BT-67
Basler BT-67 Salinas.jpg
A Basler BT-67 in flight
Role Utility aircraft
Manufacturer Basler Turbo Conversions
Introduction January 1990
Produced 1990 to present[1]
Number built 68[2]
Developed from Douglas DC-3

The Basler BT-67 is a utility aircraft produced by Basler Turbo Conversions of Oshkosh, Wisconsin. It is a remanufactured and modified Douglas DC-3; the modifications are designed to significantly extend the DC-3's serviceable lifetime. Basler custom configures each new build to the clients specifications. Industries served include cargo, military, cloudseeding, scientific research, and various other applications.[1] 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.

Due to the slightly higher fuel consumption of the turbine engines of the BT-67, compared to the original piston designs fitted to the standard DC-3, range on the standard fuel tank, with 45 minute reserve, is reduced from 1,160 to 950 nautical miles (2,150 to 1,760 km). Basler provides a long-range fuel tank which increases the aircraft range to 2,140 nmi (3,960 km).[3][4]

Gunship version

The Basler BT-67 has a gunship version used by the Air Forces of Colombia.[5] The Colombian gunships are equipped with a forward-looking infrared (FLIR) ball, enabling the aircraft to conduct effective nighttime missions.[6]

Basler Turbo Conversions offered its BT-67 gunship with FLIR ball sensors and night-vision goggle (NVG) compatible cockpit to the Philippines on 12 October 2016.[7]

Basler Turbo Conversions

Basler Turbo Conversions was founded in 1990 solely focus on converting existing C-47 airframes into BT-67.[1]

Operators

A BT-67 with the Guatemalan Air Force
A BT-67 with the Guatemalan Air Force
Basler BT-67 conversion No.1, N200AN of World Air Logistics, at Missoula Montana in 2000
Basler BT-67 conversion No.1, N200AN of World Air Logistics, at Missoula Montana in 2000

Military

 Colombia
 El Salvador
 Guatemala
 Mali
 Mauritania
 Thailand

Civilian

 Australia
 Chile
 Germany
 United States

Accidents and incidents

Further information: List of accidents and incidents involving the DC-3

To date (up to 2019) a total 15 BT-67 have been involved in crashes or other incidents since the 1990s.

Specifications (BT-67)

Data from Born Again Basler[16] and Jane's Civil and Military Aircraft Upgrades 1994–95[17]

General characteristics

Performance

See also

Related development

Related lists

References

  1. ^ a b https://www.baslerturbo.com/history.html
  2. ^ http://www.proplinerinfoexchange.com/1-dc-3_news.htm
  3. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2015-07-01. Retrieved 2015-07-01.((cite web)): CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  4. ^ https://www.baslerturbo.com/bt-67-worldwide.html
  5. ^ "Aeronave AC47 Fantasma culmina fase de inspección mayor en CAMAN". Colombian Air Force. Archived from the original on 11 August 2017. Retrieved 10 August 2017.
  6. ^ "Colombia's AC-47T Fantasmas Are Still Going Strong". War Is Boring. 3 October 2016. Archived from the original on 16 August 2017. Retrieved 16 August 2017.
  7. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2017-07-29. Retrieved 2017-07-23.((cite web)): CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  8. ^ a b c d e "World Air Forces 2022". Flightglobal Insight. 2022. Retrieved 15 April 2022.
  9. ^ Rivas 2015, p. 120.
  10. ^ Hoyle 2015, p. 37.
  11. ^ "Basler BT-67 aircraft". Australian Antarctic Division. Archived from the original on 2019-07-02. Retrieved 2019-07-02.
  12. ^ "China to facilitate aviation support in Antarctic research expeditions". Archived from the original on 12 January 2014. Retrieved 9 January 2014.
  13. ^ "China to deploy aircraft in Antarctica expedition". Xinhua. September 25, 2015. Archived from the original on 15 October 2015. Retrieved 15 February 2019.
  14. ^ Ehemalige Flugzeuge Archived 11 April 2013 at the Wayback Machine (in German) Alfred Wegener Institute – Former airplanes, accessed: 18 April 2009
  15. ^ "As civilian, reservist 'leads' in fight against forest fires". arpc.afrc.af.mil. Retrieved 15 April 2022.
  16. ^ Flight International 24–30 April 1991, p. 42.
  17. ^ Michell 1994, pp. 245–246.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Basler BT-67.
Douglas DC-3 variants
United States military transport aircraft designations, Army/Air Force and Tri-Service systems
Royal Thai Armed Forces transport aircraft designations
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