THe odyssey dc-3
This propeller-driven airliner had a lasting effect on the airline industry in the 1930s to 1940s and the Second World War. The ‘Odyssey’ tells a lively story of a trip around the world for Expo 86’ flown by pilot and KF Centre for Excellence founder Barry Lapointe.
A true workhorse, the DC-3 has been a versatile aircraft for both military and civilian operations for over 90 years.
Prior to becoming a vital aircraft in the Second World War, the DC-3 was designed to haul passengers. This particular DC-3 flew during the war as part of the West Coast Air Command. After the war, the aircraft was transferred to Canadair and flew with Trans-Canada Airlines until the late 1950s. From there, the aircraft was acquired by Transport Canada and flew as an airway calibrator.
The aircraft was later acquired by KF Aerospace founder, Barry Lapointe. In 1986, Lapointe and a crew of Canadian aviators flew the DC-3 around the world to celebrate both the aircraft’s 50th anniversary and Expo 86 in Vancouver.
Over two months, the Odyssey visited 55 cities and accumulated more than 280 hours of flying time. By the time the crew returned home, the aircraft was covered with a colourful mosaic of signatures from all over the world, including California, Hawaii, Australia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, India, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Greece, Italy, Poland, Norway, Germany and England – a visual record of an extraordinary journey around the world.
During the war, several nicknames emerged for the DC-3 and its military variant, the C-47. The American military called them “Skytrains,” while the British and Commonwealth forces knew them as “Dakotas.” To many servicemen, they were simply “Gooney Birds.” But when Barry and the crew flew this DC-3 around the world in 1986, it became known as Odyssey 86 … or simply, the Odyssey.
In the 1990s, Barry sold the DC-3. Over the years, he came to miss the aircraft, and in 2021, Barry was finally reunited with the Odyssey and brought it home to Kelowna.
Today, the Odyssey is part of the KF Centre for Excellence aircraft collection, preserving both the history of the DC-3 and the remarkable journey of the people who flew it around the world.
The aircraft is powered by two Pratt & Whitney R-1830 engines, producing approximately 1,100 horsepower each, with Hamilton Standard 23E50 propellers.
The Odyssey DC-3 Documentary
2026 marks two significant milestones: the 90th anniversary of the Douglas DC-3 and 40 years since Barry Lapointe and the Odyssey 86 crew set out on their journey around the world.
To commemorate these anniversaries, the KF Centre for Excellence partnered with Edge Digital Media to bring the story of Odyssey 86 to the screen. The documentary revisits the remarkable 1986 journey through the memories of the people who were there, preserving their stories and celebrating the enduring legacy of the DC-3.
Odyssey 86: 90 Years of the DC-3 premiered at the KF Centre in June 2026 and played at the Centre throughout the summer. Now, the full documentary is available to watch online.
