Douglas DST
The Douglas DC-3 first flew in 1935 and is widely regarded as one of the most influential aircraft in aviation history, having made passenger air travel profitable without government mail subsidies for the first time. Around 16,000 were built, including many military versions used to transport troops and cargo during the Second World War. Its rugged, simple design meant many remained in active service decades after production ended, some still flying today. The DC-3's success helped establish the modern shape of commercial air travel.
Did you know?
The DST, or Douglas Sleeper Transport, was the original overnight version of the DC-3, fitted with fold-down sleeping berths for transcontinental night flights before the day-plane DC-3 followed.
Specifications
| Length | 19.7 m (65 ft) |
|---|---|
| Wingspan | 29 m (95 ft) |
| Height | 5.1 m (17 ft) |
| Maximum passengers | 32 |
| Persons on board | 21-32 |
| Maximum take-off weight | 12.7 t |
| Range | 1,290 NM (2,389 km) |
| Maximum speed | 207 kt (383 km/h) |
| Service ceiling | 23,200 ft (7,071 m) |
| Optimum ceiling | 18,000 ft (5,486 m) |
| Rate of climb | 1,130 ft/min (5.7 m/s) |
| Landing distance | 1,402 m (4,600 ft) |
| Fuel capacity | 3,000 l |
| Engines | Pratt & Whitney R-1830 |
Curated by CatchFlights from manufacturer documents, ICAO Doc 8643 and reference works; values are left out where no source could confirm them. Sources are listed on our credits page.
In CatchFlights
In CatchFlights the Douglas DST starts as a Rare catch. The tier is an editorial judgement of how special a sighting of this type is. The more often you catch it, the closer it moves to Common for you.
A catch counts for the manufacturer Douglas, the DST family and the model in your collection, and the daily Type Rating quiz asks about the types of each family.
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