Douglas DC-3

Mystery Spotter 🇺🇸

02 May 2026 · © Unknown

Close-up of a vintage Douglas DC-3's radial piston engine and propeller—an icon of classic air travel.

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Retro Wings, Rare Bird, Vintage Voyager, Engine Enthusiast

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Aviation History

Transformed commercial and wartime air transport in the 1930s and 1940s; one of the most influential and historic airliners.

Fleet Rarity

Rare in active service, but many preserved and flown by museums and enthusiasts worldwide.

Record Flights

Numerous record-setting wartime and peacetime flights; used for the Berlin Airlift.

Safety & Events

Extensive history in WWII, Berlin Airlift, and numerous postwar incidents—famously robust and reliable.

Future Outlook

Most DC-3s today are museum pieces or vintage flyers; a very small number still used in remote cargo/passenger operations.

Pratt & Whitney R-1830 Twin Wasp (Radial piston engine)

Engine

29.0 m

Wingspan

19.7 m

Length

2,400 km

Range

333 km/h

Speed

21-32 passengers

Capacity

11,430 kg

MTOW

5.2 m

Height

895 kW (1,200 hp) per engine

Thrust

Not standardized (pre-ICAO noise era, radial piston ~100 dB at takeoff)

Noise