Victoria Air Douglas C-47D Skytrain (DC-3) RP-C550 Photo Gallery by Philippine Aviation at pbase.com

Victoria Air Douglas C-47D Skytrain (DC-3) RP-C550

Douglas C-47D Skytrain(DC-3) RP-C550. Construction number/msn 25737/14292. First Flight 1944.

Historical operators of this particular aircraft:
United States Air Force (USAF) registration # 43-48476
South Vietnam Air Force # 348476
Philippine Air Force # 348476
Philair (Philippine Aviation Corp) # RP-C550
Victoria Air # RP-C550

17 Dec, 2015. The Douglas C-47/DC-3 Skytrain was born 80 years ago today.

17 Oct, 2009. This last flying DC-3 in the Philippines crashed in Villa Fidela, Brgy. Aldana, Plaza Quezon, Las Piñas, Metro Manila. May all aboard that perished rest in peace.

30 Jan, 2007. Perhaps one of the last 2 flyable DC-3's in the country. When these photos were taken another DC-3 was being refurbished in Manila (see https://pbase.com/image/72955573) while another had just been flown out by Cathay Pacific for its anniversary.

16 Mar, 2006. Also see my photo & description of this same aircraft at http://www.airliners.net/photo/Victoria-Air/Douglas-C-47D-Skytrain/1017919/L/&sid=2387e7f4e500f9c8992ff06f3b1852fa

Kids, this is what lolo and lola (Gampa & gramma) used to take. But before you laugh, I feel sorry for those of you who may never get to fly on one. Har, har.

DC-3 about to leave for Manila	"Clear!"	Run Forrest*, run!	Taxi out . . .
Right rudder . . .	"550 cleared for take-off."	Rotation!	No A/C, no problem. Note open cockpit window.
Almost . . .	YESSSS, Airborne!	Off to Manila

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Arnabie Genaya		04-Jul-2019 21:59
17 Oct, 2009. This last flying DC-3 in the Philippines crashed in Villa Fidela, Brgy. Aldana, Plaza Quezon, Las Piñas, Metro Manila. May all aboard that perished rest in peace. -almost mag 10 yrs ago na pero masakit parin :( Imiss you tito Richard Genaya. Ngayon degree holder na ko. Naaalala ko pa ung pangako mo sakin na ikaw magpapaaral sakin, Lagi kang nasa puso namin. At ngayon may baby na ko, October 17,2017 ko sya pinanganak at sobrang kamukha mo pa. Gabayan mo nalang po kami palagi :) ILOVEYOU tito ko.

Philippine Aviation		16-Dec-2015 16:00
Guest who posted on Dec 9. I think you meant the C-47 that sat beside the tarmac for many years. Many thought she was a DC-3. Here are a couple photos of her: http://www.airliners.net/photo/Curtiss-C-46F-Commando/1017920/M/&sid=b111b91046171ce9d47b41852a85c28a http://www.airliners.net/photo/Curtiss-C-46F-Commando/1148427/M/&sid=b111b91046171ce9d47b41852a85c28a Btw, that diner no longer exists & I don't know where the aircraft is.

Guest		09-Dec-2015 14:15
Hi there I remember there was a DC-3 parked in the old CGY Lumbia airport in the 80s up until the 90s, it had faded red color. Would anyone know what had happened to that aircraft eventually? Thank you!

Philippine Aviation		22-Sep-2014 00:49
Hi Douglas, I don't think any of the planes you mention are available in the Philippines. In April 2012 the Business Mirror reported the following, "Headed for the scrap yards—or the auction block—are five DC-9s, whose last owner is known only as “Orion”; four DC-3s; one Russian-made Antonov An-268; another Russian-made Yak-40; a Cessna 150 trainer-plane; and the most iconic of all, a Super Constellation, the plane that preceded the commercial jetliners of our age."

Douglas		21-Sep-2014 21:23
Dear Sirs, Kindly asking for your help. Do you have any information of aircraft for sale listed below : • Convair (piston and turbo) • Curtiss C-46 • DHC-4 Probably these aircraft are flying in your regions still ??? It should be grate to discuss it with you. Thank you !

