Douglas C-47 Skytrain vs GAF Nomad: Specs Compared

FORCETALLY

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Douglas C-47 Skytrain — licensed reference photograph

ASupport aircraft

Douglas C-47 Skytrain

Military transport aircraft

Credit

Airwolfhound · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Resized · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Source ↗ · Modified

BSupport aircraft

GAF Nomad

Light utility aircraft

First system

Second system

At a glance

Side by side

Length comparisonOne shared metre scale

Douglas C-47 SkytrainC-47B-DK · Length

19.43 m

Length source ↗

GAF NomadLength

12.57 m

Length source ↗

Lengths retain their source configuration and measurement scope.

Measured figures

Head to head

14 of 102 rows sourced on both sides

19.43mC-47B-DK · Length

12.57m

Length

All recorded figures & sources

19.43 m

C-47B-DK · Length

Single source

63 ft 9 in (19.43 m)^[source]

12.57 m

Length

Single source

Configuration

Details

Douglas C-47 Skytrain and GAF Nomad configuration
Specification	Douglas C-47 Skytrain	GAF Nomad
Type	Military transport aircraft^[source]	Light utility aircraft^[source]
National origin	United States^[source]	—
Manufacturer	Douglas Aircraft Company^[source]	Government Aircraft Factories^[source]
Status	In service^[source]	In limited service^[source]

Number built	10,174^[source]	172^[source]

First flight	23 December 1941 ( 1941-12-23 )^[source]	23 July 1971 (N-22) 5 December 1971 (N-24)^[source]

Developed from	Douglas DC-3^[source]	—

Variants	Douglas XCG-17 Douglas AC-47 Spooky Douglas R4D-8^[source]	—

Capacity	28 troops or 6,000 lb (2,700 kg) of cargo^[source]	—

Airfoil	root: NACA 2215 ; tip: NACA 2206^[source]	—

Propellers	3-bladed constant-speed propellers^[source]	—

Time to altitude	10,000 ft (3,000 m) in 9 minutes 30 seconds^[source]	—

Wing loading	26.3 lb/sq ft (128 kg/m 2 )^[source]	—

Power/mass	0.0926 hp/lb (0.1522 kW/kg)^[source]	—

Manufactured	—	1975–1985^[source]

Retired	—	Royal Australian Air Force (1993)^[source]

Passengers	—	12^[source]

Role	—	utility aircraft^[source]

