Retiring “The Worlds High-Time Aircraft”

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.

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.

North Central Airlines donated a DC-3 airplane to The Henry Ford in 1975. Built in 1939, the plane flew passengers for Eastern Airlines in its first 13 years. North Central then purchased it and used the plane in passenger service until 1965, when North Central converted it into a VIP aircraft. All told, the airplane logged nearly 85,000 flight hours.

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.

North Central Airlines donated a DC-3 airplane to The Henry Ford in 1975. Built in 1939, the plane flew passengers for Eastern Airlines in its first 13 years. North Central then purchased it and used the plane in passenger service until 1965, when North Central converted it into a VIP aircraft. All told, the airplane logged nearly 85,000 flight hours.

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.

North Central Airlines donated a Douglas DC-3 airplane to The Henry Ford in 1975. After the plane flew to Ford Motor Company's proving ground -- first developed as an airport in 1924 -- its wings were removed and the aircraft was transported by crane to Henry Ford Museum. It was reassembled and displayed outside the museum until moved indoors in 2003.

North Central Airlines donated a Douglas DC-3 airplane to The Henry Ford in 1975. After the plane flew to Ford Motor Company's proving ground, moving it to nearby Henry Ford Museum was no simple task. The wings were removed and the airplane was lifted by crane over a fence before being transported to the museum.

North Central Airlines donated a Douglas DC-3 airplane to The Henry Ford in 1975. After the plane flew to Ford Motor Company's proving ground -- first developed as an airport in 1924 -- its wings were removed and the aircraft was transported by crane to Henry Ford Museum. It was reassembled and displayed outside the museum until moved indoors in 2003.

North Central Airlines donated a Douglas DC-3 airplane to The Henry Ford in 1975. After the plane flew to Ford Motor Company's proving ground -- first developed as an airport in 1924 -- its wings were removed and the aircraft was transported by crane to Henry Ford Museum. It was reassembled and displayed outside the museum until moved indoors in 2003.

North Central Airlines donated a Douglas DC-3 airplane to The Henry Ford in 1975. After the plane flew to Ford Motor Company's proving ground -- first developed as an airport in 1924 -- its wings were removed and the aircraft was transported by crane to Henry Ford Museum. It was reassembled and displayed outside the museum until moved indoors in 2003.

The Henry Ford acquired its Douglas DC-3 airplane in 1975 and, due to its size, the plane was displayed outside Henry Ford Museum for 27 years. The centennial of flight provided an opportunity to move the DC-3 indoors. The plane was conserved in 2002 and then installed in the museum's Heroes of the Sky exhibit in 2003.

The Henry Ford acquired its Douglas DC-3 airplane in 1975 and, due to its size, the plane was displayed outside Henry Ford Museum for 27 years. The centennial of flight provided an opportunity to move the DC-3 indoors. The plane was conserved in 2002 and then installed in the museum's Heroes of the Sky exhibit in 2003.

The Henry Ford acquired its Douglas DC-3 airplane in 1975 and, due to its size, the plane was displayed outside Henry Ford Museum for 27 years. The centennial of flight provided an opportunity to move the DC-3 indoors. The plane was conserved in 2002 and then installed in the museum's Heroes of the Sky exhibit in 2003.

The Henry Ford acquired its Douglas DC-3 airplane in 1975. Due to its size, the plane initially was displayed outside Henry Ford Museum. In 2002, the plane was disassembled and thoroughly conserved to correct the effects of 27 years of weather exposure. The treated DC-3 was reassembled for display inside the museum in 2003.

The Henry Ford acquired its Douglas DC-3 airplane in 1975. Due to its size, the plane initially was displayed outside Henry Ford Museum. In 2002, the plane was disassembled and thoroughly conserved to correct the effects of 27 years of weather exposure. The treated DC-3 was reassembled for display inside the museum in 2003.

The Henry Ford acquired its Douglas DC-3 airplane in 1975. Due to its size, the plane initially was displayed outside Henry Ford Museum. In 2002, the plane was disassembled and thoroughly conserved to correct the effects of 27 years of weather exposure. The treated DC-3 was reassembled for display inside the museum in 2003.

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.

When North Central Airlines donated Douglas DC-3 number N21728 to The Henry Ford in 1975, it had logged nearly 85,000 flight hours -- a record for a commercial aircraft at the time. After flying into Dearborn under its own power, the plane was moved by crane to a display location behind Henry Ford Museum. It was moved inside the museum in 2003.

Airplanes require careful maintenance, and each flight must be thoroughly documented in a logbook. This log, for a 1966 flight by Douglas DC-3 N21728, records everything from crew members' names, to flight times, to the operating temperatures of the engines' cylinder heads. Equipment problems and subsequent corrective actions are noted as well.

The Douglas DC-3 is one of history's most significant aircraft, with important achievements in civil and military applications. DC-3 N21728, operated by Eastern Airlines and North Central Airlines from 1939 to 1975, is a special example. The airplane logged 84,875 flight hours before being retired to The Henry Ford. It was a record for a commercial aircraft at that time.