FAQs
An enlarged variant of the popular 14-seat DC-2, the 21-seat DC-3 was comfortable by the standards of its time and very safe, because of its strong, multiple-spar wing and all-metal construction. The airlines liked it because it was reliable, inexpensive to operate, and therefore profitable.
How much does a Douglas DC-3 cost per hour? ›
Good DC-3s with mid-time engines can be had for around $150,000, the same price as a new Cessna Skyhawk four-seat, single-engine trainer. The "-3s" have direct operating costs a little less than those incurred by a B200 King Air twin turboprop: about $600 to $700 an hour.
Are there any DC-3 still flying? ›
Perhaps unique among prewar aircraft, the DC-3 continues to fly in active commercial and military service as of 2021, eighty-six years after the type's first flight in 1935, although the number is dwindling due to expensive maintenance and a lack of spare parts.
Can a DC-3 fly to Hawaii? ›
9. The plane landed at Honolulu International Airport Thursday morning. Hawaiian Airlines spokesman Elliot Pulham said the airline introduced the DC-3 to the islands in 1941. Also taking part in the Hawaii reception was Air Molokai, which still flies DC-3 aircraft.
What was the stall speed of the DC-3? ›
It took off easily, cruised comfortably at 185 mph at 10,000 feet, and had a ceiling of 23,200 feet and a low stalling speed (67 mph). Pilots said it landed itself, and it had a cruising range of 1,500–2,100 miles. When production of the DC-3 ended in 1945, more than 13,000 of them had been built.
Was DC-3 pressurized? ›
No the DC-3 nor it's improved version, Super DC-3, were pressurized. The four engine, tricycle landing gear DC-4 was alsomnot pressurized. The first pressurized Douglas built airplane was the DC-6.
How far can a Douglas DC-3 fly? ›
The normal range was 1,500 miles, but this could be extended by adding fuel tanks. The cruising speed varied from 155 mph to 190 mph depending on the load carried and the power used.
What is the takeoff speed of the Douglas DC-3? ›
Takeoff power is 48" Hg and 2750 rpm at sea level in standard atmosphere. At approximately 50 knots (58 mph), the tail will come up (use the joystick or yoke or press UP ARROW to apply some forward pressure).
Does a DC-3 require a type rating? ›
Large aircraft are defined in FAR 1.1 as those “of more than 12,500 pounds, maximum certificated takeoff weight.” Note that this is an “or” requirement: A non-jet more than 12,500 pounds maximum takeoff weight (MTOW)—for example, a heavy piston such as a Douglas DC–3 or a larger turboprop such as a Beechcraft King Air ...
Could the DC-3 fly transatlantic? ›
It can with refueling stops. Newfoundland, Greenland, Iceland, Scotland. Auxiliary fuel tanks would be installed in main cabin, as they did during World War II. Yes,the DC-3 Skytrain was used for transatlantic routes from 1936 and onwards,refuelled in Greenland and Iceland.
C47/DC3 is a single pilot aircraft, many however were modified with larger engines and that modification mandates two pilots.
Is a C-47 the same as a DC-3? ›
The C-47 “Gooney Bird” was a military version of the Douglas DC-3, which entered service in 1936. The DC-3 is one of the most important transport aircraft of all time. More than 16,000 civilian and military versions of the DC-3 were built.
How many DC3s were built? ›
More than 16,000 DC-3s and C-47s of all variants were built, while the Soviet Union constructed almost 5,000 more under licence as the Lisunov Li-2 and Nakajima Hikoki built close to 500 licensed examples from 1940-45.
How many passengers are on a DC-3? ›
Most DC-3s are the 21-passenger, 7-window configuration. This airplane flew with TWA as ship 386, from 1941 until 1952.
Is the DC-3 reliable? ›
The ruggedness and bulletproof reliability of the DC-3 have made it strangely relevant to today's missions despite its 80-plus years of age. It can easily land on grass and dirt runways, making it popular in developing countries.
What was the worst DC-3 crash? ›
The news U.S. air-transport men have been dreading finally came in August 31, 1940. That afternoon a Pennsylvania Central Airlines DC-3 transport dived full speed into a field near Lovettsville, Virginia. Its 22 passengers, two pilots and stewardess were all killed.
Did the DC-3 have a bathroom? ›
The washroom was at the rear of the aircraft, across the aisle from the passenger entrance. Passengers were allowed to smoke on board the aircraft, including in the washroom, which is so explicitly prohibited today in the safety announcements.
What was the difference between the c47 and the DC-3? ›
C-47s could carry 28 passengers or 6,000 pounds of cargo, at a cruising speed of 160 mph, over a range of up to 1,600 miles. Civilian DC-3s normally served 21 passengers in seven rows of seats, with two on one side an isle and one on the other. C-47s were used everywhere in World War II.
