Dover Air Force Base in Kent County, Delaware — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
U-3A
"Blue Canoe"
— S/N 82126 —
Photographed By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), November 11, 2019
In the mid-1950s the USAF initiated a competition to purchase "off-the-shelf" twin-engine aircraft for light cargo and personnel transport duties. Cessna's new model 310 was selected and 160 aircraft were acquired and designated L-27A (L for liaison). In 1962 when all the U.S. military services re-aligned their aircraft identification system, the designation was changed to U-3A (U for utility).
From 1958 to 1971, the Military Air Transport Service (MATS) and later the Military Airlift Command (MAC) operated a fleet of 12 to 16 U-3 to transport high-priority passengers. The museum's aircraft is painted as a MATS U-3.
This aircraft was assigned to USAF Headquarters at Bolling AFB in Washington D.C. from 1958-1959 and then to various bases before being dropped from the Air Force inventory in 1972. It was transferred to the Air Force Aero Club program to serve as a twin-engine trainer and rental aircraft. It was retired from the Dover AFB Aero Club and transferred to the AMC Museum in 2009.
Specifications[Captions:]
Manufacturer: Cessna Aircraft Company
Type: Light cargo and personnel transport
Powerplant: Two 240-hp Continental 0-470-B engines
Maximum Speed: 238 mph
Range: 850 mi.
Service Ceiling: 22,000 ft
Max Takeoff Weight: 5,500 lb
Crew: Pilot
Payload: Four passengers
Dimensions:
Wing Span: 36 ft 11 in
Length: 27 ft 0 in
Height: 10 ft 8 in
Above: The U-3's civilian counterpart, the Cessna 310, became famous for its appearance as a star in the 1950s televeision Sky King. The plane was named Songbird.
All U-3s had a 50-gallon wingtip tanks permanently attached.
The U-3 got its nickname "Blue Canoe," because of its distinctive fuselage and blue color.
The first three models had a vertical tail. D-models and later have a swept tail.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Air & Space. A significant historical year for this entry is 1962.
Location. 39° 7.011′ N, 75° 27.401′ W. Marker is in Dover, Delaware, in Kent County. It is in Dover Air Force Base. Marker can be reached from Heritage Road, 0.7 miles west of Bayside Drive (Delaware Route 9), on the left when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1301 Heritage Road, Dover AFB DE 19902, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. C-60 (a few steps from this marker); C-45G (within shouting distance of this marker); LGM-30 (within shouting distance of this marker); C-5A
Photographed By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), November 11, 2019
Credits. This page was last revised on September 17, 2023. It was originally submitted on November 13, 2019, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 126 times since then and 3 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on November 13, 2019, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.