First Flight Tuesday - Douglas DC-3

"Jayhawk Jake" (jayhawkjake)
12/17/2013 at 12:00 • Filed to: FIRST FLIGHT TUESDAY, PLANELOPNIK

As mentioned this morning, today marks the 110th anniversary of the Wright Brother's first flight. Interestingly enough, today also marks the 78th anniversary of the first flight of, in my opinion, the single greatest aircraft ever produced.

Yes, you guessed it: On December 17th, 1935 the Douglas DC-3 took to the skies over Long Beach, CA for the very first time. This heralded a new age of air transportation and completely revolutionized air travel for the next 78 years. If you fly on an airline today, chances are you can thank the DC-3 for showing the world that airline travel was not only possible, but profitable

The DC-3 is a metal fully enclosed passenger airliner. Originally designed as the DST, or Douglas Sleeper Transport, it was configured to fly cross country routes for American Airlines. Much like a sleeper car on a train, the DST carried 24 passengers by day and converted to a sleeper cabin to carry 16 passengers by night. Eventually the DC-3 was born from the DST with a 21 passenger capacity.

American, TWA, United, Eastern and others all operated DC-3s starting in 1936, and the DC-3 quickly became the popular option for travel across the US, replacing train routes as the best way to travel long distances in the US. 600 or so aircraft were produced prior to WWII, a truly incredible number.

Then, war hit. The DC-3 was quickly converted into the C-47 Skytrain (as well as the C-53, powered by different engines). Over 10,000 of these were built, quickly becoming one of the most widely produced airplanes in history.

Naturally a tough airplane, many C-47s survived the war and became surplus items. !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! and after the war I've read estimates that 90% of commercial flights were handled by the DC-3

Thanks to it's robust airframe, excellent short field performance, rough field capability, reliablility and flight performance the DC-3 remains a workhorse for many operators. Now 78 years after its first flight, DC-3s can be found working all over the world, with a common saying being 'The only replacement for a DC-3 is another DC-3'. The DC-3 will likely live on for many more years, a testament to it's incredible design.

DISCUSSION (11)

FJ80WaitinForaLSV8 > Jayhawk Jake
12/17/2013 at 12:20

Question: in your opinion what is the DC-3s modern spiritual successor. I don't mean in the sense that the 737 and A320 have replaced it for short/medium haul passenger travel in the developed world. Rather, say an operator in latin america wants to replace their DC-3 with something similar what would they purchase?

dinobot666 > Jayhawk Jake
12/17/2013 at 12:20

It's not an opinion that the DC-3 is the greatest airplane ever made, it's a fact.

Jayhawk Jake > FJ80WaitinForaLSV8
12/17/2013 at 12:25

Honestly, as a direct replacement a DC-3 is the only option. Not joking at all, nothing else can offer the same performance. They aren't that hard to come by, especially with Basler making turboprop conversions.

The twin otter maybe, with Viking producing them again.

Most likely a business looking to replace a DC-3 with a new construction airplane would buy a pair of Cessna 208B Super Cargomasters .

quarterlifecrisis > Jayhawk Jake
12/17/2013 at 12:27

I love how many of these are still in the air, and still being worked.

Time for a quarterlifecrisis sentimental moment: June of 2001, 14 year old me is playing Taps at grandpa's funeral. He was a WWII vet. As people begin to disperse, dad and I hear the unmistakeable sound of round motors...radials. Eventually we see a DC-3/C-47 painted in D-Day markings (or at least what I always think of as D-Day markings) fly overhead. Complete fluke, but, it stands out.

stuttgartobsessed > Jayhawk Jake
12/17/2013 at 12:35

My Grandma was a flight attendant in the early '50's on a DC-3 with American. Very awesome aircraft. Thanks!

Jayhawk Jake > quarterlifecrisis
12/17/2013 at 12:35

That's awesome. DC-3's are certainly a sight to see.

I flew on one this August, it was one of the most incredible flying experiences I've ever had, and I've experienced a stall in a Sovereign!

quarterlifecrisis > Jayhawk Jake
12/17/2013 at 13:37

I need to scratch one of these off of my "flight list." So far that includes a B-17 (Nine-0-Nine), and 2 separate Tri-Motors. (Both 4ATs)

Jayhawk Jake > quarterlifecrisis
12/17/2013 at 13:57

The DC-3 was my only real bucket list plane, besides something I help design eventually.

I did the Trimotor at EAA 2 years ago, it was awesome.

quarterlifecrisis > Jayhawk Jake
12/17/2013 at 14:05

We've flown in the same plane...omgz.

That's what I flew in a few years ago, but my first Tri-Motor flight was 7 Jul 89. White fuselage, blue wings, red stripe down the cabin. Something about it having been owned by Lindbergh or his airline or something. Hell, I was 2.5 at the time.

Jayhawk Jake > quarterlifecrisis
12/17/2013 at 14:12

Wow, talk about a coincidence - your first Tri Motor flight was on my birthday. I mean literally the day I was born

quarterlifecrisis > Jayhawk Jake
12/17/2013 at 14:16

'Merica