Philippine Aviation		06-Sep-2014 11:13
Hi guest, I am sorry for your loss. Many in the aviation world were deeply saddened by such an unfortunate event. May your brother rest peacefully in the skies.

Guest		06-Sep-2014 05:25
I never thought that my brother will take the risk of flying this plane. It took years for me to get adjusted about the his loss. Missed you so much!

marti y. feliciano		22-Apr-2013 01:25
i love that plane dc-3 rp-c 550 that was my first o.j.t. when i was young fresh graduate aircraft mechanic from the flight dynamics school of aeronautics hangar #3 general aviation area airport road bankal lapu lapu city metro cebu philippines.... all the pilots of dc-3 they are great and also the mechanics... kuya lakay and capt. bong de la penia..... and yes the owner of the dc-3 engineer jery juane....ang bait talaga si sir jery juane ma alalanin sya sa mga mekaniko........ i miss so much that plane rp-c 550

BRUCE		24-Feb-2013 05:56
Hi Jay and Robin,remenber me?I'm Bruce the french pilot who used to fly with all of you on this famous DC3 RPC550. The only thing i can say its my condoléances to the family. There is no question regarding the pilots,they did i guess as much they can to save them life and crash to an unhinabited area. And don't forget that the DC3 was never refueled with AVGAS 100 LL,but with fuel coming from the nearest fuel station and all was loaded in 2 jeepneys on 20 liters containers that we used to refill the airplane during the night to be hiden!!!!!!!!!!! That's why with OEI (one engine inoperative) you can't fly due to the lack of power on the remaining engine. Then congratulatons to the pilots who did them best to save life. Regards to you Robin and Jay

Abigail M. Baculpo		29-Jan-2013 07:14
Summer last year when i knew that my long lost father-in-law. Whom i havent seen since i got married to Anthony C. Baculpo neither my husband also havent seen his father after my mother-in-law and my father-in-law got separated.. My husband and i had a son his now 16 years old. How i wish he met his grand dad before he died.

Philippine Aviation		12-Dec-2011 01:53
Hi again Metro Captain, Almost a month ago I came across a Manila Int'l Airport Authority september newslink calling for 'abandoned' aircraft to be removed from the field: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/52229/airport-to-be-cleared-of-abandoned-aircraft Needed action on three DC-3s & the Super Constellation are specifically mentioned athttp://125.60.203.88/miaa/images/stories/NOTICE_Aircraft1.pdf. (This link may take a while to load.) I have no current information on the status of these aircraft but I do hope this information may be of some help to you and your group.

Metro Captain		11-Dec-2011 21:56
Thanks for your reply,I did contact somebody within the precinct as we have a group here in Sydney Australia who were very keen to examine the DC3, DC4 and Connie but I had no reply from them. In reading some of the comments "return to the field" its alway recommnded if height is suffient that can be attained, otherwise continue straight ahead and sadly thats what the crew have done.

Philippine Aviation		11-Dec-2011 21:00
Hi Metro Captain, yes this aircraft used to be parked among other DC-3s and close to the constellation. Pls seehttp://www.pbase.com/philippineaviation/image/73253743 &http://www.pbase.com/philippineaviation/image/73253744 .

Metro Captain		11-Dec-2011 12:41
Was this DC3 parked along side a DC4 and Locheed Constelation just up from the Domestic apron? I have noticed with much interest a number of times having taxied past whilst on a domestic flight within the Philippines. May the crew Rest in Peace and sad to see the loss of a great aircraft which would hold a world safety record as a srtucturally built passenger aircraft for many years, in Australia we had so may "Daks" flying domesticaly and Internationaly for a number of years, sadly not many now.

