To celebrate 100 years of Flight International, we want to discover the "100 Greatest" in aviation; by determining the top twenty civil aircraft, military aircraft, engine, people & moments. Here the best civil aircraft is put forward! |
American Airlines chief Cyrus Smith, in a legendary phone call, persuaded Douglas to enlarge the DC-2 so that it would accommodate sleeper berths and, despite having dozens of DC-2s in its backlog, Douglas gambled on American’s conviction.
Just 32 years after bicycle mechanics were knocking together flying contraptions with sticks and string, the DC-3 was airborne and Douglas was on the verge of overturning the airline industry. The DC-3 was profitable enough as a passenger aircraft to break carriers’ reliance on air-mail subsidies. It had lie-flat beds and hot catering, and its range enabled development of transcontinental routes, catalysing a fundamental and lasting change in long-distance travel as people abandoned rail to journey by air.
The Second World War showed the adaptability – and ultimately the durability – of Douglas’ design, as the DC-3 was effortlessly press-ganged into army service. Alongside the 450 or so built specifically for commercial use, over 10,000 were constructed for the military, and airlines snapped up the surplus to drive the post-war resurgence of air transport. So impressive was this rugged, efficient, easy-to-maintain aircraft that even the Soviets built thousands under licence as the Lisunov Li-2.
Of course, the most extraordinary aspect of the DC-3 is that it’s still in revenue service. No-one knows quite how many remain and I suspect, even in 50 years’ time, there’ll still be people in bars who’ll tell you – no word of a lie – they've heard of a tiny airline, somewhere in the humid southern hemisphere, which is still flying a ‘Dak’.
Powerful, profitable and popular (did I mention pretty?), with a war record to boot. The only worthy successor to the DC-3, goes an old saying, is another DC-3. I’m inclined to agree. Are you?
Do you agree with this choice?Why not nominate your own favourite of the following categores in our "100 Greatest" area: |
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on January 28, 2008 6:46 PM | Reply
Let us not forget the Japanese license-built L2Ds. (However, I don't think Douglas Commercial Aircraft received any royalty checks between 1941-45)
on January 28, 2008 11:38 PM | Reply
You're quite right, John. Japan manufactured something in the region of 500 licence-built 'Tabby' L2Ds.
on January 31, 2008 12:34 AM | Reply
Yes, concur absolutely. I was fortunate enough to have flown this remarkable machine in Papua New Guinea during the 1960s and early '70s.
Am hard-pressed to think of another aircraft that can carry 28 pax in a stand-up cabin, with a toilet and cabin attendant and do it safely out of shortish, boggy grass airstrips. Then cruise at 140 knots on about 45% of take-off power, burning only 70 Imp gallons per hour.
In some high-density stripped-out C-47s, we could haul 40 pax (as long as they were not too broad in the rear end). In the tough PNG environment the DC-3/C-47 had an amazingly good safety record over decades.
I could go on and on...