[rlmorel]

Awesome planes. I was on Cape Cod a couple of years ago, heard the unmistakeable sound of reciprocating engines low overhead, and looked up to see this:

Later, when we continued up the road, I saw these in a big grass field:

I had to pull over and get closer to get a closer look. They seemed to be in tip top shape.

Just superb. They even retrofit these with turboprop engines!

I love those planes. They say the airframes are so rugged that with appropriate maintenance and care, there is no limit to how long they can keep flying.

[Bookshelf]

In 1983 flew from Loikaw, Burma to Rangoon. Aboard was a clutch of Terry and the Pirates Shan with tatoos abouding. My seat passenger was carrying an orchid with a bellflower as large as I have ever seen. Accoridng to data attached to the door the plane was produced in 1935. Something tells me it is still active.

[Paal Gulli]

The one at the bottom appears to be a Basler BT-67. It’s got P&W PT6 turbines instead of P&W Twin Wasp radials (but almost the same SHP).

[E. Pluribus Unum]

They even retrofit these with turboprop engines!

I had to check it out.

Video Transcript Summary

Detailed Summary: Basler BT-67 (Douglas DC-3 Turbine Conversion)

The video provides an overview of the Basler BT-67, a heavily modernized turboprop conversion of the legendary Douglas DC-3/C-47. Often called the “Douglas DC-3 Turbine,” it extends the life of one of aviation’s most iconic and durable aircraft into the modern era.

Historical Context

The DC-3 revolutionized commercial air travel and military transport in the 1930s and 1940s. While larger, faster airliners eventually replaced it on mainline routes, many DC-3s continued flying with smaller operators worldwide due to their ruggedness and short-field performance. By the 1980s, Warren Basler recognized the potential for a thorough upgrade, leading to the founding of Basler Turbo Conversions Inc. in 1990 in Oshkosh, Wisconsin.

The Conversion Process

Basler takes original DC-3/C-47 airframes and essentially rebuilds them from the ground up over thousands of man-hours. Key modifications include:

• Wings: New wingtips and modified leading-edge sections for improved aerodynamics (replacing the classic curved DC-3 wingtips).
• Fuselage: A stretch forward of the wings, increasing interior volume significantly — from 905 cubic feet on a standard DC-3 to 1,225 cubic feet on the BT-67.
• Engines: Replacement of the original piston radial engines with two modern Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-67R turboprop engines. These are five-bladed powerplants similar to those used on the Beechcraft 1900 and Shorts 360.
• Systems: Complete overhaul of electrical and hydraulic systems, plus a fully updated flight deck with modern avionics.
• Structural: The airframe is strategically strengthened and engineered to achieve zero accumulated fatigue damage. After conversion, the aircraft is essentially a brand-new, zero-time airframe.

Result: The BT-67 is actually lighter than the original piston DC-3 — with an operating weight of 16,000 lbs versus 17,815 lbs.

Performance and Capabilities

The BT-67 excels in demanding environments:

• Payload: Maximum payload of 14,000 lbs — an increase of nearly 5,000 lbs over the standard DC-3.
• Runway performance: Retains excellent short-field capability, operating from unprepared runways only a few thousand feet long.
• Operations on snow/ice: Can be equipped with wheel skis.
• Range: The PT6A engines burn more fuel than the originals, but optional long-range fuel tanks can double capacity from 772 gallons to 1,542 gallons.

These traits make it ideal for remote and extreme operations, particularly in polar regions.

Notable Operator

Ken Borek Air (based in Calgary) operates a fleet of nine BT-67s. The aircraft fly to remote locations in the Arctic and Antarctic, where their combination of ruggedness, payload, short-field performance, and ski capability is unmatched.

Overall Assessment

The video emphasizes that the BT-67 successfully modernizes the DC-3 while preserving its legendary strengths. As the saying goes, “the only replacement for a DC-3 is another DC-3” — and Basler has delivered exactly that, but better. The result is a rugged, reliable, turbine-powered aircraft expected to keep the DC-3 design flying well past its 100th birthday.

The presenter notes the BT-67’s popularity among viewers and positions it as a niche but highly capable aircraft that continues to prove its worth in challenging environments where newer designs often fall short.