"Sleeping Beauty" soon to move from Schiphol Airport to Lelystad

Aviation Theme Park Aviodrome is preparing for the arrival of a new aircraft, a 1944 DC-3. The aircraft, known to connoisseurs as the Douglas DC-3 / C-47 Dakota PH-DDZ, was brought to the Netherlands by the Dutch Dakota Association (DDA) in 1987 for the purpose of storage and restoration in 2010. Hence the name "Sleeping Beauty." After its arrival in May 1987, the restoration of the aircraft was tackled energetically, which eventually turned out to be a 12-year project.

Messrs. Lips (on behalf of Aviation Theme Park Aviodrome), Jaski and Teppema (on behalf of the Dutch Dakota Association (DDA)) signed the agreement on Tuesday, August 23, 2016, making the sale of the Douglas DC-3 to Aviodrome a reality. Both parties are pleased that through the purchase a piece of mobile (aviation) heritage will be preserved for the Netherlands. Aviodrome already has two DC-3s, but they are not airworthy. The model now purchased is, although it first needs two new engines to be able to fly again. These were recently purchased by Aviodrome and will be mounted on the aircraft in Lelystad. The DC-3 is otherwise in perfect condition and will be able to perform flights again in the near future.

Complex transport by water

The hangar space at Schiphol will soon be no longer available. Since transport by air is not yet an option, transport by water has been chosen for now. This is a complex transport for which all permits and authorizations must first be arranged. For the transport of the DC-3 from Schiphol to Lelystad, which will take place in the near future, the wings of the aircraft will be disassembled. After reassembly, the DC-3 will be on display for Aviodrome visitors in the T2 Hangar.

Joint objective

Aviation theme park Aviodrome focuses on the acquisition, restoration and conservation of aviation objects of cultural-historical value to the Netherlands. Objects from Aviodrome's collection are presented in a progressive manner to the largest and widest possible audience. Here the theme park meets the objective of the DDA, which aims to make historical aviation accessible to the widest possible audience. Aviodrome ranks among the top aviation theme parks in Europe.