In 1932, Douglas Aircraft Company Inc. started the development of a twelve-seat, two-engined, all-metal mono-plane with retractable
landing-gear. The prototype of this first Douglas Commercial, the DC-1 flew first on 1 July 1933 and was delivered to Transcontinental
& Western Air. However just only one DC-1 was built, this aircraft became the start of a succesfull series of airliners.
TWA ordered twenty production aircraft, which were designated DC-2. The Douglas DC-2 had a larger engine and seated 14 passengers. The plane made
its maiden flight on 11 May 1934 and entered service with TWA on 18 May 1934. Due to its performance in airliner service a growing number of
orders were placed by airlines all over the world, including by K.L.M. Due to the succes of the DC-2, Douglas developed and built what
many consider to be one of the greatest planes ever: the DC-3. The prototype Douglas DC-3 flew first on 17 December 1935, and this transport
aircraft was built in larger numbers than any before or since. In its initial form, the Douglas DC-3 was powered by 1.000 hp Wright R-1820-G2
Cyclones and accomodated twenty-one passengers. In 1936, the DC-3 was joined in production by the DC-3A with two 1.050 hp Pratt and Whitney
R-1830-SC-G Twin Wasps, and maximum accomodation in this model being increased over the years to twenty-eight passengers. The DC-3B entered
production in 1937. This version was similar to the DC-3A apart from 1,100 hp Wright GR-1820-G102A engines. The bulk of the aircraft producted
became the Douglas C-47, a military transport version of the commercial DC-3 airliner. A 7500-lb. cargo load or twenty-eight troops may be accomodated.
With the breakout of WW II, a fast growing number of the C-47 and its variants were ordered. The C-47 entered service service with the U.S.A.A.F. in 1941
and became the world's most widely-used general-purpose military transport aircraft. When production termintated, 10,926 C-47s and its variants having
been built in the U.S.A. Licence manufacture also having been undertaken in Japan and the U.S.S.R. The Russian licensed copies of the DC-3 were built near
Moscow and in Tashkent and designated Lisunov Li-2 (4,937 built). Licensed copies of the DC-3 built in Japan were designated Showa L2D (487 built).
The Douglas DC-3 / C-47 and their variants were known under more than two dozen nicknames; wellknown nicknames were Skytrain, Gooney Bird, Dakota and Dak.
After the war ended, large numbers of C-47s and its variant entered the civil market, a number of these C-47s were remanufactured and known as Douglas DC-3C.
Basler Turbo Conversions Llc, Oshkosh, Wisconsin, was founded in 1990 solely to convert existing C-47/DC-3 airframes into BT-67s. Basler configures each
new build to the client's specifications. The conversion includes fitting the airframe with new Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-67R turboprop engines,
lengthening the fuselage, strengthening the airframe, upgrading the avionics, and making modifications to the wing leading edges and wingtips. The ICAO
Aircraft Type Designator for the Basler BT-67 is DC3T
In 1944 Douglas C-47B-5-DK s/n 14675 was built by Douglas at Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA. Because of duplicate construction numbers, Douglas later
assigned number 26120 as the new construction number to this airframe. In September 1944, the aircraft was taken on strenght/charge with the USAAF - United
States Army Air Force as Skytrain '43-48859'. Besides the USAAF, the aircraft served in the French Air Force and South Vietnamese AF as 348859. A period of
storage at MASDC followed from 1968 until 1998. Late 1997, the airframe was ferried to Oshkosh (KOSH) for the turboprop conversion. After a brief
lease to the USAF, registration N40386 was cancelled in August 2007 and the aircraft was designated C-GEAJ. Since, it survived two crashes, one in Antartica
and a collision with a snowplough in Ontario, and is still going strong. On 11 July 2025, Basler BT-67 (Douglas DC3T) C-GEAJ fitted with a 'MAD boom' was
seen at Flugplatz Hildesheim (EDVM) in service with Bell Geospace.
the life
cycle of the airframe is, as far as it could be determined, recorded in detail in the table below:
date
registration
details
1943
48859
constructed as C-47B-5-DK c/n 14675 by Douglas at Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA;
25 September 1944
43-48859
taken on strength/charge with the United States Army Air Force as '43-48859'
new construction number, 26120, assigned to the airframe.
