Time Period: Interwar Period
Country of Origin: United States
Type: Airliner, Transport Aircraft
Manufacturer: Douglas Aircraft Company
Douglas DC-3 Aircraft Overview
The Douglas DC-3 is one of the most iconic and influential aircraft in aviation history. Introduced in the 1930s, it revolutionized air travel and played a pivotal role during both peacetime and wartime, setting standards for reliability, efficiency, and versatility that would influence the aviation industry for decades.
The DC-3 was developed by the Douglas Aircraft Company as an improvement over its predecessor, the DC-2. It was designed in response to the growing demand for an aircraft that could make passenger air travel profitable without relying on government subsidies. The result was a plane that was faster, more spacious, and more economical than anything available at the time.
The DC-3 is often credited with making commercial aviation profitable. Airlines such as American Airlines, United Airlines, and TWA adopted the DC-3 for their fleets, and it quickly became the backbone of early passenger aviation. Its reliability and capacity transformed air travel from a luxury experience into a practical mode of transportation for the general public.
Key Features
- All-Metal Construction: The DC-3 was built with a durable, lightweight aluminum body, making it strong and efficient.
- Advanced Aerodynamics: The aircraft featured a streamlined design and cantilever wings, reducing drag and improving fuel efficiency.
- Reliability: Equipped with twin radial engines, typically Pratt & Whitney R-1830 Twin Wasp, the DC-3 was known for its dependable performance and ease of maintenance.
- Capacity and Comfort: It could carry 21 to 32 passengers, depending on configuration, with enhanced interior comfort compared to earlier aircraft.
The DC-3's Role in World War II
During World War II, the DC-3 was adapted for military use as the C-47 Skytrain (known as the Dakota in British service). It became a workhorse for the Allied forces, used for troop transport, cargo missions, medical evacuation, and paratrooper drops. Its versatility and robustness earned it a reputation as one of the most valuable aircraft of the war.
Douglas DC-3 Specifications
- Crew: Two (pilot and co-pilot)
- Passenger Capacity: 21–32 passengers
- Length: 64 feet 5 inches (19.7 meters)
- Wingspan: 95 feet (29.0 meters)
- Height: 16 feet 9 inches (5.16 meters) in level attitude, extending to 23 feet 6 inches
- Wing Area: 987 square feet (91.7 m²)
- Aspect Ratio: 9.17
- Airfoil: NACA2215 at the root transitioning to NACA2206 at the tip
- Empty Weight: 16,865 pounds (7,650 kilograms)
- Gross Weight: 25,200 pounds (11,431 kilograms) with a payload capacity of 3,446 pounds at full fuel
- Fuel Capacity: 822 gallons (3,736 liters)
- Engines: Two Pratt & Whitney R-1830-S1C3G Twin Wasp 14-cylinder radial piston engines, each producing 1,200 horsepower (890 kW)
- Propellers: Three-bladed Hamilton Standard 23E50 series, 11 feet 6 inches (3.5 meters) in diameter, hydraulically controlled for constant speed and feathering
Douglas DC-3 Performance
- Maximum Speed: 223 knots (257 mph, 413 km/h) at 8,500 feet (2,590 meters)
- Cruise Speed: 183 knots (211 mph, 339 km/h)
- Stall Speed: 68 knots (78.2 mph, 125.9 km/h)
- Never Exceed Speed: 223 knots (257 mph, 413 km/h)
- Minimum Control Speed: 77 knots (89 mph, 143 km/h) with one engine inoperative
- Range: 1,370 nautical miles (1,580 miles, 2,540 kilometers) with maximum fuel and a 3,500-pound payload; at 10,000 feet ASL, cruising at 157 knots IAS with fuel consumption of 94 gallons per hour, the range increases to 1,740 nautical miles
- Service Ceiling: 23,200 feet (7,100 meters); reduced to 9,000 feet with one engine operative
- Rate of Climb: 1,140 feet per minute (5.8 m/s) at sea level; 200 feet per minute with one engine operative
- Wing Loading: 25.5 pounds per square foot (125 kg/m²)
- Power-to-Mass Ratio: 0.0952 horsepower per pound (156.5 W/kg)
