Description

With more than 15,000 aircraft built, the Douglas DC-3 will have profoundly marked the history of aviation, both civil and military. For a very long time, many airlines or air forces considered that the only replacement for the DC-3 in their fleet could only be… the DC-3, which largely explains the exceptional longevity of this aircraft, quickly qualified as “d ‘indestructible D. Used by Air France in nearly 80 copies and for a quarter of a century, the plane will have flown on all the networks of the company, including on long-haul routes such as Paris-Tananarive (6 days and 15 stopovers) or Paris -Saigon (6 days and 11 stopovers). Designed to be versatile, the aircraft will also have been dedicated to the transport of freight or mail; it has also become the emblematic aircraft of La Postale de Nuit. In all these respects, it constitutes an important milestone in the history of the company. This book recalls the genesis of the DC-3, its main technical characteristics and the conditions of its use both on the various Air France networks and with sister companies (TAI, UAT, Air Inter) and with foreign companies in which Air France held a stake. Faithful to the Museum’s mission of research, conservation and enhancement of testimonies, much of the book is devoted to those who have piloted, implemented, maintained or marketed this device. It is thanks to these testimonials that you will be able to relive the epic of this legendary aircraft at Air France.  French text and captions.