14 May 1954
348859
taken on strength/charge with the French Air Force - l’armée de l’Air in Indo-China as '348859' 'F-RNBX' as part of MDAP
June 1955
348859
French Air Force - l’armée de l’Air in Indo-China with GT2/63 'F-RANX'
July 1955
348859
French Air Force - l’armée de l’Air in Indo-China with GT1/64
1964
348859
taken on strength/charge with the South Vietnamese AF as 348859
12 August 1968
348859
returned to the United States Air Force and stored with s/n 348859 at Davis
Monthan Air Force Base, Tucson, Arizona, with the windows and cockpit of the airframe blinded
February 1980
348859
transferred to the Military Aircraft Storage and Disposal Center (MASDC) at
Davis Monthan Air Force Base, Tucson, Arizona, with inventtory number CB269 on the airframe; over the years the wings and
engines were removed and the airframe with the windows and cockpit blinded remained
14 December 1993
348859
the airframe was bought by Basler Turbo Conversions Llc, Oshkosh, Wisconsin
1997
348859
moved to the inventory of Basler Turbo Conversions, Whittman Reginal Airport, Oshkosh,Wisconsin
6 February 1998
N40386
Certificate Issue Date for N40386 with Basler Turbo Conversions Llc, Oshkosh, Wisconsin
2000
N40386
converted to a BT-67 with firebomber kit by Basler Turbo Conversions Llc, Oshkosh, Wisconsin. Conversion #35A
1 July 2003
N40386
Certificate of airworthiness for N40386 issued the aircraft
was painted all white with 'BASLER TURBO CONVERSIONS . OSKOSH WISCONSIN' titles and was used to train (military) personnel
2006-2007
N40386
leased to United States Air Force 6th SOS, Hulbert Field, FL, as a C47T
17 July 2007
N40386
registration cancelled as exported to Canada
13 August 2007
C-GEAJ
registered with Triumph Airways, Oshawa, Ontario
13 December 2007
C-GEAJ
registration C-GEAJ cancelled Triumph Airways was renamed Antarctic Logistics Centre International Aviation
13 December 2007
C-GEAJ
registered with ALCI Aviation Ltd., Oshawa (CYOO), Ontario
4 January 2009
C-GEAJ
the aircraft was substantial damaged during a landing at Tony Camp (Antarctica).
The Basler BT-67 (Douglas DC3T) C-GEAJ was on a cargo flight from Novolazarevskaya Station to Tony Camp, transporting spare parts for
a British expedition in Antarctica. The aircraft was inadvertently descended and it flew into the ground. The aircraft came to rest
in an upright attitude and intact condition. Damage on initial inspection included both propellers, both engines, flaps and possible
landing gear damage. The aircraft was repaired and returned in service.
2 September 2009
C-GEAJ
registration C-GEAJ cancelled
1 October 2009
C-GEAJ
registered with Kenn Borek Air Ltd, Calgary, Alberta
based at Calgary International Airport, Calgary, Alberta, as before with Alci Aviation titles
1 December 2016
C-GEAJ
the airframe was damaged but was repairable. Basler BT-67 (Douglas DC3T) C-GEAJ was operated
by ALCI Aviation on a cargo flight for North Star Air Cargo from Round Lake Airport (ZRJ/CZRJ) to Pickle Lake Airport (YPL/CYPL).
The accident occurred while taxiing at Pickle Lake Airport (CYPL/YPL). After landing the aircraft taxied eastbound on taxiway Bravo.
As the aircraft was approaching the intersection of taxiway Alpha, a plow vehicle was travelling southbound to perform maintenance on the apron.
The vehicle and C-GEAJ made contact on taxiway Bravo. As a result of the contact, the left wing of the aircraft sustained substantial damage. The aircraft
was subsequently ferried to Oshkosh, USA for repairs and returned to service.
30 March 2017
C-GEAJ
registration C-GEAJ cancelled
30 March 2017
C-GEAJ
registered with ALCI Aviation Ltd., Oshawa (CYOO), Ontario
6 October 2018
C-GEAJ
registration C-GEAJ cancelled
2019
C-GEAJ
ALCI Aviation Ltd., Oshawa (CYOO), Ontario fitted with a 'MAD boom'
for survey work and permitted to fly as the aircraft was seen on 17 October 2019 at Nnamdi Azikiwe International
Airport (ABV/DNAA) and on 1 January 2020 at Tenerife Sur - Reina Sofia (GCTS/TFS). Nick name 'Mia'
28 March 2020
C-GEAJ
registered with ALCI Aviation Ltd., Oshawa (CYOO), Ontario the aircraft
is equipped for FTG - Full Tensor Gravity gradiometry work by Bell Geospace
2024
C-GEAJ
ALCI Aviation Ltd., Oshawa (CYOO), Ontario, with 'White Desert' titles
May 2025
C-GEAJ
ALCI Aviation Ltd., Oshawa (CYOO), Ontario, with 'Bell Geospace' titles
