Before World War II, it pioneered many air travel routes. It was able to cross the continental United States from New York to Los Angeles in 18 hours, with only three stops.

The common saying among aviation buffs and pilots is that “the only replacement for a DC-3 is another DC-3”. The DC-3 was engineered by a team led by chief engineer Arthur E. Raymond, …

Dec 8, 2025 · This December marks 90 years since the first flight of the Douglas DC-3, the aircraft that transformed global aviation and continues to inspire a dedicated preservation community.

Mar 23, 2024 · By the following year, in 1936, the airline had initiated a non-stop flight service between New York and Chicago using the DC-3 - marking the very beginning of the beautiful …

Now, a single plane could cross the country, usually stopping only three times to refuel. Today, a legendary DC-3 hangs suspended in the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum.

First designed and built in the mid-1930s, the first DC-3 flew on December 17, 1935, exactly 32 years after the Wright brothers made the first powered airplane flight.

On December 17, 1935, the Douglas Sleeper Transport (DST) made its first flight. The original plane was designed as a luxury sleeper with seven upper and seven lower berths and a …

4 hours ago · The DC-3 also significantly impacted EX-YU aviation, being the first passenger aircraft in the JAT fleet and laying the groundwork for a subsequent successful era of civil …

Oct 17, 2025 · DC-3, transport aircraft, the world’s first successful commercial airliner, readily adapted to military use during World War II. The DC-3, first flown in 1935, was a low-wing twin …

This aircraft was released from military service on April 3, 1945, converted back to a DC-3 and re-certified by the FAA on October 12, 1945, and was subsequently operated by Eastern Airlines, …