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DC-3
DC-3 
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DC-3 in Factory
DC-3 in Factory 
DC-3 Wing Assembly, 1940
DC-3 Wing Assembly, 1940 
DC-3 Manufacturing
DC-3 Manufacturing 
Workers Prepare to Attach DC-3 Wing, 1940
Workers Prepare to Attach DC-3 Wing, 1940 
Douglas Aircraft Worker in Wheel Well of a DC-3
Douglas Aircraft Worker in Wheel Well of a DC-3 
B-18A Bolo Production Line
B-18A Bolo Production Line 
DC-3 in Santa Monica
DC-3 in Santa Monica 
A-20 Havoc Assembly in Santa Monica
A-20 Havoc Assembly in Santa Monica 
DC-6 Manufacturing
DC-6 Manufacturing 
Executive DC-3 and Car in Santa Monica
Executive DC-3 and Car in Santa Monica 
Douglas Santa Monica "Rosies" on top of Fuselage
Douglas Santa Monica "Rosies" on top of Fuselage 
B-18A Bolos at Santa Monica Facility
B-18A Bolos at Santa Monica Facility 
Lady at Work on a DC-3
Lady at Work on a DC-3 
DC-7 Assembly
DC-7 Assembly 
DC-6 Nose Section
DC-6 Nose Section 
A Douglas "Rosie" Works in the Shadow of a C-47 Wing
A Douglas "Rosie" Works in the Shadow of a C-47 Wing 
Women Workers at Douglas Aircraft's Santa Monica Facility
Women Workers at Douglas Aircraft's Santa Monica Facility 
DC-6 Manufacturing
DC-6 Manufacturing 
DC-3 with 377 Stratocruiser
DC-3 with 377 Stratocruiser 
DC-6 Fuselages
DC-6 Fuselages 
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DC-3 Production Line in Santa Monica

The DC-3, which made air travel popular and airline profits possible, is universally recognized as the greatest airplane of its time. Some would argue that it is the greatest of all time. Design began in 1934 at the insistence of C.R. Smith, president of American Airlines. Smith wanted two new planes - a longer DC-2 that would carry more day passengers and another with railroad-type sleeping berths, to carry overnight passengers. The first DC-3 built was the Douglas Sleeper Transport, and it was the height of luxury. Fourteen plush seats in four main compartments could be folded to form seven berths, while seven more folded down from the cabin ceiling. The plane could accommodate 14 overnight passengers or 28 for shorter daytime flights. The first was delivered to American Airlines in June 1936, followed two months later by the first standard 21-passenger DC-3. In November 1936, United Airlines became the second DC-3 customer. Initial orders from American and United were soon followed by orders from more than 30 other airlines in the next two years. The DC-3 was not only comfortable and reliable, it also made air transportation profitable. American's C.R. Smith said the DC-3 was the first airplane that could make money just by hauling passengers, without relying on government subsidies. As a result, by 1939, more than 90 percent of the nation's airline passengers were flying on DC-2s and DC-3s. In addition to the 455 DC-3 commercial transports built for the airlines, 10,174 were produced as military transports during World War II. For both airline and military use, the DC-3 proved to be tough, flexible, and easy to operate and maintain. Its exploits during the war became the stuff of legend. Today, more than six decades after the last one was delivered, hundreds of DC-3s are still flying and still earning their keep by carrying passengers or cargo. 
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Unique identifier BI2170 
Boeing ID sm9940 
Type Image 
Size 7351px × 5883px   41MB 
License type RM 
Keywords
1930s
abundance
airplanes
buildings
commercial
commercial passenger planes
factories
fuselages
ground shots
half-length views
hangars
historic production status
interiors
manufacturing
monoplanes
nobody
nose sections
perspective lines
photos
propeller planes
repetition
right side views
scanned from film negative
silver color
structural systems
three-quarter length views
unpainted
viewed from above
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