Douglas DC3 Cathay Pacific Airways "Betsy" VR-HDB

1/200 scale die-cast metal with minimal use of plastic.
All markings are tampo (pad) applied, no decals to discolor or flake.
Free-spinning propellers.
Rolling wheels.
Landing gear can be removed or added.
Model comes with a display stand.
A brief history of the aircraft type and the airline is supplied with each model.

The Douglas DC-3 (DC – Douglas Commercial) is considered by many as the aircraft that
revolutionized commercial air travel in the 20th Century. The maiden flight of the DC-3 took place
on December 17, 1935, the 32nd anniversary of the Wright Brother's historic flight at Kitty Hawk.
Now airlines were able to be profitable without depending on U.S. Mail subsidies and passengers
could now fly transcontinental with just one re-fueling stop. There are many DC-3s still flying 75
years after their maiden flights.



Planned as a civil Douglas DC-3 but taken over by the USAAC it was constructed as a C47-DL
and delivered in June 1942 and in August 1943 was sent overseas. Late in 1945 it returned to the
U.S. and was purchased by a former WWII pilot and nicknamed "Betsy". On September 24, 1946
the aircraft was sold to the new Cathay Pacific Airways and registered as VR-HDB. In the early
1950s Betsy was sold and passed through several airlines before being bought, repainted in a
1940s CPA scheme and hangs in the Science Museum of Hong Kong.


Specifications for the Douglas DC-3A
Role – Passenger/Cargo
Crew – 2
Passenger Capacity – 21/32
Dimensions
Length – 64 ft 8 in (19.7 m)
Wingspan – 95 ft 2 in (29.0 m)
Height – 16 ft 11 in (5.16 m)
Performance
Engines – 2 x Pratt & Whitney R-1830-S1C3G Twin Wasp 14-cylinder Air-cooled 2-row Radial
Piston, Producing 1,200 hp (890 kW) each
Propellers - 3-bladed Hamilton Standard 23E50, 11.5 ft (3.5 m) diameter
Fuel Capacity – 822 U.S. gal (3,736 l)
Speed
Maximum @ 8,500 ft (2,590 m) – 230 mph (200 kn) (370 km/h)
Normal Cruise – 207 mph (180 kn) (333 km/h)
Rate Of Climb – 1,130 ft/min (5.7 m/s)
Service Ceiling – 23,200 ft (7,100 m)
Weight
Empty – 16,865 lbs (7,650 kg)
Gross – 25,199 lbs (11,430 kg)