Douglas DC-3/C-47 Dakota

It's difficult to say anything about the Dakota that hasn't already been said a thousand times.  It's probably the greatest workhorse of all time; it's definitely the aircraft that changed the face of air travel.  Looking at those timeless lines and the characteristic taper of the swept-back wings it's hard to see it as an aeroplane that first flew in 1935.  The Dakota created the mould from which generations of modern airliners have been cast.

Night Flight

The Dakota started life as the Douglas Skysleeper. Its fourteen luxurious seats could be folded to make seven comfortable berths, with another seven being lowered from the cabin roof. It was fairly common in the thirties to provide this sort of luxury, given that flights were long, slow and – before the Dakota – often hazardous.

The DC-3 made money. Before this, passenger flying was viewed speculatively by airlines who relied heavily on government subsidies. With its high cruising speed, economical engines and cast-iron dependability, the DC-3 made a persuasive business case. As a result it was an almost overnight success. In standard trim it seated 21 passengers, and its speed, dependability and – above all – outstanding safety record made it the world’s most popular airliner.

Enter the C-47

As World War II approached the US military became interested in the design. In 1941 the first orders were placed for a modified DC-3, designated the C-47 Skytrain. In fact little modification was required and, apart from an enlarged cargo door and reinforced floor, the C-47 was effectively identical to its civilian sister.

The DC-3s operated by Classic Flight are, in fact, ex-military C-47s.

A New Name

The name Dakota was coined when the DC-3 joined the RAF. American aircraft were rarely named other than by their model letters, so familiar names like Mustang and Lightning were widely invented by transatlantic users. Dakota is said to come from Douglas Aircraft Company Transport Aircraft. It was widely known in its native America as the Gooney Bird.

Passenger Service

Following the end of the war, thousands of C-47s were converted to civilian use and they became the standard “bus” for airlines around the world. The success of the design became a competitor even for Douglas itself; the company introduced its uprated Super DC-3, only to find that hardly anyone saw a need to upgrade. The popular axiom “The only replacement for a DC-3 is another DC-3” underlines the attitude of post-war operators. There was simply no other aircraft that could compete.

As jet aircraft made air travel ever faster and more convenient, the faithful old Dak was finally  forced into retirement. But when the last scheduled commercial flights came to an end the DC-3 had seen more than 50 years of world leadership.