This blog post chronicles the epic journey of a Douglas C-47 Skytrain from a field in Kansas to its new home in Ottawa, Kansas, highlighting the aircraft's historical significance and the restoration efforts to revive its legacy.
Welcome aboard adventurers! This is the first episode of our new series, Forgotten No More, where we embark on a mission to revive the mighty C-47 Skytrain. This chapter is titled Road to Restoration: The C-47 Skytrain’s Epic Move to Ottawa, Kansas.
Our story begins in a quiet field in Ranul, Kansas, where dozens of once-proud aircraft sit abandoned, their days of flight seemingly over. As we take to the skies with a drone, we reveal a haunting scene: rows of forgotten fuselages, weathered by decades of sun, wind, and time. Among them, one aircraft stands out, calling for a second chance.
Before you lies a Douglas C-47B Skytrain, later converted to a C-47D model, built in 1944 during the final months of World War II. Although crafted for war, fate had other plans. By the time this aircraft rolled off the assembly line and into service with the US Army Air Forces, the war was drawing to a close, and it would never see combat. Instead, it became a symbol of the overwhelming force that brought victory to the free world.
Today, the long journey toward rebirth begins with the careful recovery and transport of this Skytrain, a delicate operation aimed at preserving every piece of its historic airframe. Its destination is Reer Aviation LLC, located at the Ottawa Municipal Airport in Ottawa, Kansas, where it will be evaluated and inspected for restoration potential.
With the fuselage secured and the last straps tightened, the journey to Ottawa begins. The distance is just 9.5 miles, but on narrow county roads, it feels like crossing worlds. Days of pre-planning included measuring the width of the roadway, bridges, signs along the ditches, and the height of overhead power lines. Securing a permit from county authorities was the final touch needed to get this old bird to her new home.
As the C-47 rolled past, it wasn’t just an old fuselage being towed on a trailer; it was a living piece of history waking up from decades of silence. The chipped paint and worn skin told stories of places it had been, lives it had touched, and missions it had served. Word spread quickly, and soon people lined the roadside, drawn by the sight of something rare and real. Some waved, while others stood silently, capturing the moment with their phones and cameras, their eyes wide with excitement.
The journey was not without its challenges. At one tight crossing, Jim Reer himself stepped in to pull a roadside sign aside, allowing the C-47’s broad propeller to slip through without a scratch. However, a small issue arose when the straps securing the tail wheel to the trailer began to loosen. This reminded us that even the best preparations require constant attention. After a brief stop to tighten everything down, we continued on our way.
As we approached narrow bridges and low-hanging power lines, careful evaluation was crucial. The left main landing gear rolled just inches from heavy steel guardrails, making every move measured and deliberate. Finally, after passing all the difficult obstacles, the ramp at Reer Aviation came into view.
After years of silence and neglect, the old warrior was about to touch the ground of her new home, a place where restoration, respect, and rebirth would soon begin. As she crossed onto the grounds of the Ottawa Municipal Airport, an old Philip 66 sign stood proudly in the foreground, and the American flag waved steadily in the Kansas wind, a salute to the history carried in the battered skin of this old Skytrain.
Before reaching the taxiway and ramp, we faced one last challenge: crossing a stretch of soft, muddy ground. The heavy trailer sank slightly with every move forward, making it feel as though history itself was holding her back. But with patience and determination, the C-47 began her slow, triumphant roll down the taxiway.
As she approached her new home, an air tractor AT502 flew into view, a working aircraft built for today’s missions, symbolizing the evolution of aviation. Coincidentally, two AH-64 Apache helicopters roared overhead, passing over the old Skytrain just as she made her way to her new home.
With the aircraft safely on the ramp, it was finally time to step inside and see what remained. Climbing through the hatch, we were greeted by the heavy, musty smell of old metal and mold—a reminder of the long-forgotten years spent in silence. Inside, the cabin was stripped bare, exposing the bones of the old Skytrain to the dim light filtering through dust-streaked windows.
Every step across the worn metal floor echoed through the empty fuselage, a hollow sound that spoke of decades gone by. The cockpit told a harder story, with much of the original avionics stripped away, leaving only empty panels and disconnected wires. As I explored, a strange and haunting feeling settled over me. Every scratch on the floor, every worn rivet, and every faded panel whispered stories of a different time—of missions flown, cargo delivered, and lives carried through uncertain skies.
Standing there, it was easy to imagine the men and women who once depended on this aircraft, their quiet determination and the weight of the times they lived through. It was a humbling experience, and in that quiet, dusty space, I felt the history all around me—heavy, real, and deeply personal.
This journey is just the beginning of our mission to restore the C-47 Skytrain. We are not just restoring an aircraft; we are honoring every chapter it has lived and preparing to write the next one. At Wingspan Adventures and Flight, our mission is to honor the past, live in the present, and inspire the future through the spirit of flight.
I would like to extend my deepest thanks to Reer Aviation LLC for allowing us to be part of this mission and to every viewer and subscriber for supporting this channel. Until next time, this is Nate saying so long!
