DOUGLAS MACHINES

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXII, 26 October 1938, Page 5

DOUGLAS MACHINES

NOTABLE FEATURES SPEED AND COMFORT Douglas aircraft are used throughout the United States and Europe, and also in many other parts of the world, operating regular passenger services over difficult country. They are American machines, and are notable for their .speed, comfort and reliability. Fore-runner of the more modern 1 types in production to-day, the D.C.2 model, one of which figured in the crash in Victoria, gained world-wide fame when the Dutch airman, Parmentier, flew one of these craft, described as a “flying hotel,” into second place in the Melbourne Centenary air race. The fame of Douglas machines spread rapidly beyond America. Soon after the D.C.2 type appeared, production was increased to fill the orders that were received from airline operators in almost every country of Europe, Holland being particularly keen on securing a fleet of these new, sleek monoplanes. Powered by two motors, set in the leading edge of the wing, one on either side of the long fuselage, the D.C.2 model is extremely fast, being capable of speeds far in excess of 200 miles an hour. The accommodation for passengers varies according to the use to which the machine is to be put, that used in the Melbourne air race being a 14-sea ter. Other features of the D.C.2 machine, common enough to-day, but not usually found on transport aeroplanes when the type was first introduce. are a retractable undercarriage, all-metal construction, and a host of other important improvements. The D.C.2 model was followed by the D.C.3, of which very many are in use in the United States, Europe and Australia, and this type in turn has been succeeded by the D.C.4. The I latest model from the factory, the D.C.4, has not yet appeared in large numbers outside the United States. It marks another advance in safe flying, hairing a tricycle type of undercarriage. A 21-seater Douglas monoplane arrived in Auckland from Los Angeles last night by the Union Company’s chartered motor-ship Tolten. The machine will be taken by the Tolten to Melbourne, where it will be landed for Australian National Airways. A new Douglas D.C.3 reached Melbourne by the motorship Clydebank on 17th October.