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DC-1

Douglas Aircraft Company · Interwar (1919–1938)

DC-1 — Fixed Wing
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The Douglas DC-1 was an American twin-engine all-metal airliner — the founding aircraft of the Douglas Commercial (DC) series + the prototype for the Douglas DC-2 + DC-3. Donald Douglas Sr. + Arthur Raymond designed the DC-1 in 1932-1933 in response to TWA's specification for a modern twin-engine airliner; first flight 1 July 1933. Only 1 Douglas DC-1 was built. The aircraft served TWA briefly 1934-1936 before being sold to Howard Hughes who used it for record-setting flights.

The DC-1 used 2 × Wright SGR-1820-F3 Cyclone 9-cylinder radial engines (710 hp each). Maximum speed 322 km/h, range 1,600 km, service ceiling 7,000 m. Capacity: 12 passengers + 2 crew. The aircraft pioneered metal stressed-skin construction + cantilever wings + retractable landing gear in commercial aviation — the design that subsequent DC-2 + DC-3 productionised. The DC-1's TWA acceptance trials in September 1933 famously included a one-engine-out flight across the Rocky Mountains, demonstrating reliability that no contemporary airliner could match.

DC-1 service was concentrated in TWA + Howard Hughes record-setting use. Howard Hughes used the DC-1 to set a 1935 transcontinental speed record (Los Angeles-Newark in 11 hours 5 minutes). The aircraft was sold to a Spanish airline in 1938 + crashed in Spain in 1940. No DC-1 airframe survives. The DC-1's design directly seeded the DC-2 (1934, 130 built) + DC-3 (1935, 16,000+ built) — establishing Douglas as the world's principal commercial airliner manufacturer through the 1940s-1950s.

For Kids — a shorter, friendlier version

The Douglas DC-1 was an American airplane built in 1933. It had two engines and was made entirely of metal. Only one DC-1 was ever built! It was designed by Donald Douglas and Arthur Raymond for an airline called TWA.

The DC-1 was a very new kind of airplane for its time. It had wings that were strong without needing extra supports. Its landing wheels folded up into the body during flight. These ideas made it faster and safer than other airplanes back then.

In September 1933, the DC-1 had a big test. It flew over the Rocky Mountains with one engine turned off on purpose. No other airplane could do that at the time. It proved the DC-1 was very reliable and safe.

A famous man named Howard Hughes used the DC-1 to set a speed record flying across America in 1935. The plane could carry 12 passengers and fly faster than 320 kilometers per hour. That made it faster than almost any other airliner of that era.

The DC-1 led to two bigger planes — the DC-2 and the famous DC-3. The DC-3 became one of the most important airliners ever made. Sadly, the only DC-1 ever built crashed in Spain in 1940.

Fun Facts

  • Only one DC-1 was ever built — making it one of the rarest airplanes in history!
  • The DC-1 made its very first flight on July 1, 1933.
  • Howard Hughes used the DC-1 to set a transcontinental speed record across America in 1935.
  • The DC-1 could fly with one engine switched off — no other airliner of its time could do that.
  • The DC-1 is smaller than the famous DC-3 it helped inspire.
  • The plane carried 12 passengers and a crew of 2, about the size of a large school van full of kids.
  • The DC-1 flew as high as 7,000 meters — that is higher than most mountains in North America!
  • The DC-1 was the founding plane of the whole Douglas Commercial airplane family.

Kids’ Questions

How many DC-1 airplanes were built?

Only one DC-1 was ever built. It was a prototype, which means it was a test model. The ideas from it were used to make the DC-2 and DC-3 planes instead.

What happened to the DC-1?

The DC-1 was sold to Howard Hughes after TWA was done with it. He used it to set a speed record flying across America in 1935. Sadly, the only DC-1 ever built crashed in Spain in 1940.

Why was the DC-1 so special?

The DC-1 introduced many new ideas to passenger airplanes. It had metal skin, strong wings without extra struts, and landing gear that folded up. It could even fly over mountains with one engine off, which was amazing at the time.

Variants

DC-1 (sole airframe)
Single airframe 1933. Crashed in Spain 1940.

Notable Operators

TWA + Howard Hughes (1934-1938)
TWA initial service + Hughes record-setting use.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is the DC-1 historically important?

Pioneered metal stressed-skin construction + cantilever wings + retractable landing gear at commercial-airliner scale. The 1933 TWA acceptance trial including a one-engine-out flight across the Rocky Mountains demonstrated reliability that no contemporary airliner could match. The DC-1's success seeded Douglas's DC-series dominance — DC-2 (130 built) + DC-3 (16,000+ built) + the entire postwar Douglas DC-4/6/7/8 + MD-11 lineage.

Sources

See Also