 |
|
|
|
Flagship Detroit, manufactured in 1937, was the 21st of American Airlines’ fleet of 84 Douglas DC-3’s operated from 1936 to 1947. American accepted the Detroit delivery on March 2, 1937. It was a Douglas DC-3-G102, MSN #1920 with NC17334 registration. This particular aircraft has the distinction of being the oldest flying DC-3 in the world! With a range of 1300 nautical miles and a 143 knot cruise speed, the DC-3 carried 21 passengers, a Captain, Co-pilot and a Stewardess who was a Registered Nurse. “The Detroit” was restored in 2004 by a group called the Flagship Detroit Foundation, which is made up of many retired American Airlines employees. The Flagship Detroit Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving the legacy of one of the most popular aircraft in American Airlines history. In the early 1930’s, Mr. C.R. Smith had a vision that airline passenger service was about to enter a new era. The collaboration between American Airlines and Douglas Aircraft Company proved invaluable in the ultimate design of the venerable Douglas DC-3. The DC-3 transcended traditional obstacles of distance, geography and geopolitical borders. While in Dayton, “The Detroit” will be open for tours, complete with crew members in vintage uniforms and will also fly during the show. |
