Douglas Dolphin

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Douglas Dolphin
Douglas RD-2
Douglas RD-2
Type: Amphibious aircraft
Design country:

United States 48United States United States

Manufacturer:

Douglas Aircraft Company

First flight:

July 1930

Commissioning:

1931

Production time:

1931 to 1934

Number of pieces:

59

The Douglas Dolphin was an amphibious aircraft from the early 1930s. It was the first aircraft that was specially converted for a US president .

Although only 59 pieces were made, it was used in many areas. The uses were both military and private. In the military, it was used as a transport aircraft and a sea ​​rescue aircraft . In the private sector it was used in airlines and by wealthy private owners.

development

The Dolphin was first developed by Douglas under the name Sinbad as a pure flying boat and should serve as a luxurious flying yacht . In the Great Depression , this kind of extravaganza was little sought after and so the Sinbad was sold to the US Coast Guard .

Due to a lack of demand, Douglas further developed the Sinbad as an amphibious aircraft under the name Dolphin. The first machine was delivered to Wilmington-Catalina Airline Ltd. sold for flights from Los Angeles to Santa Catalina Island . It was the first aircraft built by Douglas for commercial passenger transport.

commitment

A US Coast Guard RD-1 in the 1930s

The US Navy and US Coast Guard bought 20 more machines for transport and sea ​​rescue , which were designated as Douglas RD ( designation system for aircraft of the US Navy from 1922 to 1962 ). They were used until 1942. The 16 Dolphins purchased by the United States Army Air Corps (USAAC) were given different type numbers ( C-21 , renamed OA-3 from 1933, C-26 , renamed OA-4 from 1933, and C-29 ).

The founder of Boeing William Boeing and the son of the founder of the Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company, Phillip K. Wrigley , received a luxury version .

A copy was built especially for the US President Franklin D. Roosevelt of the US Navy. It was the first machine for this transport purpose. However, it was never used by Roosevelt.

A Douglas Dolphin is still preserved today in the National Museum of Naval Aviation in Pensacola , Florida (USA) . Although it bears the livery of a Coast Guard RD-4, it is the aircraft that William Boeing originally acquired.

Versions

A US Army Air Corps OA-3
Douglas Dolphin
civil version (12 built + one Sinbad ).
C-21
Versions of the USAAC with 350 hp radial engines Wright R-975-3, 8 were built (originally Y1C-21, from 1933 OA-3, s / n 32-279 to 32-286).
C-26
Version of the USAAC with 300 hp radial engines Pratt & Whitney R-985-1 Wasp Junior, 2 were built (originally Y1C-26, from 1933 OA-4, s / n 32-396 and 32-397).
C-26A
Version of the USAAC with 350 HP radial engines Pratt & Whitney R-985-5 Wasp Junior, 8 were built (originally Y1C-26A, from 1933 OA-4A, s / n 32-403 to 32-410).
C-26B
Version of the USAAC with 400 HP radial engines Pratt & Whitney R-985-9 Wasp Junior, 4 were built (from 1933 OA-4B, s / n 33-294 to 33-297).
RD
Version of the US Coast Guard with 400 hp Wright R-975E radial engines, 3 were built (s / n V106, V109, V111).
XRD-1
US Navy version with 400 hp Wright R-975E radial engines, one was built (BuNo A8876).
RD-2
Version of the US Navy with 450 HP radial engines Pratt & Whitney R-985-96 Wasp Junior, 3 were built (BuNo 9347-9349), 9347 was converted into a VIP transporter for the US President. 9348 and 9349 received a slightly less luxurious equipment for the transport of staff officers of the US Navy and the US Marine Corps.
RD-3
similar RD-2, 6 were built (BuNo 9528-9533).
RD-4
Version of the US Coast Guard with 450 hp radial engines Pratt & Whitney R-985-96 Wasp Junior, 10 were built (s / n V125-V134).

Military use

Technical specifications

Three-sided view
Parameter Data
crew 2 pilots
Passengers 6th
length 13.74 m
span 18.29 m
height 4.27 m
Wing area 55.0 m²
Empty mass 3175 kg
Takeoff mass k. A.
drive 2 × 9-cylinder radial engine Pratt & Whitney R-1340-96, each 450 PS (336 kW)
Top speed 217 km / h
Service ceiling 5180 m
Range 1159 km

Web links

Commons : Douglas Dolphin  - Collection of Images, Videos and Audio Files