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DC-3 on Tarmac
DC-3 on Tarmac 
DC-3 on Tarmac
DC-3 on Tarmac 
DC-3 on Tarmac
DC-3 on Tarmac 
DC-3 on Tarmac
DC-3 on Tarmac 
DC-3 on Tarmac
DC-3 on Tarmac 
DC-3 on Tarmac
DC-3 on Tarmac 
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DC-3 on the Ground 
DC-3, Douglas Sleeper Transport, on the Ground
DC-3, Douglas Sleeper Transport, on the Ground 
DC-3C in Flight
DC-3C in Flight 
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DC-3 Refueling 
DC-3 Mainliner on the Ground
DC-3 Mainliner on the Ground 
Super DC-3 Landing
Super DC-3 Landing 
Loading Packages on a DC-3
Loading Packages on a DC-3 
Old Tail Super DC-3 in Flight
Old Tail Super DC-3 in Flight 
Old Tail Super DC-3 on Tarmac
Old Tail Super DC-3 on Tarmac 
DC-3 in Santa Monica
DC-3 in Santa Monica 
TWA DC-3 on the Ground
TWA DC-3 on the Ground 
Lady at Work on a DC-3
Lady at Work on a DC-3 
Executive DC-3 in Flight
Executive DC-3 in Flight 
DC-3 in Flight
DC-3 in Flight 
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DC-3 on Tarmac

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 BI2162 
Boeing ID sm14292 
Type Image 
Size 5998px × 4198px   24MB 
License type RM 
Keywords
1930s
airfields
airplanes
clear skies
commercial
commercial passenger planes
copy space
day
exteriors
full body views
ground shots
historic production status
monoplanes
nobody
photos
propeller planes
right rear views
silver color
sunshine
tarmac
unpainted
Restrictions