Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About The Oregon statesman. (Salem, Or.) 1916-1980 | View Entire Issue (Nov. 10, 1957)
Statesman, Salfm.'Ore., Sun., Nov. 10, '37 (Sec III)-23 Congress Asked for Help in Retiring Famous DC3, Flying Workhorse of Military and Airlines By VERN HAUGLAND Associated Preu Aviation Writer The pamphlet reads: "To Con gress: Please help an old work horse airplane to retire." The picture thus plea illustrates . shows an old swaybacked mare, labled DC3. It refers to the 21- year-old airplane that became 4he backbone ot u.s. commercial and military transport. The Assn. of Local and Terri torial Airlines, which printed the pamphlet, was plugging for fed erally guaranteed loans to airlines so they could buy new planes to replace the DC3s. The association claims 90 por cent of the transport planes in the United States, Alaska and Hawaii are DC3s "still safe and reliable, but not able to compete with to- oay fast,, pressurized craft." Other Marked congress granted government aid in financing late in the last session and now there is specula tion that the laws mav have opened ud markets for other air liners like the French Caravelle as possible successors to the DC3. If this comes about it will prob ably write finis to the fantastic story of an airplane now older in design than some of the men who fly it an airplane that never quit. It was born in a letter dated Aug. 2. 1932. to Donald Dnnpla president of the Douglas Aircraft Company. Jack Frye, then vice Vertical Take-Off Airliner 1 ! ' - ' i , k - .v Li . 1 d . 5 ' , . ' 1. .n..,Mi.fa i-1 MAIDENHEAD, England, Nov. 9 Falrey Rotodyne, vertical take-off airliner, is shown during first flight. Aircraft will carry 48 passengers or 4 tons of freight up to 400 miles at a cruising speed of 185 miles per hour. (AP) Western -Restrictions Hurt Expansion of Red Chinese By WATSON SIMS LONDON. Nov. 9 UV-A British government leader who returned this week from a tour of Red China's industrial centers said to day that country unquestionably is being hurt by Western trade re strictions. "It was a subject which came up everywhere 1 went, each time I talked with government or in dustrial' leaders," said F. J. Er roll, whose four-week tour marked the first visit to China by a British minister since the Communists took control, said he found a mix ture of defiance and resentment tuB.H tha A1IiaI Kan ah .tralnin materials. "On one hand the Chinese said the restrictions had been good for the country because they had forced China to become more self sufficient," Erroll said in an inter view. "But on the other hand they would demand: 'Why are you here to talk about trade when there is so much you will not trade?' " Expaosloa Held Back During a tour which included all major Chinese industrial cities, Erroll said he saw much evidence that the nation's industrial expan sion had been held back by the lack of Western trade, particularly in petroleum, ships and precision machinery. Erroll went to China on what he described as a ground paving mission aimed at expanding British-Chinese trade in non-strategic materials. Britain eased her restrictions on such trade last May despite U. S. objections, but still prohibits goods which might contribute to China's war po tential. In addition to widespread re sentment of Western trade re strictions, Erroll's major impres sions o( the tour included: 1. The Chinese are eager to check the price and performance of Western products against present equipment which has been obtained almost solely from Russia. Long-Run Goal 2. In the long run China's goal is economic self sufficiency. China would like to be economically in dependent both of Russia and the West. 3. China, although still back ward, has made great strides during its first 5-year plan and may be expected to develop in dustrially as quickly as Commu nist Russia. 4. Chinese industrial products. particularly the "Liberation lorry" a 4-ton truck compare reasonably well with Western products. Chinese workmen have talent, brains and natural mechan ical ability. Although a 20-man Red Chinese trade team is now on a month long shopping tour in Britain, Er roll does not look for any sudden surge in British-Chinese trade. "The Chinese are very price conscious," he said. "That's why they want to compare our prices with those of Russia. And like all good bargainers, they're apt to be slow to buy." president of Transcontinental and Western Air. Inc., asked Douglas if he would be interested in build ing an all-metal, three motor Mon oplane with a range of 1,080 miles, a cruising speed of 150 mph and seats for 12 passengers. It-Passenger Plane Douglas responded with the DO a 12-passcnger, twin engine plane that won 19 world records for speed, range and load carrying by mid-1935. Then came the 14 passenger DC2 and, in December 1935, the 21 passenger DC3. American Airlines bought the first 20 planes for $110,000 each and put some of them into service between New York and Chicago in June 1936, making it a nonstop trip between those cities for the first time. The DC3 cruised at 195 miles per hour and had the unprec edented range of 1,380 miles. Said American Airlines Presi dent C. R. Smith: "It was the first airplane tnat could make money just by hauling passengers. Within three years of its intro duction, the DC3 was carrying 90 per cent of the world s airline traffic. Larger, faster and more luxuri ous than any airliner before it. the DC3 proved at the outbreak of World War II that it was equally ettective as a military transport. Thousands Made Altogether Douglas aircraft, at its Santa Monica. Long Beach and