The C-47 Dakota was manufactured in the USA by Douglas in March 1942 and initially issued to the United States Army Air Force. In September that year the aircraft was transferred to the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) and served in Canada during World War Two. It was subsequently deployed to Europe with the RCAF until declared surplus to requirements by the Canadians in 1971.
The Royal Aircraft Establishment (RAE) at Farnborough then purchased the aircraft, which was allocated the UK military serial number KG661, as it had carried the serial ‘661’ with the Canadians. During her time with the RAE, the Dakota was used for a variety of tasks and trials, including dropping sonabuoys through holes cut in the fuselage and for launching remotely piloted vehicles. Cleared for dropping paratroops, she often displayed in this role and occasionally appeared in the static park at air shows. For some time, however, there had been doubt about the allocated serial number. Research showed that the serial ‘KG661’ had previously belonged to a Dakota that had been destroyed in an accident. So the serial number was changed to a new one - ZA947. In 1992 the Defence Research Agency, the successor to the RAE, declared ZA947 surplus to requirements. The aircraft was adopted by Strike Command and issued to the BBMF in March 1993. In 2004, an original and authentic floor and interior was re-fitted to the Dakota, returning the cabin to the original, wartime specification.