With over 200 histories of specific DC-3 aircraft, The Legacy of the DC-3 combines the personalities behind its development, the struggles that shaped this great airplane, and a chronological history of its peacetime and wartime adventures.
It includes detailed accounts of DC-3s flying themselves, to monkeys in the cockpit, mail, freight and even other aircraft.
The accounts go on. The Gooney Bird, its affectionate wartime sobriquet, was meant to fly, and fly she did — over 100 billion miles with over 700 million passengers.
The author has carefully researched (and annotated) a masterpiece, including a roster of every surviving DC-3/C-47 in the United States he could locate, as well as 22 appendices, with one of these including details on all 43 variants produced.
The appendices alone are worth the purchase of the book. There has never been another volume on the DC-3 that has accomplished so much, and in a style that all readers can enjoy. The Legacy of the DC-3 brings people and historical perspectives together to provide fascinating reading. You may have other DC-3 books on your shelf, but you need this one to get the full story.
The Legacy of the DC-3
Book Contents
Chapter                                                                        Page
1         Early Flight – Elijah to Langley                                     1
2         First Around the World                                                19
3         The Douglas Commercial Series                                               39
4         The Beginning of an Era                                                           55
5Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â The DC-2Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 63
6         The Genesis of the Legend                                                       95
7         War Clouds                                                                             135
8         The DC-3 Goes to War                                                           153
9         Post War Aviation Boom                                                         193
10       The Legend Continues                                                 221
11       The Way It Was                                                                      231
12       Turbopower Conversions                                                        255
13       DC-3s Today                                                                          267
14       Over the Years                                                            293
Endnotes                                                                                             323