Douglas DC-2 / C-32 / R2D
Design requirement to accommodate 14 passengers resulted in the DC-2, first flown on May 11 1934. Originally developed for TWA, it entered production in 1933 with 529kW Wright SGR-1820-F3 Cyclone engines.
The first of 20 ordered by TWA flew on 11 May 1934 and deliveries started soon after. The early DC-2 were so successful that by June 1934 orders for 75 aircraft had been received from airlines in both the US and abroad. Subsequent orders were received from American Air Lines, Eastern Airlines, Pan American Airways and from numerous foreign operators - the first exported DC-2 being flown by KLM in the autumn of 1934.
By September 1935 110 had been ordered and to meet the demand Douglas was producing one aircraft every three days. In 1934 Anthony Fokker acquired exclusive European rights to sell the Douglas Transport in Europe. In addition to commercial aircraft, DC-2 were purchased by the US Navy and USAAC and others were impressed into military service during World War II to serve with the Allied forces.
Usually powered by two 710-hp Wright R-1820 Cyclone F-series engines, the DC-2 seated 12 or 14 in airline service and 14 was a typical number of equipped troops for military versions. Deliveries of the latter began in 1935 with the US Army Air Corps C-32 and C-32A, followed by the R2D-1 of the Navy and Marine Corps. In 1942 civil DC-2s were impressed into Army Air Force service as the C-33. A handful of aircraft formerly operated by European airlines served with the RAF, a few - including the ex-Polish LOT machines - having Bristol Pegasus engines.
KLM DC-2 (PH-AKL) which crashed after take-off from Croydon Air Port near London, England on December 9th, 1936 taking the life of Juan de la Cierva y Codorníu, 1st Count of la Cierva,and 14 of 16 others aboard. The dead included Arvid Lindman, a former Prime Minister of Sweden, and the Austro-Hungarian fighter ace, Ludwig Hautzmayer, who was the aircraft’s pilot at the time.
In the mid-1930’s Japan obtained rights to produce the DC-2. It was built by Nakajima for civil airline use. Only a few reached military service, receiving the allied code name ‘Tess’.
Nakajima DC-2
Gallery
Engines: 2 x Wright R-1820-25, 710 bhp / 550kW
Max take-off weight: 8419 kg / 18561 lb
Empty weight: 5448 kg / 12011 lb
Wingspan: 25.9 m / 85 ft 0 in
Length: 18.9 m / 62 ft 0 in
Height: 4.9 m / 16 ft 1 in
Wing area: 87.2 sq.m / 938.61 sq ft
Max. speed: 320 km/h / 199 mph
Cruise speed: 300 km/h / 186 mph
Ceiling: 6100 m / 20000 ft
Range w/max.fuel: 1400 km / 870 miles
Crew: 2
Passengers: 14-16
