DOUGLAS, Serial No.4665

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Built in August of 1942, DOUGLAS, Serial No.4665, spent the first three years of it's life in the camouflage war colours of the U.S.A.A.F., flying transport missions in India and China. At the end of the war it, along with several other C-47's, was sold by the War Assets Corporation to Grant McConachie's newly formed Canadian Pacific Airlines. Converted to the civilian DC-3 configuration in 1946 and issued the Canadian registration of CF-CPY, she began her fifteen year career with C.P.A., flying the company's scheduled routes throughout Canada. During the mid fifties, as C.P.A. upgraded their mainliners to Convairs and DC-6B's, CF-CPY soon found herself serving the less glamourous domestic routes, including, the Whitehorse-Mayo-Dawson run. In 1960 the airplane was sold to Connely Dawson Airways of Dawson City. For the next six years she worked as a bush plane, operating on wheels or skiis, hauling supplies north into remote places like Old Crow and the early oil exploration camps in Eagle Plains. From 1966 until her last flight in November 1970, CF-CPY was again based in Whitehorse, serving the Yukon charter and scheduled routes of Great Northern Airways. Although her total flying time of 31,581 hours is not unusually high for a DC-3, in the case of CF-CPY most of that time has been logged either in the Yukon or flying routes connecting the Yukon with the outside. In 1977 the Yukon Flying Club undertook the task of restoring this northern veteran to it's original Canadian Pacific Airline colours for permanent display at the Whitehorse Airport. Pivoting on it's mount, the aircraft always points into the wind, the Yukon Flying Club is indebted to many local businesses as well as several Government Departments for their invaluable contributions to the project. Today, it is again undergoing a complete exterior restoration at the nearby Yukon Transportation Museum. After nearly 20 years exposed to the elements she is getting yet another new paint job and shine using the historic Canadian Pacific Airlines colors. Please visit: http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Estates/9167/yuk1.html to find out the latest in this restoration project.

Whitehorse, Yukon Canada - Tuesday, February 29, 2000 at 20:54:38 (GMT)

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