The Douglas DC-3 is a propeller-driven airliner manufactured by the Douglas Aircraft Company, which had a lasting effect on the airline industry in the 1930s to 1940s and World War II. It was developed as a larger, improved 14-bed sleeper version of the Douglas DC-2.

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-engine monoplane that in various conformations could seat 21 or 28 passengers or …

When World War II broke out, the DC-3 was quickly pressed into service. As the "Dakota" in RAF and Commonwealth service and the C-47 or "Gooney Bird" in U.S. service, the airplane flew in every theater and carried every cargo imaginable.

During World War II, the DC-3 design was adapted for troop carrier and cargo duty, designated the C-47. It was a major contributor to the Allied global war effort. Douglas built a total of 10,654 of the rugged and reliable planes, with about 2,500 more produced by others under license.

Mar 23, 2018 · The aircraft dominated prewar commercial air traffic and became indispensable as a military transport during World War II. Using the DC-2 as the basis for the DST, the new plane was slightly more than 30 inches longer and 26 inches wider.

Jan 5, 2024 · The Douglas DC-3 revolutionized air travel and became the gold standard in the industry. It reduced coast-to-coast travel time by 7 hours and accounted for 80% of civilian air traffic before WWII. During WWII, many DC-3s were used by the military, and today, some are still flying and popular at air shows.

Jan 6, 2018 · When World War II began in Europe many countries put their civilian DC-3s to use as military transports. The U.S. military ordered DC-3s that were modified for military purposed. The U.S. military designated them C-47s and C-53s.

The DC-3 was an evolution of the successful DC-2, but with several key enhancements. Introduced in 1935, the DC-3 featured an all-metal, low-wing monoplane design, a longer fuselage than its predecessor, and a widened cabin that allowed for more comfortable seating for up to …

With nine Delta planes in military service during World War II, a fleet of four DC-3's kept the airline flying. DC-3 aircraft launched Delta's early cargo service. In 1945, an unconverted military freighter flew Delta's first experimental cargo flight of live tomato plants in 1945.

During World War II, the DC-3 was adapted for military use as the C-47 Skytrain (known as the Dakota in British service). It became a workhorse for the Allied forces, used for troop transport, cargo missions, medical evacuation, and paratrooper drops.