DC-3 LAN ChileLAN Chile Douglas DC 3 airplane model. Undoubtedly a classic airliner, and almost certainly as well known to travelers all over the world as to aviation enthusiasts, by the end of 1991 the Douglas DC 3 as a type, had been in service continuously for 55 years, with a safety record that has become almost legendary. Civil DC 3s delivered to US airlines before the nation became involved in World War II played a most important part in the development of

but few remained in service after the late 1960s

The DC-3's rugged reliability also appealed to military planners as soon as the requirement for large numbers of transport airplanes was appreciated

The configuration chosen by NASA for the CRV is a so-called "lifting body"

During the battle

which over March 23/24

which first flew on October 2

Henry Kaiser conceived the idea of a massive flying transport and turned to Howard Hughes to design and build it

Piper developed the PA-38

The EC 145 was shown at the Paris Air Show in 2001 and more civilian orders followed

reached via a spiral staircase

although 380 were built at the Boeing plant in Seattle

according to the Delta Museum