Douglas DC-5
| DC-5/C-110/R3D | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| US Navy Douglas R3D-2 | |
| Role | Transport |
| Manufacturer | Douglas Aircraft Company |
| Designer | Donald Douglas |
| First flight | 20 February 1939 |
| Introduction | 1940 |
| Retired | 1949 |
| Primary users |
KLM United States Navy United States Marine Corps |
| Number built | 12 |
| Developed from | Douglas DB-7 |
The Douglas DC-5, probably the least known of the famous DC airliner series, was a 16-to-22-seat, twin-engine propeller aircraft intended for shorter routes than the Douglas DC-3 or Douglas DC-4. However, by the time it entered commercial service in 1940, many airlines were canceling orders for aircraft. Consequently, only five civilian DC-5s were built. With the Douglas Aircraft Company already converting to World War II military production, the DC-5 was soon overtaken by world events, although a limited number of military variants were produced.
The Douglas Commercial Model 5 was developed in 1938 as a 16-22 seat civilian airliner, designed to use either Pratt & Whitney R-1690 Hornet or Wright R-1820 Cyclone engines. It was the first airliner to combine shoulder wings and tricycle landing gear, a configuration that is still common in turboprop airliners and military transport aircraft. The tricycle landing gear was innovative for transport airplanes, it provided better ground handling, better ground visibility for the pilots. The fuselage was about two feet off of the ground so loading of passengers and cargo was easier than conventional geared aircraft. A very early change in design was altering the horizontal tail group to add a 15-degree dihedral to improve stability. Another significant modification was adding exhaust stacks to the engine nacelles, which was retroactively incorporated after the series entered production. An unusual "optical trick" was applied to the profile of the prototype. The top of the vertical stabilizer and outline of the engine nacelles were painted a darker color following the aircraft's contour, making the tail and engines appear somewhat smaller and the aircraft sleeker.
Prior to the US entry into World War II, one prototype and four production aircraft were built.
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