The air mail revenue was the life of the air transport operators and the cancellation of the mail contracts suddenly darkened their future. An attempt to put the transportation of air mail into the hands of the United States Army resulted in a tragic failure. This was due mainly to the unfamiliarity of Army pilots with air mail routes and their lack of proper equipment. In June, 1934, the air mail was turned back to the airlines. The return of the air mail contracts to private operators saw the introduction of the new Douglas DC-3. This was the plane that brought Donald Douglas’ dream to complete fulfilment. His big, all-metal, low-wing, two-engined DC-3 completely revolutionized air transport. By 1935, the name Douglas had come to mean fast, comfortable, and safe air transport. [Illustration: 1934-1940 WINGSPAN 95 FEET LENGTH 64 FEET THE DC-3, A LARGER AND MUCH IMPROVED VERSION OF THE DC-2, ACHIEVED INSTANT POPULARITY ON ITS INTRODUCTION IN 1934. POWER TWO 9-CYLINDER 800-HP. RADIAL ENGINES THE FIRST DC-3’S WERE POWERED WITH 800-HP. ENGINES, BUT LATER MODELS USED RADIALS UP TO 1150 HORSEPOWER. SPEED ONE HOUR 180 MILES THE DC-3 HAD A TOP SPEED OF 212 MILES PER HOUR, BUT ITS MOST PRACTICAL CRUISING SPEED WAS 180 MILES PER HOUR. RANGE 1680 MILES ITS LONG CRUISING RANGE MADE IT POSSIBLE FOR THE DC-3 TO MAKE THE COAST-TO-COAST TRIP WITH ONLY THREE STOPS. CEILING 21,000 FEET ITS MOST PRACTICAL ALTITUDE WAS FROM 8,000 TO 10,000 FEET, THOUGH THE DC-3 WAS CAPABLE OF REACHING AN ALTITUDE OF OVER 21,000 FEET. PAYLOAD 21 PASSENGERS PLUS 2,000 POUNDS OF MAIL AND CARGO. THE DC-3 WAS STEAM-HEATED AND SOUND-PROOFING MADE IT AS QUIET AS A PULLMAN CAR. IT WAS EQUIPPED WITH EVERY KNOWN SAFETY DEVICE. NOW, THIRTY-ONE YEARS AFTER THE INVENTION OF THE AIRPLANE, WE BEGIN TO SEE THE RESULTS OF THE EFFORTS OF AMERICAN ENGINEERS AND AIRCRAFT BUILDERS. LIGHTWEIGHT, POWERFUL ENGINES; LIGHTWEIGHT, METAL CONSTRUCTION; RETRACTABLE LANDING GEAR AND SAFETY DEVICES PLAYED A VITAL PART IN MAKING THE DC-3 A SUCCESS.] [Illustration] The Douglas DC-3 was produced in 21-passenger day planes, 14-passenger de luxe _Skylounges_, and 14-passenger _Skysleepers_. The DC-3 put “sleeper planes” on an acceptable basis. Coast-to-coast schedules were cut to three stops and an overnight trip. Fares were cut in half and air travel became an accepted fact. [Illustration: THE SIKORSKY S-42, PATHFINDER OF THE PACIFIC, HAD A WINGSPAN OF 118 FEET AND WAS 64 FEET LONG.] PAN AMERICAN CLIPPERS CONQUER PACIFIC SKIES