Basler BT-67

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Basler BT-67
Basler BT-67.jpg
Basler BT-67
Type: Transport plane
Design country:

United StatesUnited States United States

Manufacturer:

Basler Turbo Conversions

Number of pieces:

58

Cockpit of a Basler BT-67

The Basler BT-67 ( B Asler T urbo-67 ) is one of the in Oshkosh (Wisconsin) -based Basler Turbo conversions modified version of the Douglas DC-3 , the two turboprop engines is driven. Basler received the FAA's Certificate of Airworthiness for the BT-67 on December 11, 1990.

history

The development of the BT-67 began in 1988 with the conversion of a prototype under the direction of Basler Flight Services, which belongs to the Basler group . A second renovation followed in early 1990 in a specially created facility in Oshkosh. In late summer 1990, the first two military BT-67s were delivered to the Salvadoran Air Force, with funding from the US Foreign Military Sales Program. There is often no alternative to reviving such old machines, as there is still no aircraft that could fully replace the extremely robustly constructed DC-3 for certain tasks.

Modifications

Regardless of how the machine is changed inside during the conversion, for the aviation authorities it remains a converted DC-3. The decisive factor here is the type certification from 1936. A small aircraft manufacturer would not have the opportunity to completely recertify a prototype; Basler would not be able to cope financially with either the technical specifications or the prescribed test cycles.

In around 45,000 working hours, a DC-3 can be turned into a BT-67 in six months. The original radial engines (for example the 895 kW (1200 hp) R-1830-92 ) are replaced by propeller turbines of the PT6A type with 1062 kW (1424 hp). These drive five-bladed Hartzell propellers.

During the conversion, the front part of the fuselage is also lengthened by 0.88 m (according to another source by 102 cm) in order to keep the center of gravity within the permissible range despite the lighter engines, which are now equipped with five-blade Hartzell propellers . In addition, the front cabin bulkhead will be moved 0.60 m forward, the fabric-covered rudder surfaces will be replaced by metal-clad rudder surfaces, and the wing tips will have a modified profile to improve controllability at low speeds . The fuel system is also adapted to use kerosene. Like the DC-3, the BT-67 does not have a pressurized cabin .

A BT-67 has an 1814 kg (4000 lb ) more payload than a standard Douglas C-47 . The cruising speed increases from 241 to 313 km / h.

operator

  • Fuerza Aérea de El Salvador : First operator of the BT-67. First two conversions of AC-47D gunships , followed by two transport aircraft.
  • Fuerza Aèrea Colombia : operates the largest BT-67 fleet. At least nine gunships were converted to AC-47T and an unknown number of transport aircraft to C-47T. The Colombian Police received six C-47Ts.
  • Thailand uses nine BT-67s in different uses. In addition to transport tasks and fire fighting, this also includes inoculating clouds with chemicals to trigger artificial rain . The machines are operated by the 461 Squadron based in Phitsanulok .
  • Antarctic Logistics Center International (ALCI) ( code C-GEAJ )
  • The Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar Research (AWI) in Bremerhaven uses two copies: the "Polar 5" ( code C-GAWI ) and the "Polar 6" (code C-GHGF ).
  • The United States Department of Defense operates a single machine (serial number 32529/15781) with civil license N73CD for use in Afghanistan . The aircraft has an infrared device ( FLIR ) and a laser warning system.
  • A machine with the civil registration number N40386 was leased directly from Basler by the Special Operations Squadron 6 (SOS 6).
  • Guatemala : five transport planes
  • Mali : two transport planes
  • Mauritania : a transport plane

Web links

Commons : Basler BT-67  - Collection of images, videos and audio files

literature

  • David Willis: Douglas' Time Machine. In: AIR International. March 2009, p. 56.
  • Marco Evers: Methuselah of the Skies . In: Der Spiegel . No. 11 , March 7, 2015, ISSN  0038-7452 , p. 114–116 ( online [accessed April 7, 2015]).

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Methuselah of the Skies. In: Der Spiegel. 11/2015, March 7, 2015, pp. 114–116.
  2. ↑ Airdata File in: AIR International. August 1992, p. 102.
  3. ↑ Lufthansa Magazin. December 2007.
  4. ↑ New aircraft for polar research. Press release.
    Presentation of the new research aircraft Polar 6. In: Science information service.
    aerocanada.com: Image of the BT-67 "Polar 6" of the AWI ; Retrieved October 28, 2011.
  5. ↑ AIR International. March 2009, p. 10.
  6. ^ AFSOC - Spooks and Specters. In: International Air Power Review. Vol. 15, 2005, p. 53.