Douglas World Cruiser

what is it?

The Douglas World Cruiser (DWC) was developed to meet a requirement from the United States Army Air Service for an aircraft suitable for an attempt at the first flight around the world. The Douglas Aircraft Company responded with a modified variant of their DT torpedo bomber, the DWC. Five aircraft were ordered for the round-the-world flight: one for testing and training and four for the actual expedition. The success of the World Cruiser bolstered the international reputation of the Douglas Aircraft Company.

🔎How to recognise it: 1 piston engine with propeller · 15.2 m wingspan

base stats

• speed 166 km/htop speed
• range 3,541 kmwithout refuelling
• seats 2passengers
• size 3,173 kgmax take-off weight
• built 5made in total

Bars compare against all aircraft: 3,500 km/h, 20,000 km, 850 seats; size and number built on a log scale up to 640 t (An-225) and 45,000 built (Cessna 172).

fun facts

• 🎂First flew 103 years ago, in 1923.
• 🚗Wingspan of 15.2 m: about 3 cars parked nose to tail.
• 🌍Range of 3,541 km: 20× Amsterdam to Brussels.

piston: A car-like piston engine turning a propeller: simple and cheap, the classic small plane.

spec sheet

first flight

1923

number built

5

role

seaplane

makers

Douglas

engines

1× Liberty L-12 / Liberty L-12A

crew

2

passengers

2

length

10.8 m

wingspan

15.2 m

height

4.1 m

max take-off weight

3,173 kg

top speed

166 km/h

range

3,541 km

ceiling

3,048 m

Specs are for the version in the Wikipedia article's specification section. Blank means the sources don't say.