NC 18111 is an early model DC-3A manufactured August 31, 1937 (Approx. the 117th DC-3/DST made). Operated by United Air Lines from 9/2/37 to 5/18/54, American Flyers Airline from 5/18/54 to 9/7/73 & Shawnee Airlines in Florida from 9/7/73 to 9/5/80. N18111 was displayed outdoors at David Tallichet's Air Transport Command Restaurant on Rt. 13 at New Castle County Airport for approx. 15 to 20 years until Nov. 2006.

SPECIFICATIONS:  NC18111, Serial #1983.

Wingspan: 95 feet
Length: 64 feet 5.5 inches
Height: 16 feet 3.6 inches
Ceiling: 20,800 feet (absolute); operating altitude: 10,000 ft.; single engine: 9,000 ft.
Range: 1,200 miles (capacity of 4 fuel tanks is 822 gallons) 
       (@ 45 gal./hr/engine & 160 m.p.h. minus climb & descend with 45 min. reserve).
Gross Weight: (orig. 24,000 lbs.) 28,000 pounds w/1200 hp eng. (Empty weight is 16,431 lbs)
Power plant: (Originally 900 hp. @ 34.5 in. Hg. & take-off 1000 hp) 
             Later Two 1,200-horsepower R-1830 Pratt & Whitney Twin Wasp radial engines.
Cruise Speed: 170 mph (155 mph to 190 mph depending on the load and the power used).
Accommodation: 3 crew and 21 to 28 day passengers, or 3,725 to 5,500 pounds freight.

During WWII C-47's regularly carried 8,000 to 12,000 lbs. - 28,000 to 32,000 lbs. gross weight

The prototype DC-1 was designed in 1932. The 1st DC-3 flew Dec. 17, 1935. (the 32nd anniversary of the Wright Bros. first flight). Total Production (DC-3 & C-47): 10,655 built in the USA. The original DST (Douglas Sleeper Transport) cost approx. $95,500.00. ($1,342,600.00 in today's dollars after adjusting for inflation). Later DC-3's cost $110,000.00 in the 1930's.

Of Interest: John Beiler operated a DC-3 from this (his) farm from 1976 to 1986 as a large area sprayer w/1000 gal. tank for mosquito & gypsy moth control. We hope to see a DC-3 soon flying again at Massey Aerodrome.