And yes, they’re still flying….
Pilots and aviation enthusiasts remain captivated by the original DC-3, the airplane that changed the world. Back in 1935, Donald Douglas became President of the newly formed Institute for Aeronautical Sciences. He was then invited to deliver the Wilbur Wright Memorial Lecture at the Royal Aeronautical Society. With the title “The Development and Reliability of the Modern Multi-Engine Airliner”, he based his paper on the aircraft he had nearest completion. “I am now building to replace these (DC-2s) a type which will carry 32 passengers by day. At night, 16 with full sleeping accommodation, including private dressing rooms”.
Essentially, he’d been talked into the new model by American Airlines President, C. R. Smith. Douglas had initially stood firm against the sleeper concept. However, a phone call in 1934 convinced him to take on the new version. Douglas was also reluctant has he’d not yet recouped the DC-2 investment. Smith was also in a tough spot, AA facing bankruptcy if an aircraft could not be secured to put them ahead of the competition. In July 1935, Smith placed an order for the first 10 of 20 aircraft, value $795,000. A loan had been secured from a discount lending arm of the Federal Reserve Board, formed in 1932 to help American industry out of the Depression aftermath.
The DC-3’s enduring reliability and safety was bolstered by a series of design advances. Redesigned engine nacelles, new passenger cabin with full floor creating an unobstructed aisle, lightweight aluminium alloy seating with generous legroom, enhanced acoustics and removable interior panels improving durability and ease of maintenance. On the flightdeck, ergonomically arranged instruments, controls and systems enhanced the pilot experience. Outside, a Northrop multicellular stressed-skin wing improved structural strength. The initial test flight taking place on 17 December 1935, 32 years after the Wright Brothers famous launch.
In April 1936, AA took delivery of the same aircraft that had undertaken the test flights. The engines, 2 Wright Cyclone SGR-1820-G-5, had just over 112 flight hours. It was subsequently sold to TWA in 1942 to carry cargo for the Army before becoming a troop carrier. Sadly, it was destroyed in an accident in October 1942.
The original DC-3 called the Douglas Sleeper Transport (DST) had flown a distance of over 13 times around the world each day, that’s more than 336,000 miles!
Fast forward and the aircraft still circles the globe as part of the D-Day Squadron returning to Normandy and the Spirit of Douglas conducting a world tour. Both demonstrating the aircraft’s longevity and wide-ranging suitability. MIA is home to 3, operating cargo flights for Florida Air Cargo. They can often be seen landing and departing during the live YouTube stream HorisBox.
So much has been written it’s almost impossible to choose what to include here. Together We Fly: Voices from the DC-3 by Julie Boatman is considered to be one of the best accounts of this iconic aircraft, from its early days.
In other news –
Pegasus – in what was to many a surprise announcement, the Turkish low-cost carrier acquired Smartwings and Czech Airlines. There’s not a lot of information about whether the names will remain and what will happen to the Boeing aircraft in the Smartwings fleet.
Boeing – FAA has started its review of the redesigned 737-10 Alerting System, formally launching the evaluation process required by Congress before the long-delayed aircraft can be certified. It also covers retrofit packages that must be installed across the entire 737MAX family. The proposed upgrade includes a synthetic enhanced Angle Of Attack (AOA) system and new capabilities allowing pilots to disable stall warning and overspeed alerts under defined conditions. Planned modifications for other MAX variants will be examined, to ensure consistent implementation of required safety enhancements.
And finally –
JetClock – may be a bit late now to order in time for Christmas, but still worth considering.
A desk clock like no other, it’s fully customisable and full of features, bringing real-time flight data to your desk. There’s some assembly required, taking about 5 minutes. The clock is repairable, with wall mounted and coloured cases coming soon. Using a smartphone to programme and connect to Wi-Fi, your location is configured so you can look to the sky and spot the exact aircraft being displayed. Made in the UK, it retails at £149 and boasts nothing but 5* reviews.
The 12 Days of Christmas – Captain Peter Hutchinson (@petetheirishpilot) has taken to some social media channels with his own unique version of this seasonal song. Of course, it’s aviation themed and his commentary can be described as “colourful”.
Information courtesy of Vintage Aviation News, AirGuide, JetClock, Captain Peter Hutchinson (via Instagram)
Images courtesy of Warbird Aviation, JetClock
©TPSC, LadyJet2, information and photo/diagram suppliers