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
Retired	1949
Status	Out of service
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 1 Design and development 2 Operational service 3 Variants 4 Operators 4.1 Military operators 4.2 Civil operators 5 Specifications (DC-5) 6 References 7 External links 8 Related content

[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 - five 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 - three were produced.
• R3D-2: Military version of the DC-5 built for the US Marine Corps as 22-seat paratrooper version - four were produced.
• R3D-3: Designation of prototype of DC-5 used by Willam E. Boeing as a personal aircraft and converted for military use.

[edit] Operators

[edit] Military operators

•  Israel (DC-5)
•  Japan (captured Dutch DC-5)
•  United States:
  • USAAF (C-110)
  • US Navy (R3D-1)
  • US Marines (R3D-2)

[edit] Civil operators

•  Netherlands: KLM (DC-5)
•  United States: Boeing (R3D-3)

[edit] Specifications (DC-5)

General characteristics

• Crew: six
• Capacity: 16-22 passengers
• Length: 62 ft 6 in (19.05 m)
• Wingspan: 78 ft (23.77 m)
• Height: 19 ft (6.05 m)
• Wing area: 824 ft² (76.55 m²)
• Empty weight: 13,680 lb (6,202 kg)
• Loaded weight: 20,000 lb (9,072 kg)
• Powerplant: 2× Wright GR-1820-F62 Cyclone radials, 850 hp (635 kW) each

Performance

• Maximum speed: 227 mph (325 km/h)
• Range: 1,600 mi (2,575 km)
• Service ceiling: 23,700 ft (7,225 m)

[edit] References

• Pearcy Arthur. Douglas Propliners: DC-1 – DC-7. London: Airlife, 1995. ISBN 1-85310-261-X.

[edit] External links

• Douglas DC-5/R3D

[edit] Related content

Related lists

• List of civil aircraft

See also