FINAL CURTAIN CALL: UK’s Elusive ‘Movie Star’ C-47 Announces Farewell Tour Before USA Departure
For nearly half a century, the Douglas C-47A Skytrain, registered N147DC and known to the historic aviation community as ‘Mayfly’, has been one of the UK’s most distinguished—if somewhat elusive—aviation residents. Now, the credits are set to roll on her British career.
According to a new announcement from the DC-3 Society, this unique airframe has been sold to a new owner in the United States. However, before she crosses the Atlantic for good, the aircraft is expected to perform a series of farewell appearances in the spring and early summer of 2026.
Mayfly arriving at Caen–Carpiquet during Daks Over Normandy 2019.
A Rare Sight in the Skies
Unlike other vintage aircraft that grind out the airshow circuit every weekend, ‘Mayfly’ has always been something of a "Greta Garbo" of the aviation world—famous, but rarely seen in public.
Operated by the aviation film specialists Aces High since 1979, her primary job was never to entertain crowds at airshows, but to work on closed sets for Hollywood blockbusters. While she did make memorable appearances at major events—most notably the ‘Daks over Normandy’ gatherings in 2019 and occasional slots at Duxford Flying Legends—she was never a "regular" performer.
This scarcity makes the upcoming 2026 Farewell Tour arguably more significant than a standard display season. For many aviation photographers and enthusiasts, this tour will likely be the only opportunity to catch a glimpse of the aircraft before it departs the UK forever.
The World’s Lowest-Time C-47
The aircraft’s low public profile matches her flight log. Built at the Douglas plant in Long Beach, California, in 1942, ‘Mayfly’ is widely believed to be the lowest-time airworthy DC-3/C-47 in the world.
It is a staggering statistic: in over 80 years of existence, she has accumulated just over 3,500 flight hours. To put that in perspective, many commercial airliners clock that many hours in a single year. This incredible preservation is due to her unusual service history.
From Secret Testbed to Silver Screen
Her career path was far from standard. She served with the USAAF (42-100884) and RAF (TS423) during WWII, but her post-war life is what saved her from high-cycle wear and tear.
During the Cold War, she served as a radar testbed for the English Electric Lightning. For years, she flew with a bizarre, elongated nose cone grafted onto her front to house the fighter jet's Airpass radar system. This specialized role kept her flight hours low but her airframe in excellent condition.
By the late 1970s, she was facing the scrapyard. She was rescued by Mike Woodley of Aces High, who recognized the jewel beneath the modifications. After a "reverse nose job" to restore her original snub-nosed profile, she began her second career as Europe’s premier aviation actor.
Mayfly taxing for take-off during Daks Over Duxford 2019.
A Resume to Rival Hollywood Royalty
Since her TV debut in 1979 as 'Vera Lynn' in the series AIRLINE, ‘Mayfly’ has become the go-to aircraft for directors demanding authenticity. Her list of credits is a timeline of modern war cinema:
Band of Brothers (The aircraft famously dropped paratroopers in the HBO series)
Saving Private Ryan
Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade
The Monuments Men
Quantum of Solace (007)
The Da Vinci Code
Memphis Belle
Darkest Hour
Catch-22
Mayfly arriving at Caen–Carpiquet during Daks Over Normandy 2019.
The Final Chapter
Spotters recently tracked N147DC ferrying from her long-time home at North Weald to Southend Airport. She is currently undergoing a "long overdue thorough maintenance check" to prepare for the transatlantic crossing.
While we will miss her presence in Europe, the 2026 tour promises a fitting send-off for a machine that has spent 45 years helping us visualize history on screen.
