Douglas DC-3

The Douglas DC-3 (also known as the Dakota C-47 ) is a Avion Monoplan with fixed wing equipped with two radial engine which had a strong influence on air transport between 1935 and 1950. It was manufactured by Douglas Aircraft Company.

Derived from DC-2, its operating range enabled him to connect the two coasts of the the United States of America with only one stop for the supply what gave him a decisive advantage on the transcontinental trains.

During the Second world war, the air forces of the allies used the DC-3 like the average main thing for fast logistics, including the evacuation of the Blessé S. the Japan had a not licensée version, Showa L2D, while the Soviet Union had a version under license Lisunov Li-2. It was also used for the parachutist S and the towing as Planeur S.

After the war, the thousands of DC-3 with of surplus equipped almost all the air haulage companies which appreciated its facility of maintenance and its robustness.

Its competitors were in particular the Boeing 247 and the Curtiss C-46.

Among its substitutes (twin-turbine engines of 20t) let us quote the Fokker Friendship, the Hawker-Siddeley HS728, the Handley Page " Herald" , the Convair 640 and especially the Antonov Year-24.

Mythical plane

Having had, in its time, exceptional performances as regards mechanical robustness, of operating and autonomy range of flight, and its great contribution at the time of the Second world war, the Douglas DC-3 marked without any doubt the history of the Aviation since its first commercial flights in 1935. Its low fuel consumption made of it also the first profitable airliner, which very quickly enabled him to grant up to 90% of the market of the Air transport the United States.

Also called Gooney bird , it flew over all the seas and all the grounds, overcame all the faces and all the wars… It was even quoted in example by the general Dwight Eisenhower in various speeches for its invaluable strategic contribution during the Second world war, in particular at the time of the unloading combined in Normandy.

Sometimes private plane with seats and/or berths to travel by day like night, sometimes plane of war, sometimes cargo liner, it is on the whole more 13 000 apparatuses which were built. As incredible as that can appear, this machine always flies, 70 years after the beginning of its marketing!

Useful bonds

US DC-3 (in English)
France DC-3
Dakota C 47

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