rogerramjet_2003 Report This Comment Date: January 20, 2008 02:11PM
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Douglas_DC-5
http://www.vrcurassow.com/2dvrc/sscuracao/planes.html
Douglas
DC-5
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DC-5/C-110/R3D
US Navy Douglas R3D-2
Type Transport
Manufacturer Douglas Aircraft Company
Designed by Donald Douglas
Maiden flight 20 February 1939
Introduced 1940
Retired 1949
Primary users KLM
U.S. Navy
U.S. Marine Corps
Number built 12
The Douglas DC-5, the least well-known of the famous DC airliner series, was a
16-seat, twin-propeller aircraft intended for shorter routes than the DC-3 or
DC-4. However, by the time it entered commercial service in 1940, many airlines
were canceling orders, consequently, only five civilian DC-5s were ever built.
With the Douglas Aircraft Company already converting to war production, the DC-5
was soon overtaken by events, although a limited number of military variants
were produced.
Contents
[hide]
* 1 Design and development
* 2 Operational service
* 3 Variants
* 4 Operators
o 4.1 Military operators
o 4.2 Civil operators
* 5 Specifications (DC-5)
* 6 References
* 7 External links
* 8 See also
[edit] Design and development
The Douglas DC-5 was developed as a 16/22 passenger civilian airliner, with a
high wing and innovative tricycle landing gear (unique for the time). One
prototype and four production aircraft were constructed prior to World War
II.
[edit] Operational service
Ironically, the prototype (configured with just eight seats) became the personal
aircraft of William E. Boeing; since his own company was already in full
military production mode. It was later impressed into the Navy and converted for
military use as a R3D variant.
The other four planes were sold to KLM and used by their colonial subsidiaries.
They were used to evacuate civilians from Java to Australia in 1942. One
aircraft, ex-PK-ADA was captured by the Japanese and operated as a transport, in
camouflage with Japanese markings. Two of them later operated in Australia and,
in 1948, the last surviving DC-5 was apparently smuggled to Israel for possible
military use.
[edit] Variants
DC-5
Basic passenger version - 5 aircraft were built.
C-110
Designation of single aircraft in USAAF service.
R3D-1
Military version of the DC-5 built for the Navy as 16-seat personnel
carriers - 3 were produced.
R3D-2
Military version of the DC-5 built for the US Marine Corps as 22-seat
paratrooper version - 4 were produced.
R3D-3
Designation of prototype of DC-5 used by Willam E. Boeing as a personal
aircraft and converted for military use.