Before, during, and after the war, it was regarded as the world’s most important airline in history, serving both commercial and military operations. It also had different configurations for various purposes, such as personnel transport, mail service, passenger services, and freight transporter. This is no less than the Douglas DC-3, which Philippine Airlines (PAL) had for 32 years.
Since February 1946, these aircraft have served on many of PAL’s postwar commercial flights. This aircraft played a significant role in flying domestic destinations throughout the Philippines, allowing passengers to travel more quickly throughout the archipelago. The DC-3 is also PAL’s second longest-serving aircraft, trailing only the Boeing 747.
Post-war operations with the Douglas DC-3
After the war, PAL resumed operations in February 1946, flying to 15 domestic destinations with five DC-3s. As time passed, PAL began to add DC-3s to its fleet for various operations. A few of these planes were full-freighters labeled “PAL Freighter.” These DC-3s were gradually replaced by newer planes such as the Convair 340, Vickers Viscount 784, and Fokker F27 Mk 100 as time passed.
However, not all DC-3s were replaced at the same time. In fact, the DC-3 outlasted the PAL fleet’s Convair 340, Vickers Viscount, and Fokker F27. PAL operated 30 DC-3s until April 1978. These were completely replaced as the backbone of PAL’s domestic operations by the Hawker Siddeley HS748 and the BAC One-Eleven.
The DC-3’s service for PAL demonstrated the aircraft’s adaptability to various roles. It was slow and tough, but it did the job.
The Douglas DC-3
The Douglas DC-3, which popularized air travel and allowed airlines to profit, is widely regarded as one of the greatest airplanes of all time. Some consider it to be the greatest of all time.
C.R. Smith, president of American Airlines that time, desired that design work for two new planes to begin in 1934. Smith wanted a longer DC-2 to accommodate more day passengers and another with railroad-style sleeping berths to accommodate overnight passengers.
The Douglas Sleeper Transport, also known as Skysleepers by airline customers, was the first DC-3 built, and it was the pinnacle of luxury. Fourteen plush seats in four main compartments could be folded in pairs to form seven berths, with an additional seven foldable from the cabin ceiling. The plane could carry 14 passengers for overnight flights or 28 for shorter daytime flights. The first DC-3 was delivered to American Airlines in June 1936, followed by the first standard 21-passenger DC-3 two months later.
United Airlines, which had been a subsidiary of Boeing until 1934, became the second DC-3 customer in November 1936. The DC-2 had proven to be more cost-effective than the Model 247, and United expected the DC-3 to follow suit. Orders from American and United were quickly followed by orders from over 30 other airlines over the next two years.
The DC-3 is powered by Two 1,200-horsepower Wright Cyclone radial engines and had a range of 1,495 miles. It carries a 3 crew and 14 sleeper passengers, or 21 to 28 day passengers, or 3,725 to 4,500 pounds freight. The DC-3 took its first flight in December 17, 1935.
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