service, powered by R-1830 engines. C-49 Civil DC-3s impressed into US military service, powered by R-1820 engines. C-50 C-49s with greater all-up weight. C-51 Single impressed DC-3. C-52 Six impressed civil DC-3As. C-53 378 DC-3s built for the US military, some transferred to RAF service as the Dakota II. C-68 Two impressed DC-3As. C-84 Four impressed DC-3Bs. C-117 17 aircraft, similar to C-47B with 24 seat airline type interior. C-129 A single “Super DC-3”. R4D-1 66 aircraft delivered from the factory for the US Navy. Other R4D designations applied to impressed DC-3s, and converted C-47s and C-53s.
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