The Douglas DC-3
The DC-3, affectionately referred to as the "Gooney Bird", probably did more to establish air transport as a routine means of travel than any other airliner. The DC-3 was requested by American Airlines to compete with TWA, which was using DC-2's. Because American's route was longer and thus it felt it needed a sleeper plane, it was forced to operate Curtiss Condor biplanes since the DC-2's fuselage was too narrow for sleeping berths. Douglas was hesitant to begin a new airliner, since the DC-2 was proving very successful. American insisted, however, and Douglas did not want the business to go to a competitor. Thus he widened and lengthened the fuselage of the DC-2, and the DC-3 was born.
American, United, Eastern, TWA, and KLM were early adopters of the DC-3, but eventually virtually every airline had DC-3's. The armed forces of many countries also had DC-3's, known as the C-47, C-53, and R4D in this country. Douglas built a total of 10,655 DC-3's, and another 2500 were built under licence in the Soviet Union and Japan. Many DC-3's are still in service, and several have been restored to airline colors and are on the airshow circuit.
FS2004 CalClassic DC-3 Package. This package contains two FS2004 models, created from the default MS DC-3. The first model has an extra small bitmap that textures one side of the vertical tail so each side will display lettering correctly. Some paint work is required to create the extra texture. Another model included is mapped to fit the FSX Awesum4sum textures, originally created for FSX by James Eden and Jon Murchison (none of their work was directly used in this conversion, however). If only FSX textures are available for the FSX version, conversion from DDS to DXT BMP textures is required. I have converted some textures for the model (see below). The last model included is the default DC-3, with improved wheel shapes (as do the other two models). Last updated on 5/12/18.The original FSX Awesum4some DC-3 by James Eden and Jon Murchison. Last updated on 4/19/13.
FS2004 Pacific Air Lines DC-3. This is a conversion of the
fine MAAM-Sim textures from Dave McQueen, by permission. Pacific flew DC-3's
until the early 1960's. Thanks Dave! Also requires the CalClassic
DC-3 package. Last updated on 4/22/13. For the MAAM-Sim textures
see below.
FS2004 Bonanza Airlines DC-3. This is an FS2004 conversion
of the fine FSX textures from Gary Harper, by permission. Bonanza flew DC-3's
until they received all of their F-27's, becoming one of the first all-jet powered
airlines. Thanks Gary! Also requires the CalClassic
DC-3 package. Last updated on 4/19/13. FSX
textures by Gary Harper. Last updated on 4/19/13.
FS2004 West Coast Airlines DC-3. This is an FS2004 conversion
of the fine FSX textures from Gary Harper, by permission. West Coast flew DC-3's
until they merged with Bonanza and Pacific into Air West. Thanks Gary! Also
requires the CalClassic
DC-3 package. Last updated on 4/19/13. FSX
textures by Gary Harper. Last updated on 4/19/13.
FS2004 Western Airlines DC-3. This is an FS2004 conversion
of the fine FSX textures from Gary Harper, by permission. Western flew DC-3's
until the mid-1950's. Thanks Gary! Also requires the CalClassic
DC-3 package. Last updated on 4/19/13. FSX
textures by Gary Harper. Last updated on 4/19/13.
FS2004 United Air Lines DC-3. This is an FS2004 conversion
of the fine FSX textures from Gary Harper, by permission. United flew DC-3's
until the CV-340's arrived. Thanks Gary! Also requires the CalClassic
DC-3 package. Last updated on 4/19/13. FSX
textures by Gary Harper. Last updated on 4/19/13.
MAAM-Sim Douglas DC-3 Package. This package for FS2002/FS2004/FSX has become the propliner package that all other such packages are measured against. This donationware package (US$30 plus $4.95 shipping in 2009) has a wonderful assortment of planes, panels, sounds, extra addons (on the CD and downloadable), and an amazing number of free repaints and addons. In addition to the two airline liveries (UAL and BEA), the package includes a total of 16 different models - DC-3s, C-47s, R4Ds, Dakotas, and XC-47 amphibians, plus a bonus Reading KRDG scenery. Wow! And your donation will help support the Mid-Atlantic Air Museum (MAAM). Their collection includes the R4D used as the basis for this simulation, as well as a Martin 404 and a Vickers Viscount!
