Douglas Aircraft: Illustrated History Books & Guides

The ATL-98 Carvair : A Comprehensive History of the Aircraft and All 21 Airframes

The ATL-98 Carvair is a truly unusual aircraft. Converted from 19 C-54 World War II transport planes and two DC-4 airliners into a small fleet of air ferries by Aviation Traders of Southend, England, the Carvair allowed commercial air passengers to accompany their automobiles onboard the aircraft. The planes were dispersed throughout the world, operating for 75 airlines and transporting cars, royalty, rock groups, refugees, whales, rockets, military vehicles, gold, and even nuclear material. After more than 45 years, two Carvairs were in 2008 still in service.

This comprehensive history of the ATL-98 Carvair, begins with corporate histories and profiles of key players, including William Patterson, Donald Douglas, and Freddie Laker. Four chapters illustrate the evolution of the car-ferry as a viable aircraft, the history of Aviation Traders, engineering details incorporated into the Carvair's production, and major Carvair operators. Chapters on each of the fleet's 21 planes provide individual histories and anecdotes. Seven appendices provide several kinds of data and the book is fully indexed.

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DC-8 and the Flying Tiger Line

This unique book tells the story of the Douglas DC-8 jetliner in the service of air cargo giant Flying Tiger Line, with:
- a detailed individual airframe history of every one of the forty-seven DC-8s that flew for the airline;
- pilot s recollections of their time on type;
- a wealth of photographic, technical and promotional material;
- and a pair of epic historical essays.

The first essay covers the history of the airline, of American Volunteer Group pilots in China in World War 2, evolving into a fly-by-night cargo outfit in the propliner era, growing in size and sophistication until the Flying Tiger Line was a global brand in air cargo in the golden days of the jet age.

The other essay covers the DC-8 from the beginning of the Douglas story in the time of the Wright Bros right up to the last active DC-8 of today including an in-depth look at NASA s DC-8-72 flying laboratory.

Aviation journalist Charles Kennedy (Airliner World, Aviation News, Airways) and historian Guy Van Herbruggen (who led the project to rescue and restore the original Flying Tigers DC-8 simulator) have created an essential addition to every aviation enthusiasts bookshelf.

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Douglas DC-4, DC-6, and DC-7 - A Legends of Flight Illustrated History (Legends of Flight)

Donald W. Douglas, founder of the Douglas Aircraft Company, led the company to prominence in the 1930s with his successful commercial aircraft, including the iconic DC-3. The company's motto, "Depend on Douglas, " reflected its commitment to quality.
Between 1945 and 1960, the DC-4, DC-6, and DC-7 four-engine models, known as the "Big Props, " were flown by major airlines such as Pan Am, United, American, Delta, KLM, and many others.

This book covers the design, development, and operational use of these aircraft, including their military variants. It also provides technical specifications and features period photographs that highlight the significant role these early commercial airliners played in aviation history. Some of these models continue to fly today.

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Douglas DC-8

The Douglas DC-8, originally developed as the Douglas Model 1881 in the 1950s, entered service a year after the Boeing 707. Douglas saw this delay as an advantage, ensuring high safety and performance standards without compromising flight quality. Unlike Boeing, it was not influenced by military requirements.
The DC-8 proved reliable worldwide, operating with airlines such as KLM, Philippine Airlines, and VIASA. Its durable airframe has allowed some of the 556 aircraft built to remain in service more than 60 years after its introduction.
Featuring over 190 images, many previously unpublished, this book explores the history of the DC-8 and the people behind its lasting success.

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Douglas DC-9 (Legends of Flight)

With their unmistakable silhouette, the Douglas DC-9 family of twin-engine passenger jets was a familiar sight on many of the world's airfields well into the 1990s.
Douglas initiated development of the DC-9 at the beginning of the 1960s and, in doing so, developed an entirely new market - the short-range jet airliner. The DC-9 became an instant bestseller for Douglas.
To this day, the DC-9, and its MD-80 and -90 variants, are among the most successful passenger airliners ever produced, with nearly 1,000 examples being produced from 1965 to 1982.

In this book you will learn everything from the first designs to its gradual elimination from the market by more-modern designs from Airbus and Boeing. The history of the DC-9's design, development, and operational use is presented in detail in this book, as is its use by many of the world's most famous airlines, including Delta, Eastern, TWA, USAir, Air Canada, Swissair, Finnair, KLM, and Qantas.
Technical specifications for the DC-9 and its variants, as well as period photographs, bring to life the fascinating history of Douglas's most successful commercial jet airliner.

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The Douglas DC-6: and the Airlines that Flew it

The Douglas DC-6, introduced in 1946, was America's first major four-engine transport aircraft post-WWII. It became the most successful four-engine piston airliner produced by Douglas, with 704 units built, including military versions.
The DC-6's first production flight took place on July 9, 1946, piloted by Douglas' chief test pilot Bob Brush and co-pilot Johnny Martin. United Airlines received its first DC-6 in November 1946, followed by American Airlines in December.
Despite early challenges, including two accidents (one fatal) that grounded the fleet for four months, the aircraft returned to full service by 1947 after improvements by Douglas.
The introduction of the more powerful DC-6B, equipped with four Pratt & Whitney R-2800 CB-16 engines, significantly enhanced performance. The DC-6B became the most popular variant, widely adopted worldwide.
This book details the development, construction, and operational history of the DC-6.

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Douglas DC-9

This volume deals with the Douglas DC-9, which was developed in direct competition to Boeing's short-haul aircraft and has established itself over the years as one of the world's most successful aircraft families.

Pages of the book "Douglas DC-9"

Filled with technical information, background information and pictures from the manufacturers' archives, this book by Wolfgang Borgmann offers a wealth of information and fascination.

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