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Watchlisted aircraftDouglas DC-3

Douglas DC-3 N8704, an 82-year-old airframe over Michigan

Reported near Ypsilanti, the aircraft recorded 125 knots and an altitude of about 2,000 feet during the flight.

Nearl CrewsObserved Published

Map of Douglas DC-3 N8704's recorded track near Ypsilanti, Michigan: 9 positions over 2 minutes, about 5 miles.
Saved positions of Douglas DC-3 N8704 near Ypsilanti, Michigan, drawn from a short archived excerpt. The line breaks at gaps over 45 seconds, at source changes and at rejected positions. The path measures about 5 miles (4.1 nautical miles) along the plotted segments. Archive timestamps do not establish exact message freshness. USGS topographic background shows roads, water and place names where available. It is a current reference map, not imagery from the flight date. Map data sources

An 82-year-old Douglas DC-3 was recorded in flight on June 4, 2026, with positions reported near Ypsilanti, Michigan. The aircraft database identifies it as N8704, built in 1944. The record includes a ground speed of 125 knots and an altitude of about 2,000 feet.

The DC-3 is an all-metal design with retractable landing gear and radial engines. Its sweptback outer wing panels were not intended for the high-speed reasons associated with later jets. Plane Alert DB lists N8704 in its Historic aircraft category; that entry does not show who was aboard.

About the Douglas DC-3

  • The Smithsonian describes the DC-3 as an all-metal aircraft with cantilever wings, retractable landing gear, trailing-edge flaps and two cowled radial engines.
  • The DC-3’s sweptback outer wing panels were not intended for the high-speed reasons associated with later jet aircraft.

Other Douglas DC-3 stories

Representative Douglas DC-3 modified as a radar test aircraft, taking off in a side view.
Representative Douglas DC-3 photo (modified radar test aircraft shown). Image source and license

Recorded data for N8704

Observation
Observed to
Event typeUnusual aircraft
Recorded sourceADS-B, ICAO address
Post date
Last revised
Aircraft
Aircraft typeDOUGLAS DC-3 Dakota
Type designatorDC3
Tail number (registration)N8704
ICAO addressABF93A

Measurements

Displayed measurements may be rounded.

Saved reading at .
Ground speed125 kn
Archived altitude; reference not retained2,025 ft
Watchlist association
SourcePlane Alert DB
CategoryHistoric aircraft
Pinned source version6f7a19044a8dc9ed1c5687c8d26650df7296321e
AttributionAircraft association/category: Plane Alert DB / SDR-Enthusiasts and contributors.
LicencesOpen Database License 1.0; Database Contents License 1.0
ScopeSource association only; not verified current ownership, operator, historical association or presence of any person aboard.
Record details

Public event ID: 061ed292-b29f-44c8-9caf-c75da4e8f9db.

Record revision: 3.

Evidence version: b6b92941f7fd0f52f6651f2bfcec6b212b127fab8d766ae8c3d104a0c6b8cacf.

More about N8704

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