tongsibo		27-Jul-2010 09:51
dapat c capt tarzan sagala ang kapitan at c capt bong dela pena and co pilot in command /. sayang na eroplano libo libong sakong asin ang inikarga dyan palagi lang engine quite pero walang crash , normal ang engine failure dyan nandyan naman c lakay , maraming squawk yan bfore that tragic flight lumabas pa sa runway tire blow out , ni refuse ng isang group ilipad yan dahil d gnagaw at ayaw magbayad ng owner ng pilotong rated talaga dyan . d bale nandyan naman c procio pilapil kong buhay pa sa insurance

tongsibo		27-Jul-2010 09:38
ok ang eroplano ang diperensiya ibang piloto c baculfo cgurado ako sanay sa emergency yan , dapat nagbayad nalang cla ng mahusay na piloto. that plane was supposed to fly to djibouti somalia from puerto princesa , hindi pa yata nabayaran ng full payment yan ng buyer sana naka insure ke procio pilapil he yhe he. matagal din ako lumipad sa 550 minsan nagkamili ako ng radio 555 parang sardinas , ang magaling na mekaniko dytan c capt bong de la pena , at piloto c capt taquiqui , c dong barraquias c capt mission at jed juane kambal n jerry juane mayari ng 555

romeo23		18-Jul-2010 02:26
for all you guys, the answer of all your comments, is for you to visit along the general aviation area in domestic road where victoria air Douglas DC-3 RP-C550 is park before, and made quiries and ansking question all the nieghboring people like pilots, mechanics and operators out there inside general aviation of what really the causes of accident.don't relay only the investigation and findings from CAAP, my idea goes like this; who is real flight crew before the accident happen? is the crew proficient of those aircraft? DC-3 is a combination of conventional and unconventional aircraft in terms control. so all of this will answer your comments... it will benifits of the doubt.

dwayne romualdez		14-May-2010 22:34
I'm sad to hear about Capt Baculpo. He is an outstanding pilot. He used to fly my family from Manila to Mindoro and Isabela many years ago.

maricel baculpo		21-Mar-2010 15:29
LAWRENCE, I HAPPEN TO BE THE DAUGHTER OF THE PILOT, BEFORE MAKING ANY COMMENT TO SUCH A TRAGIC EVENTAND WORSE POSTIN IT IN THE NET, MAKE SURE YOU DO YOUR HOMEWORK FIRST,

Jon Jose		18-Feb-2010 17:22
Hey Lawrence you just made yourself look like the world's biggest wanna be pilot. You, are an IDIOT. I did not know him, but Ben was one of my Godfathers and I know the guy had been around the block enough that he had more flight time taking a piss in the lavatory of an actual aircraft than your 350 hours of "simulator" time - which, by the way, is useless unless you have a level D rated full motion sim or FTD (flight training device) and you are "flying" with a CFI/AGI. Jon Jose, Asia Today Aviation Chief Pilot FAA ATP, CSEL, CSES, AGI, IGI, USAF FEX Gulfstream II,III,IV,V,350,450,550,650, Citation, Citation SP, Ultra, Encore, Bravo, Citation Excel, Citation X Learjet 35, 36, 55, Falcon 50, 900, S211, Lockheed C5 Galaxy

Guest		16-Dec-2009 14:37
we dont know the real storry about. sorry for our losses its a verry great plane and good people on board gusto lang nilang guminhawa ang buhay nila just like evry one els. is it realy there time or minalas lang?

Guest		16-Dec-2009 14:25
Hey to all you out there its been a privelage for or i must say an honor for me to fly in that DC3plane RPC-550 and also an honor to fly with them the first time and also the last.I will miss you guys! god speed boy,ben,toto and Jag

@		04-Dec-2009 15:40
hey lawrence, you have your information all twisted! I happen to know the daughter of one of the pilots and its not any of those causes you listed. Read the news updates will you? JEez, you act as if you know everything....FYI, the when the captain noticed that something was wrong he made a quick radio to NAIA that he will turn around and go back to NAIA. The plane was already on its way back to NAIA when it crashed. A 350 hour experience in a flight stimulator doesnt really make you a professional so don't act like one.

ladyjinx		15-Nov-2009 04:52
to everyone who has left comments about Capt Baculpo, thank you. I know daddy remembers you all very well, too.

ladyjinx		15-Nov-2009 04:49
Lawrence, how many flying hours do you have? I happen to be the daughter of one of the pilots and from his last entry on his pilot log book, he has flown nearly 18,000hrs. simulators are but computers, get real mate. this is a dc-3, not your usual fly by wire aircraft.