Source measurement	—	The GAF Nomad is a twin-engine utility/commuter aircraft capable of Short Takeoff/Landing (STOL) operations. It was produced in two primary variants, the N22B and N24A, the latter being 5 ft 10 in (177 cm) longer than the N22B; the N24A also differed by its larger nose compartment and separated access provided for the main baggage compartment, which was located aft of the cabin. Key features of the Nomad's general configuration included its rugged and straightforward design, STOL performance, its compact and economic engines and its relatively unobstructed and flat cabin floor. It had been designed to meet or exceed established military requirements of the era, as well as in compliance with regulations set out in the Federal Aviation Administration 's (FAA) FAR Part 23 .^[source]GAF Nomad · Design; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage The Nomad was powered by a pair of Allison 250 B17B/C turboprop engines, capable of generating up to 400 hp (300 kW) each. Journalist Hugh Field observed the selection of this powerplant to be atypical, while its basic model had a strong reputation from its widespread use on helicopters , the Nomad was the first application of this engine model. GAF's design team, although reportedly having been initially hesitant about applying a new engine to a new airframe, praised the engine's behaviour upon the prototypes. In-flight, core engine operations could be controlled via a single lever, although additional controls are used for atypical actions such as feathering . For ease of maintenance, the nacelles were built for easy access, while the engines consist of sub-assemblies that can be individually overhauled or replaced without extracting the entire engine.^[source]GAF Nomad · Design; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage The Nomad's cockpit, while typically fitted with dual flight controls, is designed to be operated by a single pilot. All of the primary controls are either duplicated or of a fail-safe design; both the flaps and undercarriage are electrically actuated; to aid low-speed manoeuvring, an auto-flap button immediately selects 20° flap. For militarised models, the cockpit can be outfitted with Stanley Aviation zero-zero ejection seats , boron - carbide armour protection around the seats, forward bulkhead and side-panels, as well as bullet-resistant glass installed in the panels of windscreen. The cockpit reportedly possesses above-average external visibility in most directions.^[source]GAF Nomad · Design; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage Initial production version for 12 passengers for the Australian Army.^[source]GAF Nomad · Variants; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage Cargo variant modified from N.22B with Maximum Takeoff Weight increased to 4,050 kilograms (8,930 lb).^[source]GAF Nomad · Variants; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage Utility transport aircraft with a fuselage lengthened by 1.14 m (3.7 ft).^[source]GAF Nomad · Variants; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage Improved version for 17 passengers, 40 built.^[source]GAF Nomad · Variants; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage On 23 December 1979, a Nomad operated by Douglas Airways (P2-DNL) crashed on the airstrip (MRM) at Manari, a village on the Kokoda Track in the Central Province of Papua New Guinea , killing all 16 passengers and crew.^[source]GAF Nomad · Notable incidents; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage On 12 Mar 1990, a Nomad (A18-401) of the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) crashed following an in-flight failure of the horizontal stabiliser, killing the test pilot who was the sole occupant. The aircraft had previously done 177 hours of single-engine ground running in tests performed by the aircraft manufacturer.^[source]GAF Nomad · Notable incidents; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage On 9 September 1991, an Australian Army N22B Nomad crashed near Drake in northern NSW with the loss of four people, including the pilot.^[source]GAF Nomad · Notable incidents; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage On 18 September 1998, two US Customs N22S Nomads collided over the sea between Puerto Rico and Curaçao. Both damaged planes attempted to return to Puerto Rico, however, one plane crashed into the sea one mile east of Mona Island. The pilot was killed while the copilot was rescued. The second plane was able to land safely in Aquadilla. Puerto Rico.^[source]GAF Nomad · Notable incidents; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage On 2 July, 2000, a Philippine Air Force GAF Nomad experienced possible engine trouble after takeoff from Cagayancillo Airport on Cagayancillo off Palawan in the Philippines . Its pilot attempted to return to the airport, but the plane overshot the runway and crashed into the Sulu Sea , killing 11 of the 12 people on board. Philippine governor Salvatore Socrates and Philippine Air Force Major General Santiago Madrid were among the dead.^[source]GAF Nomad · Notable incidents; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage On 10 February 2001, Gum Air ’s N24A Nomad (PZ-TBP) crashed on a flight from Paramaribo – Zanderij ( Johan Adolf Pengel International Airport PBM/SMJP ) to Njoeng Jacob Kondre Airstrip SMJK . The aircraft had fallen out of radio contact, and personnel at the airstrip in Jacob Kondre said it was flying low, and crashed into a mountain. All nine passengers plus the pilot perished.^[source]GAF Nomad · Notable incidents; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage

Source measurement

—

The GAF Nomad is a twin-engine utility/commuter aircraft capable of Short Takeoff/Landing (STOL) operations. It was produced in two primary variants, the N22B and N24A, the latter being 5 ft 10 in (177 cm) longer than the N22B; the N24A also differed by its larger nose compartment and separated access provided for the main baggage compartment, which was located aft of the cabin. Key features of the Nomad's general configuration included its rugged and straightforward design, STOL performance, its compact and economic engines and its relatively unobstructed and flat cabin floor. It had been designed to meet or exceed established military requirements of the era, as well as in compliance with regulations set out in the Federal Aviation Administration 's (FAA) FAR Part 23 .^[source]GAF Nomad · Design; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage

