Douglas DC-3 DC-3 airliner

Flying starts to pay

10 m · person 1.75 m · behind it, the A380 at the same scale

The story

It first flew 32 years to the day after the . The DC-3 was the first airliner that could make money carrying only passengers, and by 1939 it carried 90 percent of the world's airline traffic. More than 16,000 were built, and some still fly.

It began as a sleeper. American Airlines asked Douglas for a wider DC-2 with 14 berths for overnight flights across the United States, and that version, the Douglas Sleeper Transport, was the one that flew first. The day version seated 21, enough for an airline to cover its costs from tickets alone, without a contract to carry the mail.

In the Second World War more than 10,000 were built as the C-47 Skytrain and the Dakota. They dropped paratroopers on D-Day and flew supplies over the Himalayas into China, and counted the C-47 among the four pieces of equipment that did most to win the war.

How it works

How the DC-3 changed gear. The three blades turn together in their hub. At fine pitch each blade takes a small bite of air, for a strong pull at takeoff. At coarse pitch it takes a big bite, so the engine can turn slower in cruise. A protractor on the top blade reads the angle.

The whole aircraftDrag to turn it, and pinch to zoom. Pick a part to fly the camera to it.

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Specifications

Top speed: 370 km/h
Wingspan: 29 m
Max weight: 11,430 kg
Ceiling: 7,100 m
Range: 2,400 km
In 12 seconds: 1.2 km
Power: 2 × 1,200 hp Pratt & Whitney Twin Wasp

Where it flew

Santa Monica, California

Clover Field, Santa Monica. The simulator starts here, over today's ground and imagery of the place.

Fly it yourself

Take the Douglas DC-3 up in 3D, with its real weight, wing area and power.

Take off and climb to a 3,000 m cruise.

On displayNational Air and Space Museum, Washington, D.C.