North Central Airlines 1939 Douglas DC-3 circa 1975
THF124052 / North Central Airlines 1939 Douglas DC-3 circa 1975
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Artifact Overview
By the time it was retired to Henry Ford Museum in 1975, North Central Airlines DC-3 number N21728 had logged nearly 85,000 flight hours, setting a record for a commercial aircraft. The plane, built in 1939, carried passengers for Eastern Airlines until North Central bought it in 1952. At its retirement, the DC-3 was being used for VIP transportation.
Artifact Details
Artifact
Photographic print
Subject Date
1975
Creators
Collection Title
Location
By Request in the Benson Ford Research Center
Object ID
EI.235.7
Credit
From the Collections of The Henry Ford.
Material
Paper (Fiber product)
Technique
Gelatin silver process
Color
Black-and-white (Colors)
Dimensions
Height: 8.125 in
Width: 10 in
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Related Artifacts
Artifact1939 Douglas DC-3 Airplane
The Douglas DC-3, introduced in 1936, carried 21 passengers -- enough to fly profitably without relying on subsidies from air mail contracts. While the DC-3's economy appealed to airlines, its rugged construction and comfortable cabin attracted passengers. More than any other aircraft, the DC-3 ushered in the era of dependable, long-distance air travel in the United States.
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Related Content
SetRetiring “The Worlds High-Time Aircraft”
- 21 Artifacts
The Henry Ford's DC-3 flew to Dearborn under its own power, landing at Ford Motor Company's proving ground -- first developed as an airport in 1924 -- on May 28, 1975. Over its 36-year career for Eastern Airlines and North Central Airlines, the plane traveled 12 million miles and logged 84,875 flying hours, a record for a commercial aircraft at the time.