The Nomad was powered by a pair of Allison 250 B17B/C turboprop engines, capable of generating up to 400 hp (300 kW) each. Journalist Hugh Field observed the selection of this powerplant to be atypical, while its basic model had a strong reputation from its widespread use on helicopters , the Nomad was the first application of this engine model. GAF's design team, although reportedly having been initially hesitant about applying a new engine to a new airframe, praised the engine's behaviour upon the prototypes. In-flight, core engine operations could be controlled via a single lever, although additional controls are used for atypical actions such as feathering . For ease of maintenance, the nacelles were built for easy access, while the engines consist of sub-assemblies that can be individually overhauled or replaced without extracting the entire engine.^[source]GAF Nomad · Design; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage

The Nomad's cockpit, while typically fitted with dual flight controls, is designed to be operated by a single pilot. All of the primary controls are either duplicated or of a fail-safe design; both the flaps and undercarriage are electrically actuated; to aid low-speed manoeuvring, an auto-flap button immediately selects 20° flap. For militarised models, the cockpit can be outfitted with Stanley Aviation zero-zero ejection seats , boron - carbide armour protection around the seats, forward bulkhead and side-panels, as well as bullet-resistant glass installed in the panels of windscreen. The cockpit reportedly possesses above-average external visibility in most directions.^[source]GAF Nomad · Design; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage

Initial production version for 12 passengers for the Australian Army.^[source]GAF Nomad · Variants; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage

Cargo variant modified from N.22B with Maximum Takeoff Weight increased to 4,050 kilograms (8,930 lb).^[source]GAF Nomad · Variants; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage

Utility transport aircraft with a fuselage lengthened by 1.14 m (3.7 ft).^[source]GAF Nomad · Variants; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage

Improved version for 17 passengers, 40 built.^[source]GAF Nomad · Variants; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage

On 23 December 1979, a Nomad operated by Douglas Airways (P2-DNL) crashed on the airstrip (MRM) at Manari, a village on the Kokoda Track in the Central Province of Papua New Guinea , killing all 16 passengers and crew.^[source]GAF Nomad · Notable incidents; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage

On 12 Mar 1990, a Nomad (A18-401) of the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) crashed following an in-flight failure of the horizontal stabiliser, killing the test pilot who was the sole occupant. The aircraft had previously done 177 hours of single-engine ground running in tests performed by the aircraft manufacturer.^[source]GAF Nomad · Notable incidents; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage

On 9 September 1991, an Australian Army N22B Nomad crashed near Drake in northern NSW with the loss of four people, including the pilot.^[source]GAF Nomad · Notable incidents; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage

On 18 September 1998, two US Customs N22S Nomads collided over the sea between Puerto Rico and Curaçao. Both damaged planes attempted to return to Puerto Rico, however, one plane crashed into the sea one mile east of Mona Island. The pilot was killed while the copilot was rescued. The second plane was able to land safely in Aquadilla. Puerto Rico.^[source]GAF Nomad · Notable incidents; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage

On 2 July, 2000, a Philippine Air Force GAF Nomad experienced possible engine trouble after takeoff from Cagayancillo Airport on Cagayancillo off Palawan in the Philippines . Its pilot attempted to return to the airport, but the plane overshot the runway and crashed into the Sulu Sea , killing 11 of the 12 people on board. Philippine governor Salvatore Socrates and Philippine Air Force Major General Santiago Madrid were among the dead.^[source]GAF Nomad · Notable incidents; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage

On 10 February 2001, Gum Air ’s N24A Nomad (PZ-TBP) crashed on a flight from Paramaribo – Zanderij ( Johan Adolf Pengel International Airport PBM/SMJP ) to Njoeng Jacob Kondre Airstrip SMJK . The aircraft had fallen out of radio contact, and personnel at the airstrip in Jacob Kondre said it was flying low, and crashed into a mountain. All nine passengers plus the pilot perished.^[source]GAF Nomad · Notable incidents; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage

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