Douglas C-47 Skytrain

C-47 Skytrain / Dakota C-53 Skytrooper
C-47 "Whiskey 7" at Duxford D-Day Show 2014
Role	Military transport aircraft Type of aircraft
National origin	United States
Manufacturer	Douglas Aircraft Company
First flight	23 December 1941[1]
Status	In service
Primary users	United States Army Air Forces Royal Air Force United States Navy Royal Canadian Air Force See operators
Number built	10,174
Developed from	Douglas DC-3
Variants	Douglas XCG-17 Douglas AC-47 Spooky Douglas R4D-8

The Douglas C-47 Skytrain or Dakota (RAF designation) is a military transport aircraft developed from the civilian Douglas DC-3 airliner. It was used extensively by the Allies during World War II. During the war the C-47 was used for troop transport, cargo, paratrooper, for towing gliders and military cargo parachute drops. The C-47 remained in front-line service with various military operators for many years.^[2] It was produced in approximately triple the numbers as the larger, much heavier payload Curtiss C-46 Commando, which filled a similar role for the U.S. military.

Approximately 100 countries' armed forces have operated the C-47 with over 60 variants of the aircraft produced. As with the civilian DC-3, the C-47 remains in service in the present day, over 80 years after the type's introduction.