Aircraft / Douglas DC-3
Aircraft / Douglas DC-3
The Douglas DC-3 is a twin piston-engined, medium range, low-wing propeller-driven metal monoplane airliner manufactured by Douglas Aircraft Company, which was originally headquartered in Santa Monica, California USA, then relocated to Long Beach, California USA. In 1967 the Douglas Aircraft Company merged with St Louis-based McDonnell Aircraft Corporation to become McDonnell Douglas Corporation.
The DC-3 was originally designed in the 1930s to be a larger, improved 14-bed sleeper version of its forerunner, the Douglas DC-2. The DC-3 can carry 21 to 32 passengers or up to 6000 lbs (2700 kg) of cargo, has a range of 1370 nm / 1577 mi / 2537 km, and are capable of operating from short runways. By 1939 the DC-9 was so dominant in the civil airline market that nearly 9 out of 10 airline flights worldwide were being operated by a DC-3 or one of its variants.
One of the first airliners that could profitably carry only passengers without relying on mail subsidies, the Douglas DC-3 had many exceptional qualities compared to previous aircraft. The type had an especially profound impact on the airline industry during the 1930s and 1940s, and was one of the most vital transport aircraft types deployed by the Allied Forces during World War II.
The DC-3 was fast, had a good range, was more reliable, and could carry passengers in greater comfort than prior aircraft types. The DC-3 could cross the continental United States from New York to Los Angeles in 18 hours, making only three stops enroute. Military transport versions, identified as the Douglas C-47 Skytrain, were used for many years for troop transport, cargo transport, paratrooper deployment, towing gliders, and military cargo parachute drops.
Civilian production of the DC-3 ended in 1943 at 607 aircraft, when it was made obsolete by more advanced aircraft types such as the Douglas DC-4 and the Convair CV-240. Douglas built at least 10,174 of the C-47 and its variants were built during World War II.
In addition to the Douglas DC-3 and Douglas C-47 Skytrain, over 60 variants of the DC-3 were built around the world, many under other names such as the Douglas R4D-8/C-117D, the Lisunov Li-2, the Showa L2D and Nakajima L2D, and the Basler BT-67.
After the war thousands of surplus C-47s were converted to civilian airline use. Many were further modified to serve as freighters, air ambulances, vintage warbirds, Antarctic research transports, civil firefighting equipment and private aircraft. As of 2024, hundreds of the type still survive, while many more have been converted to static display around the world. It is widely expected that by 2036 the Douglas DC-3 will likely become the first historic aircraft to still see active usage 100 years after its first flight.
Reference: Wikipedia.
Stats
Stats displayed are for the Douglas DC-3A twin-engined aircraft.
Name: Douglas DC-3A
Origin: Santa Monica, California USA
Role: Two Piston Engined Propeller-Driven Airliner
First Introduction: 26 June 1936
Status: Out of Production; In Active Service
Cockpit Crew: Two
Seating: 21 to 32
Engines: 2 × Pratt & Whitney R-1830-S1C3G Twin Wasp (Piston)
Cruise Speed: 183 knots (339 km/h; 211 mph)
Range: 1370 nmi (2540 km; 1580 mi)