Michael		06-Nov-2009 06:54
Concerned Daughted >> this plane didn't carry commercial passengers, so, unless, your father was one of the purported buyers of the plane, and heading to Africa, then dont fret. Lawrence >> No pilot worth his salt will take off, unless he knows the plane is safe. Remember, he is not only taking a risk but also risking his life .. And with such experience, it is very unlikely any of the pilots of POB would have even boarded. (POB -> people on board, for Flight Sim Specialists like you .. ) As for the other comments - well, an engine failure and a supposed hydraulics failure apparently prevented the landing gear from retracting and also feathering the failed props, and if so - same thing can happen to any plane, including modern brand new turbo props. if you are experienced in Flight Sim, then you know at which point you cross V1 and whether RTO is possible or not. As for the past records, well, even the Brand new SIA A380 had brake failure in SIN, so do you suggest they scrap the SIA A380 ? Get real mate .. As for the possible causes you mentioned, such as, faulty instruments .. and incorrect whatever, maybe you should head the Air Safety ops, to make sure all planes are 100% safe .. (by the way, what was your take on the B412 and the BN2 that disappeared recently?)

Concerned Daughter		23-Oct-2009 03:15
Does any one happen to know who exactly on the flight and the nature of the trip? I can't find any updated info. I found reports saying there were seven on the manifest, but only four were found. I ask because my father was in Manilla flying home to the US on that day. I have no idea what his flight schedule was or if he decided to return to Thailand before coming home. I haven't heard from him since he arrived in Manilla and I am worried. I may sound silly or insane but if any one has updated info, I would appreciate hearing it. Thank you!

Guest		21-Oct-2009 02:47
Namatay na nga eh Mr LAwrence Tan...ginaganyan mo pa...i wish you were on that plane..one of the aircraft mechanic was our neighbor

Noize		20-Oct-2009 05:39
there goes my dream of painting a DC-3 in old PAL colors...goodbye goony bird...

NYL..... AAC		19-Oct-2009 16:26
pareng lawrence mali mali namn ang spelling mo eh nagmumukha ka lang timawa sa mga pinagsasabi mo.. pero ito lang masasabi ko sobrang bait nyan ni capt. baculpo... condolence po sa lahat ng namatayan... matuturing namin kayo na magaling na piloto Capt. Baculpo.... we will miss you.. it so sad to say nag simula ang career mo sa DC-3 pero dito din po ito nag tapos

vhim		19-Oct-2009 14:56
condolence to the family of all the passengers!!! CALAPAN AIRPORT BOYS

Allan Tuppil		19-Oct-2009 12:24
I am sadden to hear that Capt. Rivera and Capt. Ben Baculpo piloted the crash DC3, They were both Great Veteran Pilot, I still remeber when I was 15 YO way back 1978 when Capt. Baculpo fly to Mamburao airport with the Golden Country Farms cesna 206, Cargo Flight eggs. My condolonce to Capt. Rivera and Mang Ben, Sorry to hear about it, Mr. Juane (Jed)& Jerry Allan Tuppil Mamburao Airport boys

Jay		19-Oct-2009 05:14
To Lawrence Tan, You should not brag about your 350 hrs in FS9 and made comments about what real pilots should have done. There's more than just sitting in front of your PC and imagining things. Just stick to your PC and be quiet. Capt. Jimenez

Blah blah		18-Oct-2009 14:27
@Lawrence hope you beat my kid in your Flight Simulator Experience. I bet 1,000,000 pesos if you beat him.

Geeeezzzzzz		18-Oct-2009 14:16
Its clearly not a pilot error. We should have thank him for crashing it to an abandoned place. Saving someones assess is considered a hero.

James Ochoa Rezo		18-Oct-2009 12:31
Real flying is different from simulators. When trouble comes, you have to keep your head cool. Crashing in an abandoned warehouse is a good choice made by the pilot. We have to accept the fact that some airmen never come home. In simulators, you can reset anytime you want. To those who perished in this accident, rest in peace. You belong to the sky and you're going home now. It's much peaceful there.

