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kanyiko [2018-10-06 02:03:29 +0000 UTC]

Douglas DC-3-178 c/n 1557 NC16019 'Flagship Oklahoma' was the 19th DC-3 off the production line.  She first entered service with American Airlines in October of 1936.  She was an early DC-3, still with the short cowlings and a single-row, 9-cylinder Wright R-1820-F56 capable of developing 790 bhp; she also had the right-hand passenger door caracteristic for the early-produced DC-3s (also prevalent on the license-built Lisunov Li-2)

She remained in service with American until May of 1949.

She was rebuilt at this point, being converted to 'Super DC-3' status (DC-3S), which brought along a change of serial number from 1557 to 43191.
The conversion was extensive - her fuselage was stretched by 39 inches; her 790 bhp R1820s were replaced with 1450 bhp R2000s more commonly associated with the DC-4; her wings were shortened and squared off; her engine cowlings were streamlined with landing gear covers added; and she was given a distinctive, taller, squared off vertical tail.

As a Super DC-3, she was delivered as N16019 to Capital Airlines, one of only three DC-3S' ever delivered as new to a civil owner - about a hundred others were rebuilt as C-117s (R4D-8) for the US Navy.  She was the first one delivered in July of 1950, however Capital only operated her until April of 1952, as the Super DC-3 proved to be more expensive to operate and maintain.  The three Supers were sold to US Steel as company aircraft, and N16019 was re-registered as N540S until the early 1980s.

N540S was re-registered as N518AC to Atkins Aviation Inc. of McAllen, Texas on February 27th 1984; her paper trail ends with her cancellation on March 29th 1991.

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