FS2002/FS2004/FSX United Air Lines DC-3. This is one of two
airline liveries included in the base MAAM-Sim package. This is the original
UAL livery, after United decided that the DC-3 was so much better that they
dumped their relatively new Boeing 247's and bought DC-3's. Last updated on
12/14/09.
FS2002/FS2004/FSX United Air Lines DC-3. This is one of dozens
of repaints available for the MAAM-Sim DC-3, painted by Tim Scharnhop. This
is the livery that United's DC-3's flew after WWII, until the delivery of the
CV-340's put them out to pasture. Thanks! Requires the MAAM-Sim
Douglas DC-3 Package. Last updated on 12/14/09.
FS2002/FS2004/FSX American Airlines DC-3. Another
repaint in the colors of the "Flagship Knoxville", currently on display at the
AA museum near DFW. This one was painted by Chuck Lawsen. I think it looks
great in the classic original colors - thanks! Requires the MAAM-Sim
Douglas DC-3 Package. Last updated on 12/14/09.
FS2002/FS2004/FSX TWA DC-3. This repaint is by Tim Scharnhop,
and he did a great job. These are the original colors of TWA's DC-3's, which
started the Douglas revolution with the DC-1. Thanks! Requires the MAAM-Sim
Douglas DC-3 Package. Last updated on 12/14/09.
FS2002/FS2004/FSX Pan American DC-3. Pan American also
used DC-3's, and this is the white top version used in the 1950's. Painted by
Tim Scharnhop, these DC-3's opened up much of the interior of South America
and other remote locations around the globe. Requires the MAAM-Sim
Douglas DC-3 Package. Last updated on 12/14/09. Bare
metal version. Last updated on 12/14/09.
FS2002/FS2004/FSX Western DC-3. One of the last major
airlines to operate DC-3's in California was Western, who had them flying well
into the 1950's. This one was painted by Wayne Tudor, which has painted a lot
of our propliners. Thanks! Requires the MAAM-Sim
Douglas DC-3 Package. Last updated on 12/14/09.
FS2002/FS2004/FSX Pacific Air Lines DC-3. Pacific flew DC-3's
all over California until they were replaced by M202's and M404's. They flew
to certain locations until the early 1960's, though. This nice rendition was
painted by Dave McQueen - thanks! Requires the MAAM-Sim
Douglas DC-3 Package. Last updated on 4/19/13.
FS2002/FS2004/FSX Bonanza Air Lines DC-3. I used to see these planes land at Santa Ana Municipal airport (now John Wayne/Orange County) when I was a kid. Bonanza was a regional airline that served Southern California, Arizona, and Nevada. It was eventually merged (along with Pacific and West Coast) into Air West, then into Republic, and finally into Northwest. This one in the older livery was painted by Dave McQueen - thanks! Requires the MAAM-Sim Douglas DC-3 Package. Last updated on 2/28/11.
FS2002/FS2004/FSX Bonanza Air Lines DC-3. I used
to see these planes land at Santa Ana Municipal airport (now John Wayne/Orange
County) when I was a kid. Bonanza was a regional airline that served Southern
California, Arizona, and Nevada. It was eventually merged (along with
Pacific and West Coast) into Air West, then into Republic, and finally into
Northwest. This one was painted by Tim Trivett. Requires the MAAM-Sim
Douglas DC-3 Package. Last updated on 12/14/09.
FS2002/FS2004/FSX Southwest Airways DC-3. No, not the Southwest Airlines of today. This airline that flew up and down California later became Pacific Air Lines. It was eventually merged (along with Bonanza and West Coast) into Air West, then into Republic, and finally into Northwest. This one was painted by Dave McQueen - thanks! Requires the MAAM-Sim Douglas DC-3 Package. Last updated on 2/28/11.
FS2002/FS2004/FSX West Coast Airlines DC-3. West Coast flew into California from the Pacific Northwest. It was eventually merged (along with Bonanza and Pacific) into Air West, then into Republic, and finally into Northwest. This one was painted by Dave McQueen - thanks! Requires the MAAM-Sim Douglas DC-3 Package. Last updated on 2/28/11.