The legend in numbers
Here you’ll find the numbers and specifications that define the Spirit of Douglas. These are the facts that aviation enthusiasts will savour, but also the keys to understanding why the DC-3 remains one of the most admired and enduring aircraft ever built.
1942
The Spirit of Douglas first took to the skies in 1942 as C-53 and was later converted to a VIP DC-3 with AiResearch Maximizer speed kit in 1955.
2,700 hp
Powered by Twin Wasp Pratt and Whitney R1830-94 engines, each producing over 1,350 horsepower. These engines mean the Spirit of Douglas retains the iconic rumble that made the DC-3 legendary.
1,500 miles
Her range is roughly 1,500 miles (2,414 km), depending on fuel, payload and conditions. That’s about 8.5 hours plus reserves.
90%
The DC-3 type carried over 90% of all airline passengers in the late 1930s.
Many names
She was built during WWII and has flown under multiple identities, including as a C-53 military transport, a civilian airliner and later as a cargo aircraft.
13
She seats 13 lucky passengers.
1,200 gal
She’s got a fuel capacity of 1,200 gal.
150
Although more than 16,000 DC-3s were built, we believe that fewer than 150 are still flying today.
The Hump
She also flew “The Hump” during WWII: the dangerous supply route over the Himalayas between India and China.
145 knots
Her cruising speed is around 145 knots or 166 mph (267 km/h).
95 ft
Her wingspan is 29 metres (95 ft). This is an impressive span for an aircraft designed in the 1930s, giving it the lift and stability that made it such a reliable workhorse.
