After the DC-1, DC-2, and the Douglas Sleeper Transport (DST),
the Douglas DC-3 was produced in 1936 with 14 enlarged berths.
The aircraft was the first large passenger airline, ferrying 21
passengers.
The DC-3 was found to be a reliable aircraft that was large
enough to provide a profit on passenger service alone.
From its introduction in 1936 until the United States entered
the Second World War, 430 DC-3s were produced for American and
European airlines. Added to this, another 149 planes were still
on order when the war began for the United States.
During the Second World War, the DC-3 was pressed into
service of the United States Air Force and the Royal Canadian
Air Force. Its military version had the designation C-47.
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