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DC-3, Douglas Sleeper Transport, on the Ground
DC-3, Douglas Sleeper Transport, on the Ground 
Douglas Sleeper Transport In Flight
Douglas Sleeper Transport In Flight 
Douglas Workers with DC-3
Douglas Workers with DC-3 
DC-3 Nose with Workers
DC-3 Nose with Workers 
DC-3 Engine Maintenance
DC-3 Engine Maintenance 
Two Women in Douglas Sleeper Transport Sleeping Berths
Two Women in Douglas Sleeper Transport Sleeping Berths 
DC-3 Nose
DC-3 Nose 
DC-3 on the Ground
DC-3 on the Ground 
Executive DC-3 Ground Maintenance
Executive DC-3 Ground Maintenance 
Douglas DC-3 with Llamas
Douglas DC-3 with Llamas 
DC-3 Tail with Woman Worker
DC-3 Tail with Woman Worker 
DC-3 Production Line in Santa Monica
DC-3 Production Line in Santa Monica 
Executive DC-3 Passenger Cabin
Executive DC-3 Passenger Cabin 
DC-3/DST Flight Deck
DC-3/DST Flight Deck 
Boeing Model 247 with Douglas DC-3
Boeing Model 247 with Douglas DC-3 
Damaged DC-3
Damaged DC-3 
DC-3 on Tarmac
DC-3 on Tarmac 
DC-1 on Tarmac
DC-1 on Tarmac 
Lady at Work on a DC-3
Lady at Work on a DC-3 
DC-3 Refueling
DC-3 Refueling 
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DC-3, Douglas Sleeper Transport with Cord Automobile

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 BI2168 
Boeing ID sm8980 
Type Image 
Size 5098px × 5998px   29MB 
License type RM 
Keywords
1930s
airplanes
automobiles
close-ups
commercial
commercial airline livery
commercial passenger planes
contrast
day
engines
exteriors
fuselages
ground shots
half-length views
historic production status
large
monoplanes
nacelles
nobody
nose sections
photos
propeller planes
propellers
propulsion systems
right front views
structural systems
sunshine
tarmac
text
unpainted
viewed from below
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