The Wright brothers first flew a controllable, powered aircraft in 1903 and over the next 25 years there was an increasing demand for commercial air transportation.   Of course the most obvious answer was to build bigger aircraft out of the same materials that had proved successful in the past. But wood sometimes deteriorated and couldn't handle the increased stress on the aircraft.  A Fokker F 10A broke apart in the air on March 31, 1931 and that prompted the Bureau of Air Commerce to require expensive inspections of wooden wing spars.

In the meantime, Boeing was designing an all metal aircraft called the Boeing 247, but the first 60 aircraft were scheduled to go to United Airlines (partly owned by Boeing).   TWA needed to update their fleet as well so they approached Douglas and a few other aircraft manufacturers about building an all metal aircraft. Among TWA's Requirements were:

• All metal aircraft  
• At least 12 passengers
• Top speed of 185 mph
• Service Ceiling of 21,000 feet
• Take off in less than 1,000 feet with max gross weight of 14,200 lbs.
• Maintain control on take off with one engine.

The Boeing 247 first flew in February 1933 and the Douglas DC-1 (Douglas Commercial) flew in July of the same year.   The first flight of the DC-1 had some problems, the main one being that the engines kept cutting out in climb.  The problem was solved and by September of that year the DC-1 took off in less than 1,000 feet loaded with 18,000 pounds of sandbags and lead, climbed to over 22,000 feet and flew at a max speed of 227 mph.  In a later flight, the aircraft climbed out with 1 engine off and flew for 280 miles exceeding all of TWA's requirements.  Additionally, passengers would not have to step over the wing spar as they would in the 247. TWA ordered 25 Douglas aircraft with some upgrades that created the DC-2. But the DC-3 came about because of the persistence of American Airlines CEO C. R. Smith.  Smith asked Douglas to make an even larger version to use as either a sleeper aircraft or a day time version. The sleeper (DST  Douglas Sleeper Transport) carried 14 passengers while the daytime carried 21. Douglas wanted nothing to do with it.  He thought no one would want to sleep on an airplane, but fortunately Smith won out and in 1936, the airline industry was changed forever.  

The superior performance characteristics of the DC-3 were recognized by the military during the war years and it became the "do everything" aircraft of the war.  It carried troops, injured soldiers, and cargo; it towed gliders and was modified as a gunship.  The military name for the aircraft was C-47 Skytrain... soldiers called it the "Gooney Bird", the British called it the DAKOTA. Over 10,000 C-47's were produced.   

This is a brief history of the DC-3 but if you are interested in a detailed look at the aircraft, click here. 

To read about our aircraft (N44V); where it came from and how we got it, click here.