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Although only 607 civilian DC-3s were produced, thousands of surplus C-47 Skytrains
(its military version), were converted for commercial use after the War. Sold
at throwaway prices, they provided a welcome boost to the struggling airline industry.
Indeed, the DC-3 emerged as the standard fit of the majority of carriers in the
world for many years. It was also the mainstay of Air India’s fleet in the immediate
post-war period, with pilots fondly calling it the “amiable cow”. Although no
DC-3s were built after 1945, the aircraft remained a significant part of the global
air transport system till the 1970s. A few hundred DC-3s are still flying today.
And if even a few continue in service till 2035, they would make it the first
aircraft in history to fly for a century. The DC-3 story began in early
1934, when American Airlines’ CEO CR Smith made a two-hour-long telephone call
to Donald Douglas of the Douglas Aircraft Company. Smith wanted a spacious and
capable sleeper plane that could fly non-stop between New York and Chicago. He
finally persuaded reluctant Douglas to build a replacement for the company’s already
successful DC-2. A team led by chief engineer Arthur E Raymond took several months
to design the Douglas Sleeper Transport (DST). It was a luxury sleeper for 14
passengers and even had a honeymoon suite! The DC-3 day travel variant could be
fitted with 21 to 28 seats, or carry 3,725 to 4,500 pounds freight. Its first
flight was on December 17, 1935 – the 32nd anniversary of the Wright Brothers’
epoch-making flight at Kitty Hawk. The DST commenced scheduled service with American
on June 25, 1936, and other US airlines like United, TWA and Eastern also quickly
inducted the impressive new plane. And in 1936, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines received
its first DC-3, which was deployed on the Amsterdam to Sydney route – the longest
scheduled route in the world. The DC-3 transformed airline operations in
the US. Its cruising speed of 192 mph and range of 1,495 miles simply decimated
the competition. In 1934, a flight from New York to Los Angeles would have taken
26 hours, with numerous halts. In 1936, thanks to the DC-3, this time was slashed
to 17 hours 30 minutes, with just three refuelling stops. Passengers were pleased
by the quick, comfortable and safe airliner – a far cry from the cold and bumpy
planes of yore. Airlines found them easy to operate and fly. Affectionately
described as “a collection of parts flying in loose formation,” the DC-3 was remarkably
rugged, durable and relatively maintenance free. A bonus was its ability to take
off and land on short grass strips or dirt runways. These qualities made it the
aircraft of choice wherever airport infrastructure was primitive or maintenance
support rudimentary. The DC-3 also became the first airliner to be commercially
viable carrying just passengers, without benefit of Government subsidies. One
of the remarkable features of the DC-3 was that its basic specifications were
never altered – testimony to the fundamental soundness of its design. Indeed,
there were many attempts to design a replacement for the DC-3 and their lack of
success gave rise to the saying, “The only replacement for a DC-3 is another DC-3.”
Practically every major carrier of the period counts the DC-3 as an important
part of its history. It was truly the right plane for the right time. | 
