Douglas C47A (DC-3A) - ZS-NTE
"The Flying Springbok" started life in the Douglas factory in late 1943 or early 1944 as serial number 11926 C47A (The "A" indicated the Pratt & Whitney R1830 Radial Engines with higher power rating were fitted). She was issued US Army Air Force Tail Number 42-92157 and then transferred to the Royal Air Force in 1943/4 as "Dakota III FL565" as part of what is assumed to have been the Lend-Lease program at the time.We assume she saw action in North Africa as she was then transferred to the South African Air Force as 6873 on October 4th 1945.
From 1945 until 11th May 1996 she saw service in the SAAF 25 Squadron as well as the 35 Squadron amongst others. In 1996 she was purchased and registered as ZS-NTE.
In 2009 she underwent a complete refurbishment process to get her to the better than new condition she is in now. As some may know, the C47 was the military designation for the civilian DC-3, and as such many civilian DC-3's were conscripted into the USAAF and called C47's, but ZS-NTE is a true C47 that never saw civilian service until 1996... over half a century of military service, also makes her a veteran that most military aircraft can only aspire to. She only saw some 12000 hours in her time in the Air Force, meaning she is one of the lowest "Total Time Since New" rating in daily passenger Service.
To be continued.......