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DC-3 Nose with Workers
DC-3 Nose with Workers 
DC-3 Mainliner Painting from the Boeing 2003 Calendar
DC-3 Mainliner Painting from the Boeing 2003 Calendar 
DC-3 Being Serviced
DC-3 Being Serviced 
DC-3 Engine Maintenance
DC-3 Engine Maintenance 
DC-3 on the Ground
DC-3 on the Ground 
Loading Packages on a DC-3
Loading Packages on a DC-3 
DC-3 Tail with Woman Worker
DC-3 Tail with Woman Worker 
Old Tail Super DC-3 on Tarmac
Old Tail Super DC-3 on Tarmac 
Douglas Workers with DC-3
Douglas Workers with DC-3 
DC-3 Refueling
DC-3 Refueling 
DC-3, Douglas Sleeper Transport, on the Ground
DC-3, Douglas Sleeper Transport, on the Ground 
TWA DC-3 on the Ground
TWA DC-3 on the Ground 
DC-2 on Ground
DC-2 on Ground 
DC-3 with 377 Stratocruiser
DC-3 with 377 Stratocruiser 
Lady at Work on a DC-3
Lady at Work on a DC-3 
Damaged DC-3
Damaged DC-3 
DC-3 on Tarmac
DC-3 on Tarmac 
DC-3 on Tarmac
DC-3 on Tarmac 
Executive DC-3 Ground Maintenance
Executive DC-3 Ground Maintenance 
Douglas DC-3 with Llamas
Douglas DC-3 with Llamas 
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DC-3 Mainliner on the Ground

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 BI21494 
Boeing ID lk176 
Type Image 
Size 5998px × 4479px   25MB 
License type RM 
Keywords
1930s
adults
airplanes
clouds
commercial
commercial airline livery
commercial passenger planes
copy space
day
exteriors
full body views
ground crews
ground shots
historic production status
maintenance
male
mechanics
monoplanes
occupations and work
photos
propeller planes
right side views
several/groups
sunshine
tarmac
text
unpainted
vintage / retro
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