Grand Old Lady: Story Of The DC-3

Book excerpt: This is a most excellent chronological history of the iconic DC-3 (Douglas Commercial aircraft, third model), also known as the C-47 (Cargo) in the US Army Air Forces and R4D in the US Navy, Good Old Gooney Bird, Dear old Dakota, and Grand Old Lady. She was noisy, drafty, easy to fly and utterly dependable. One thing Donald Douglas demanded was that she hold her altitude on one engine. She became the luxury airliner of the late 1930s and made air travel practicable. More than 11,000 DC-3s were built for the military during World War II, and several hundred are still flying. This book defines the versatility of this aircraft for delivering cargo of all kinds, dropping paratroopers, evacuating wounded, towing gliders (three at a time), and, with engines removed, being gliders, landing on studded snow tires, skis or pontoons as the mission required, then being reconverted to airline service after the war.—Print Ed.