Guest		18-Oct-2009 08:08
To Lawrence: Try to be a real pilot because you have no idea what you are talking about. Radar? How could that have helped??? Also if you don't know yet the captain was already on his way back yo NAIA is just that they were not gaining any altitude and the only way is down. Do your research before you talk smack about REAL PILOTS and how airplanes work. Radar??? what a joke you are.

Dax		18-Oct-2009 07:01
I happen to have worked on that aircraft together with a group of friends who were looking for mechanic experience in general aviation. The mechanic on-board that perished with the crew was one of my colleagues before. I was more senior than him. Poor Richard (Toto), may he rest in peace... I had a privelege also to fly on the RPC-550 and its sister aircraft the RPC-535 as a flight mechanic, flown 26 hours on it. We were transfering goods to Iloilo and Cagayan de Oro that time. I must say that was one of the world's reliable aircraft in its time. And I must say, based on experience, flying on it was such as breeze! Even if it had no air-conditioning, the cold air flowing inside the cabin just makes up for it. And every landing is exciting! Sure it had its share of problems like any other modern aircraft nowadays, but I tell you the mins of the people who have worked on these are really magnificent. I am working now in a line maintenance repair station at the NAIA ang I owe the knowledge and experience from the people that I've worked with in Victoria Air.

robin		18-Oct-2009 05:12
hey lawrence, you have no idea what you're talking about. you can't even write properly. you ought to know a little bit more about the realities of the aviation world before making recommendations. -the pilot was an experienced guy and everyone knows philippine pilots are among the best. if he could have turned the plane around to save his life he would have. the fact he crashed into what appeared to be an abandoned site instead of a populated area and so close after takeoff, is a testament to his skills. -unless evidence to the contrary is subsequently made light, the airport had no reason to stop the aircraft. otherwise, they would have. the accident from a long time ago is not necessarily an indicator. these things are normally fixed after all. passenger planes get these problems all the time. -old planes are not necessarily rickety deathtraps. if they are maintained well, they remain highly capable machines. -radar had nothing to do with the accident. radar tells you where a plane is, how high its flying and where its headed at what speed. -from a real pilot who flies for real, not just simulated.

McDonnell Douglas		17-Oct-2009 15:17
Victoria Air was owned by Capt. Jerry Juane, the one who died were Capt. Benjamin Rivera who is the Pilot in Command of the aircraft and one of the veteran pilot of the Baron BE-55 and 58 and the Beechcraft Twin Bonanza BE-D50C of General Aviation, he also flew with PAL Express as Captain of a Q300. His Co-Pilot is Capt. Benjamin Baculpo, also one of the veteran pilot of General Aviation, another one is Jaguar Juane who happen to be the nephew of Capt. Jerry Juane and the last guy on the plane is the flight mechanic.

Lawrence Tan		17-Oct-2009 14:10
This Aircraft is known as RPC-550 Which crashed @ Las Pinias City Near a Lot Subdivision on SATURDAY,October.17.2009 NOON This Plane is a DC-3 Aircraft from Douglas Company.This DC-3 Is already used at World War II Years ago but crashed at October.17.2009 "It may had been caused by : faulty wires,Pilot error,Engine Failure or Incorrect Instrument adgustments. Passengers in this Flight was supposed to be: 7 but only 4 boarded the aircraft This Aircraft had a record at NAIA: "For Having a brake failure once and had to be towed" Other ways that this had been prevented: ~The Captain should have made a turn and Land back for an Emergency Landing ~The Airport should have STOP The aircraft from taking its Flight to PALAWAN ~The Owner of the Aircraft had demolish or sold the aircraft due to its Capabilities ~The NAIA Airport should have the latest radio and Radar Upgrades and other Upgrades The DC-3 Information on the Flight: FROM: "MANILA-PALAWAN" Aircraft: Douglas DC-3 For more information or Questions E-mail me @: lawrz.lawrence@yahoo.com "I Also have a 350Hours Flying Experience in a Flight Simulator"

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