The C-47/R4D Skytrain was one of the work horses for NACA and NASA at Edwards AFB spanning a time from 1952 to 1984. The aircraft was designated R4D by the Navy, the C-47 by the Army and the Air Force, the DC-3 by Douglas Aircraft and the "Gooney Bird" by all others.
EG-0016-01
The C-47/R4D Skytrain was one of the work horses for NACA and NASA at Edwards AFB spanning a time from 1952 to 1984. The aircraft was designated R4D by the Navy, the C-47 by the Army and the Air Force, the DC-3 by Douglas Aircraft and the “Gooney Bird” by all others. Over the 32 years three R4D/C-47 aircraft served as shuttle craft hauling personnel and equipment between NACA/NASA Centers, and test locations in and out of California. The R4D was used for the first “air tow” of the M2-F1, a lifting body built of mahogany plywood. The R4D provided approximately 100 tows before the M2-F1 was retired.