December 2018 update on the 
Adelaide based restoration ex RAAF Douglas C-47 A65-52 nose section.
Story by David Rasmus, photos Phil Buckley.
C-47 cockpit owner David Rasmus seen at right in his aviation chair provided Down Under Aviation News with a progress report on the cockpit rebuild for static display. David showed us around his well laid out and functional workshop in Adelaide.
This C-47 Dakota cockpit is an ex WW2 RAAF combat veteran with post war civil time also included with usage by TAA and ForrestAir Cargo into the 1970s.
A section of original cockpit window frame is seen below.
David tells DUAN progress over the past 6 months has “Focused on the lower half has been stripped to the sum of it’s parts and painted. All the sheet metal has been straightened and dents removed as much as possible using a combination of tools such as hammer and dolly or an English wheel. The larger holes in the shins have mostly been patched using original era skins from a wrecked A-20”.
Mr Rasmus spoke about how “From station 86 to station 117 I’ll be making all new skins, ribs and stringers, as well as the complete interior fit out. The lower part of station 117 has been roughly shaped and clamped into place so I can gauge the size of station 103 which will be the next part of the puzzle to make”
David states “The lower panel of Station 86 (where the fuselage was cut for scrapping) has been shaped, painted and pinned in place with cleco fasteners after all the stringers were lengthened and new attachment brackets made. It makes for a much more solid assembly now, so much easier to work with”.
“I’m lucky to have access to a complete C-47 located in The South Australian Aviation Museum in Adelaide. The guys there allow me to crawl around and take the multitudes of small measurements, photo’s and placement of parts needed to complete this project with some sort of accuracy. Their help is a very much appreciated gesture, without it I’d just be guessing”.
David explained how “Sometimes progress 
on the actual cockpit can be slow but there’s plenty of other things I can do. Just this year I’ve completed the cleaning and restoration of some internal parts including :- throttle quadrant, suit heaters, hydraulic panel including the handle/pump assy’s and undercarriage warning horn”. David has in some cases, been able to manufacture new components for the restoration that have been hard to find.
The Dakota’s cockpit section is on the backburner at the moment but progress has been made over the last few years as seen below. It is found split up around the workshop. The main upper cockpit section is seen hanging from the roof.
Components from inside the cockpit, forward fuselage parts and other aircraft parts are found nearby waiting for future work.
“Next step is prep for mounting points under the cockpit floor for attachment to the trailer, once they’re done the assembly can be turned upright and jigged so final interior prep and paint can be done. Only then will I be able to rivet the sheet metal back on to the nose for the final time….I’m looking forward to that day…….”
Rasmus detailed how “At the end of the restoration, I intend to mount the nose on a trailer for display and use on Anzac Days and open cockpit days around the state. I’ve sourced a second hand car trailer that suits my needs so when that arrives there’s another big job to prepare. I have the final product pictured in my mind so only time (and of course funds) will dictate when that gets done”.
David told DUAN how “I’d like to take this opportunity to provide a list of parts I still need for this project…
- control column assembly or parts,
- seat anchor mounts, trim wheel,
- bottom hydraulic pump and handle (the big one),
- wiper blades and motor assemblies,
- compass bungee hooks,
- microphone hooks,
- floor fire panel and door assy,
- windscreen and retainers,
- spare globe box,
- first aid kit,
- any throttle quadrant knobs.
I have some parts to trade as well, so any
other C-47 collectors out there can contact me the same way.hat’s it for now, I hope to provide another update later in the new year….if anyone can help please contact David via Down Under Aviation News or through Phil Buckley”.
DUAN kindly thanks David for allowing us to inspect his project and his time to be interviewed.
Down Under Aviation News 