Curiosities:
- Manufacturer: Douglas Aircraft Company
- Type designation: DC-3C-S1C3G
- Version/market number: S1C3G
- Call sign: DC-3 or “Dakota. The name of the plane is “Princess Amalia.
- Construction/serial number: 19434, year of construction 1944
- Registration number: PH-PBA
- Former owners/users: US Air Force – HRH Prince Bernhard – Rijksluchtvaartdienst
Current legal owner: Prince Bernhard Alpha Foundation
Current user: DDA Classic Airlines Foundation - Function: built as a C-47 cargo plane for the U.S. Air Force in World War II, now in use as a passenger plane for DDA Classic Airlines
- Technique/type of construction: low-decker, built for short- to medium-haul flights for passengers and cargo. The semi-monocoque hull is non-pressurized and can carry up to 18 passengers and 3 crew members since 2018.
- The aircraft is equipped with two Pratt & Whitney R 1830-92 ‘Twin Wasp’ radial engines of 1200 hp each with Hamilton Standard Hydromatic propellers.
- Brief description aircraft:
The aircraft has been on loan to the DDA Classic Airlines Foundation since its restoration in 1998. The flying activities are housed in the DDA Flight Support Foundation.
As of May 2019, the last named Foundation has an AOC.
During the season (April to November), sightseeing flights are made from the larger airports in the Netherlands, but also abroad.
Between 100 and 150 flight hours are made annually with between 1500 and 2000 passengers.
History:
January 11, 1944
The later PH-PBA leaves the factory as a C-47 and is delivered with registration 19434 to the US Air Force.
June 6, 1944
The later PH-PBA participates in D-Day over Normandy on “Mission Boston” (registration 42-100971).
Five hours before the D-Day invasion began, this Dakota dropped paratroopers from the 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment over Sainte-Mère-Église in Normandy.
The C-47 featured invasion stripes on the wings.
September 17, 1944
Participates in Operation Market Garden (paratroopers dropped near Arnhem). The later PH-PBA gets the name “The Squirrel” applied to the fuselage near the cockpit.
Later, the PH-PBA provided supply flights from the provisional airfield Keent near Grave.
This marks her first time over the Netherlands.
It also conducts drops over Groesbeek and Overasselt.
The staff of Brigadier General James E. Gavin was transported aboard this Dakota to the Battle of Arnhem.
September 18 and 23, 1944
On 18 September, PH-PBA flies to Groesbeek including a glider containing four paratroopers and equipment.
On September 23, another dropping flight with a glider in tow, this time with 13 paratroopers aboard.
27 September 1944
First landing of the later PH-PBA in The Netherlands.
ThePH-PBA therefore has a very important historical value for the Netherlands.
1945
After the war, this C-47 is stored at Oberpfaffenhofen Air Base.
Winter 1945-1946
H.R.H. Prince Bernhard buys the PH-PBA after approval by General Eisenhouwer.
February 6, 1946
The C-47 was officially entered in the Dutch Aircraft Register by His Royal Highness Prince Bernhard with the registration PH-PBA (Prince Bernhard Alpha).
The aircraft will receive the color scheme of Inspector General of the Armed Forces and will be provided with the coat of arms of the Inspector General of the Armed Forces (IGK) which position H.R.H. Prince Bernhard first held. To this day, the IGK coat of arms adorns the PH-PBA, confirming the long and historic relationship.
March 1946
The PH-PBA is put into service as the first Government aircraft of the Netherlands.
February 25, 1947
Transferred to the Dutch State and used as the first Government aircraft.
1950
The PH-PBA is transported aboard the Karel Doorman from Rotterdam to the West for a state visit.
March 1961
The PH-PBA will be replaced by a Fokker Friendship PH-PBF.
Until mid-1975, the PH-PBA was used by the National Aviation Administration as a calibration aircraft.
July 31, 1975
The PH-PBA is taken out of service and acquired by the then Aviodome at Schiphol Airport.
The PH-PBA was then sprayed in a KLM scheme and received the registration PH-TCB.
1996
Establishment of the Prince Bernhard Alpha Foundation.
On the initiative of HRH Prince Bernhard, the PH-PBA became the property of the PBA Foundation and an extensive restoration program followed in England at Air Atlantic.
November 13, 1998
The PH-PBA has been fully restored and will return to the Netherlands in airworthy condition. She is on loan to the DDA Classic Airlines Foundation.
DDA must watch over the condition of the aircraft like a good family man and keep it in airworthy condition.
The aircraft will be carried out in pre-war KLM colors.
November 13, 2006
The sponsorship agreement with KLM will be extended. The PBA is carried out in two styles : On the left side in pre-war KLM style and on the right side
in the style of Air France. The Executive Board of KLM flies the PBA to Paris.
July 12, 2007
KLM adopts the PBA and bears the fixed costs. LVNL and Schiphol Airport participate and also become sponsors.
December 7, 2010
The PBA is performed in retro 50’s KLM style and is frequently used at KLM events at home and abroad.
The PBA will be named “Princess Amalia.” , named after the first daughter of Prince Willem Alexander and Princess Maxima.
March 15, 2016
KLM is ending its cooperation with DDA. The KLM logo and name will be removed from the aircraft and there will be a provisional DDA livery.
November 1, 2016 – August 15, 2017
In cooperation with Fokker, a weight-saving modification is being made to bring the number of seats from 12 to 18.
Thanks to a great effort by the technicians and excellent cooperation with IL&T, the aircraft is ready in time for a promotional trip to Sweden
For Spendrups Brewery.
During the same period, the E-inspection takes place. This is the most intensive inspection of the aircraft that takes place once every 5 years.
January 2018
The PBA will be carried out in the style in which it has flown for most of its existence i.e. in the colors of the government aircraft with the coat of arms of
The Inspector General of the Armed Forces. The latter gives unconditional consent to the application of the weapon.
This livery does justice to the fact that the PBA belongs to the Dutch Mobile Heritage with a distinctly Dutch appearance.
November 2019 – March 2020
The wings of the PBA are disassembled, inspected and reassembled.
The aircraft is in excellent condition and ready for the 2020 flight program.
April 2020
Because of the Corona crisis, it is decided to put the PBA in storage at the KLuHV at Gilze Rijen.
April 2021
The PBA returns to Schiphol-East and is given a new home at Jetsupport in hangar 32.
A regular C-inspection will follow before resuming round-trip flights starting in August.