Microsoft Flight Simulator 2004: A Century of Flight

The DC-3 introduced the basic amenities we associate with modern passenger air travel, as well as performance optimized for cargo hauling. Some DC-3s still see use today as going air freight liners. Never before had passengers enjoyed insulation, heat, or running water aloft, but the first widely manufactured Douglas Commercial aircraft changed that.

Transcontinental commissioned the DC-3 from Douglas Aircraft Company, to specifications that demanded speed, range, cargo capacity, and the ability to take off and fly on the power of one engine. Douglas also introduced monocoque-fuselage construction, hydraulic flaps, controllable-pitch propellors, and retractable landing gear. The nascent airlines finally saw the opportunity to make a profit carrying passengers in number, and the industry as we know it was born.