Today we are accustomed to travel in "the jet age" ... but prior to the 1950s all of the airlines of world depended on propliners as the mainstays of their fleets.
A series of improvements over the years led the industry from the DC-3 to the DC-7, Electra, Constellation and other propeller-based airliners.
Seen on this page are images of those early propliners, and airlines that still exist, such as American, Delta and United.
Also included are images from airlines that have been engulfed in takeovers, and victims of bankruptcy and changing times: Northwest, Eastern, National, Pan American and Trans Texas.
Enjoy our Propliners of the Past !
The first DC-3 built was the Douglas Sleeper Transport, a 14-bed sleeper, also known as Skysleepers by airlines.
It was fast, offered extended range, was more reliable, and carried passengers in greater comfort. In the pre-WWII years, the DC-3 pioneered many air travel routes. It was able to cross the continental U.S. from New York to Los Angeles in 18 hours and with only 3 stops.
The plane could accommodate 14 overnight passengers or 28 for shorter daytime flights. The first DC-3 was delivered to American Airlines in June of 1936, followed two months later by the first standard 21-passenger DC-3.
DC-3-227B "Breitling", Registration HB-IRJ, in Cherbourg, France, June 2014. It was delivered to American Airlines in March of 1940 and christened the “Flagship Cleveland”. It was leased to the U.S. Army between 1942 and 1944. After the war, it served with Trans Texas Airways and other carriers. (Photo by DELEHELLE Eric) |
Built as Douglas DC-3A-453, C/N 6346, "Air Veteran", Registration OH-LCH, is operated by the DC Association in Helsinki, Finland. Seen here in Cherbourg, France, June 2014, in the markings of Finnish Airlines. The aircraft was built for Pan American Grace Airways as NC34953, but was transferred to military service in 1942 as a C-53C-DO, S/N 43-2033. (Photo by DELEHELLE Eric) |
C-47 "Prinses Amalia", Registration PH-PBA, in the markings of KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, seen here at Cherbourg, France, in June of 2014 (Photo by DELEHELLE Eric) |
Douglas C-53D-DO Sky Trooper, S/N 11750, Registration LN-WND (Photo by DELEHELLE Eric) |
American Airlines Douglas DC-3 Flagships | |
Eastern Airlines Douglas DC-3 |
Eastern DC-3 at Jacksonville, FL |
Pan Am Douglas DC-3 |
DC-3 of Trans Texas Airways |
Douglas DC-6B "Red Bull", Registration N996DM, seen here in Pau, France in 2009 (Photos by DELEHELLE Eric) |
DC-6B of Western Airlines |
DC-7 of National Airlines |
DC-7B of Eastern Airlines |
United DC-7 Mainliner N6302C |
Delta Air Lines DC-7 Airliner |
Lockheed Electra - National Airlines |
Lockheed Electra - American Airlines |
Boeing Stratocruiser - Northwest |
Boeing Stratocruiser - Pan American |
Trans World Airlines Super-G Constellation |
Lockheed Constellation - TWA |
Lockheed Constellation - Pan Am |
Trans World Airlines "Star of Switzerland" at the Pima Air & Space Museum in Tucson AZ (Staff Photo) |
Eastern Airlines Martin 4-0-4 airliner |
Convair 440 of the Scandinavian Airlines System |
Sikorsky VS-44A Excambian at the New England Air Museum |
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Convair also considered developing a commercial airliner based on the B-36 and XC-99, but ultimately scrapped the idea in favor of pursuing the Convair 880 jetliner.
The Convair Model 37 was to have a wing span of 230 feet, 182 feet in length, and a double-deck fuselage.
Passenger capacity of the plane was planned at 204. Cruising speeds were projected to be between 310-342 mph, and be able to operate at altitudes up to 30,000 feet, with a range of 4,200 miles.
Fifteen (15) aircraft were ordered by Pan American World Airways for transatlantic service. However, fuel and oil consumption of the six 3,500 hp Wasp Major radials led to the decision that the Model 37 was not economically feasible. With only orders for 15 Model 37s, Convair cancelled the plane.