NAGPUR: A March 1940-make Dakota C-43 the oldest aircraft in the world attempting circumnavigation of the globe , touched down here on Monday.Also called DC-3 (Douglas DC-3), these planes had played a key role in India's wars with Pakistan in 1947 and 1965.The present aircraft, owned by Aeropassion, a Swiss firm, flew in here from Karachi last night, its 11th halt on the 55-city tour during which it would circumnavigate the globe.The aircraft, manufactured by the now extinct US-based Douglas Aircraft Company, were extensively used by the Allied forces during the World War II. Among other missions, they were used to airdrop the troops during the landing on the Normandy coast in France on the 'D-day'.The 'Breitling DC-3 World Tour' started off from Geneva on March 9, the 77th birthday of the 36-seater aircraft with a 3-member crew, said Captain Francisco Agullo, the pilot.Agullo (48), a Swiss national, has experience of 28 years. Engines of this make have to be changed after every 1200 hours, he said.The DC-3 was also the first plane to complete the US east-west journey with just one stop. In Tokyo, the plane will offer a joy ride to the child victims of the 2013 tsunami.Civil DC-3 production stopped in 1942 with 607 aircraft made. However, the production of its military derivative, the C-47 Skytrain (designated as Dakota by the UK's Royal Air Force), and the Russian and Japanese versions continued till 1950.

Source: Times of India March 27, 2017 15:04 UTC