The Douglas DC-7 was an American transport aircraft built by the Douglas Aircraft Company from 1953 to 1958. It was the last major piston engine powered transport made by Douglas, coming just a few years before the advent of jet aircraft such as the Boeing 707 and Douglas DC-8. 348 were produced.About 40 are still in service.
Pan American World Airways originally requested the DC-7 in 1945, as a civilian version of the C-74 Globemaster military t...
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The Douglas DC-7 was an American transport aircraft built by the Douglas Aircraft Company from 1953 to 1958. It was the last major piston engine powered transport made by Douglas, coming just a few years before the advent of jet aircraft such as the Boeing 707 and Douglas DC-8. 348 were produced.About 40 are still in service.
Pan American World Airways originally requested the DC-7 in 1945, as a civilian version of the C-74 Globemaster military transport. It canceled its order shortly afterward.
American Airlines revived the designation when it requested an extended-range DC-6 for its transcontinental services. At the time, the Lockheed Constellation was the only aircraft capable of making a non-stop coast-to-coast flight in both directions. However, Douglas was reluctant to build the aircraft until American Airlines president C. R. Smith placed a firm order for twenty-five at a price of $40 million, thus covering Douglas's development costs.
The prototype flew in May 1953 and...
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