Greetings Melo:

Thanks for the pictures!

Do you have any background information on the DC-3? The layout and table lamp lead me to think that this aircraft wasn't used by an airline when used last.

That lamp really is unusual (I suppose even if it wasn't in the cabin of an aircraft), and I would think it was installed for more aesthetics purposes (and I guess that could be argued about as well ) than practical ones.

Thanks!

Ben

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• RE: Melo's DC-3 picture replies,PL965Melo, 16:47z, 09-28-03
  • RE: Melo's DC-3 picture replies,Ben_Chiu, 20:35z, 09-28-03

Hi Ben

>Thanks for the pictures!

Happy to share them.

>Do you have any background information on the DC-3? The
>layout and table lamp lead me to think that this aircraft
>wasn't used by an airline when used last.

This DC-3 was built in Santa Monica and delivered to TWA in January 1941. It flew in a completely non-military role throughout the war years, unlike a lot of other TWA transports at the time. TWA sold the aircraft in November of 1950 after almost 34,500 hours of flying time. The DC-3 was soon sold again to the Union Oil Company of California. It served Union Oil as an executive transport for many years until the late 70's.

>That lamp really is unusual (I suppose even if it wasn't
>in the cabin of an aircraft), and I would think it was
>installed for more aesthetics purposes (and I guess that
>could be argued about as well ) than practical ones.

This lamp and the other decor must have been aesthetically pleasing to the Oil company executives. The orange lamp shade matches the orange color of the trademark 76 ball on the outside of the aircraft, at least.

Regards,
Melo
PL965 Spitfire pilot,
Glendale, CA

Greetings Melo:

> This DC-3 was built in Santa Monica and delivered to TWA in January
> 1941. It flew in a completely non-military role throughout the war
> years, unlike a lot of other TWA transports at the time. TWA sold the
> aircraft in November of 1950 after almost 34,500 hours of flying time.
> The DC-3 was soon sold again to the Union Oil Company of California. It
> served Union Oil as an executive transport for many years until the late
> 70's.

It's kind of funny to think of a DC-3 as being an executive aircraft like a LearJet or GulfStream of today. I've only ridden in a DC-3 once (it was an active line aircraft for an airline in S. Africa). What probably struck me the most is how steep of an incline that cabin sits in when the aircraft is on the ground. I can't imagine how sophisticated executives trying to keep an aire of businesslike stature would do stumbling up and down that aisle!

> This lamp and the other decor must have been aesthetically pleasing to
> the Oil company executives. The orange lamp shade matches the orange
> color of the trademark 76 ball on the outside of the aircraft, at least.
>

Ah, that makes sense.

Thanks for the back story!

Ben

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