Oklahoma City plants, built 803 DC3 airliners and 10,125 of the military version before discontinu ing production in 1948. The mili tary types were known variously as the C47, C49, C53 and Cllfi for the Army. R4D for the Navy, the Dakota, Gooneybird, SJtytrain. Skytrooper, and in the version adapted by the Russians from the C47s that came into their hands, the Uyushin IL2. In military harness the DC3 saw duty in every theater of opera tions, took part in every major invasion and campaign. It towed gliders, dropped para troopers and carried airborne in fantry, casualties in litters as well as in bucket seats weapons, maitr jeepsrammunltJorr and fuel. The plane also starred in the operation of an aerial supply line across the Himalayas from North ern India to Chungking, wartime capital of China subbing for the Burma Road. Woa the War Gen. Eisenhower once said the jeep and the C47 were among the weapons that did the most to win the war." On May 5, 1952, an Air Force C47 landed at the North Pole. A Navy R4D similarly made the first landing at the South Pole early this year. An unusually sturdy aircraft, the DC3 flew regularly for the military services at much heavier loads than initially planned for it. One DC3 in airline service in the United States lost five feet of wing tip in a flight collision, yet landed safely with a load of pas sengers. A DC3 in China, missing its right wing, was fitted with the wing of a D C 2 some 10 feet shorter than its left wing and was flown safely to a base. The crew called it a DC2'i. Best Safety Retard A CAB study of transport plane accidents from Julv 1. 1947. through Dec. 31, 1954, said: "Of all the established transport airplanes, the DC3 has the lowest accident rate an average of nine for each million hours of flight and has been the most consistent from year to year. "In the 7i-yesr period under study, the DCS flew twice as many revenue hours as its nearest rival, the DC4, and more than one third of all the revenue hours flown by all types." When the local service airlines came into bein? alter World War II, they found that the DCS was by far the most satisfactory airplane available. Priced at $112,000 to $131,000 in the 1937-41 period, the plane became available from war surplus stocks for as little as $10,000 or $20,000. Half-Million Dollars A basic DCS, built new today, would Cost $450,000 to $500,000. The Society of British Aircraft Constructors says that "there can not be any one replacement of the ubiquitous DCS. Already Vis counts, Herons and Doves ' lo name but a few types have re placed DC3s ia many parts of the world." Whatever plane from whatever country takes over the flying routes of the DCS, no plane will ever take over its place in memo ry or amazing record of perform-. ance over a suddenly alr-eonscious world for a generation. ' . New Way lo Hear Clearly Again . . . with Both Ears! NO NEED TO BLACK OUT HALF YOUR HEARING enjoy Stereophonic (2-lear) Hearing With Maico Hearing Glasses you can correct a hearing loss in both ears. You hear with a clarity you never before believed possible even under noisy conditions. You hear with keen understanding, effortlessly, even in group conversation. Words seem more dis tinct Judge Directon of Sound, Distances, Afore Readily With 2-ear hearing, you know where sound is coming from and how far away it is. And you have s greatly improved ability to discrimin ate between sounds and voices in the pres ence of background noises. Hear Better In Crowds Maico's 2-ear Hearing Glasses help you to take part in group conversation more easily ' Words are distinct and separate. Location of , sound is more readily determined. And, sound is more compatible because 2-ear hear ing requires only one-half the power neces sarywhen you rely only on one ear. TO: MAICO SALEM HEARING SERVICE 1 387 State St., Salem, Oregon Please, tend free booklet. NAME . ADDRESS CITY ...... STATE. ..' MAICO SALEM HEARING SERVICE NOW IS THE hme TO ORDER YOUR PERSONALIZED CHRISTMAS CARDS Select your personalized cards from our ' many books of Christmas cards. There Is a card just for you in our vast assortment. HOLIDAY LANE PATIO SHOP SECOND FLOOR i , : : - : jf. " rviv Kt it s sv x . i i ..v.i m fz x fv : .x vj trv x m rxw i r . 4 r. "x r x ii i r kHJ JS u VI I X aVXvOX Tfl ft' 1 l I mm X H 'f I v II I if- i i , '.ix ; j i r. i !. i m i x: fi v i i j l i 7 : m. i s- "a xt yvx s' i ' ' ' . special purchase! girls' CAR COAT $8.99 sizes 7 to 14 The rage of all school girls! ... a full length tar coat with matching visor tap. And what a coat . . . water-repellent cotton poplin, warmly interlined with quilted lining, zipper front closing and metal fasteners. Knit trim for up-to-the-minute fashion news. All for just $8.99! Sizes 7 to 14 in either red or beige. : Mail and phone orders reg. $1 5 boys' washable nylon fleece SURCOAT 9.99 sizes 6 to 16 GIRLS' SHOP-STREET FLOOR The popular coa for school and sports! Durable, moth prbirf, washahle inloiV fleece sheel with warm, lightweight quilted lining . . . gives plenty of warmth without burden some weight. Full length zip closure, 2 handy slash pockets, elastic insets at waist. Scarlet or charcoal with bold chest stripes. SJail and phone orders BOYS' SHOP-STREET FLOOR ' , ii nnn uniiii j ii ii i ni mm nmnm..,!.. ' nmmriiiftMni in fri i -i " Vi ir iirmiiii 'H inlriMli(i,,. . ri i m r STORE HOURS MONDAY AND FRIDAY 9:30 A.M. TO 9 P.M. OTHER DAYS 9:30 A.M. TO 3:30 P.M. f lux .shipping cost to arras otitsidr our regular truck delivery routes, i ' m i.ir mil mi 3S7 State St. Phone EM 2-0702 5QS(;l;l.:i:r eMf a m i mm m .,m m, . i ir n " - - ------ - - - - m :ui T
