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DC-3
DC-3 
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Conceptually similar
DC-3 Wing Assembly, 1940
DC-3 Wing Assembly, 1940 
Workers Prepare to Attach DC-3 Wing, 1940
Workers Prepare to Attach DC-3 Wing, 1940 
DC-6 Manufacturing
DC-6 Manufacturing 
DC-3 in Factory
DC-3 in Factory 
Douglas Aircraft Worker in Wheel Well of a DC-3
Douglas Aircraft Worker in Wheel Well of a DC-3 
DC-3 Production Line in Santa Monica
DC-3 Production Line in Santa Monica 
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DC-6 Manufacturing 
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DC-7 Assembly 
Number 301 DC-2 on Factory Floor
Number 301 DC-2 on Factory Floor 
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DC-6 Fuselages 
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DC-1 Under Construction 
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DC-8 Manufacturing 
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DC-9 Manufacturing
Man on the Tail of a DC-7 in the Factory
Man on the Tail of a DC-7 in the Factory 
DC-10 Manufacturing
DC-10 Manufacturing 
C-47 Skytrain Assembly
C-47 Skytrain Assembly 
DC-2 Instrument Board and Controls
DC-2 Instrument Board and Controls 
DC-6 Nose Section
DC-6 Nose Section 
XB-19 Behemoth Assembly
XB-19 Behemoth Assembly 
TBD-1 Devastator Assembly
TBD-1 Devastator Assembly 
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DC-3 Manufacturing

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 BI21548 
Boeing ID sm12385 
Type Image 
Size 5996px × 4736px   27MB 
License type RM 
Keywords
1930s
abundance
adults
airplanes
blur
busy
commercial
commercial passenger planes
day
factories
factory workers
glare
ground shots
historic production status
interiors
male
manufacturing
monoplanes
occupations and work
perspective lines
photos
propeller planes
repetition
several/groups
structural systems
text
unpainted
viewed from above
vintage / retro
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