Canada's Buffalo Airways offers some of the last regularly scheduled passenger DC-3 flights in North America. The DC-3 was introduced nearly 80 years ago, and hundreds still fly around the world. Click through the gallery for more.
The DC-3 flies high after 80 years —
Canada's Buffalo Airways offers some of the last regularly scheduled passenger DC-3 flights in North America. The DC-3 was introduced nearly 80 years ago, and hundreds still fly around the world. Click through the gallery for more.
COURTESY BUFFALO AIRWAYS
The passenger cabins aboard Buffalo Airways' six operating DC-3s offer passengers simple comforts. "There's coffee and cookies and juice," airline owner and pilot Joe McBryan said.
The DC-3 flies high after 80 years —
The passenger cabins aboard Buffalo Airways' six operating DC-3s offer passengers simple comforts. "There's coffee and cookies and juice," airline owner and pilot Joe McBryan said.
COURTESY BUFFALO AIRWAYS
One of Buffalo Airways' regular DC-3 routes travels across Canada's Northwest Territories between Yellowknife and Hay River. "It's very comfortable," McBryan said. "You're in your own nest. You have the ability to feel what the airplane's doing."
The DC-3 flies high after 80 years —
One of Buffalo Airways' regular DC-3 routes travels across Canada's Northwest Territories between Yellowknife and Hay River. "It's very comfortable," McBryan said. "You're in your own nest. You have the ability to feel what the airplane's doing."
COURTESY BUFFALO AIRWAYS
In Florida, pilot Ric Hallquist has been flying DC-3s for 30 years. He credits the plane's rugged landing gear for handling rough runways in Haiti and the Dominican Republic, where he often flies.
The DC-3 flies high after 80 years —
In Florida, pilot Ric Hallquist has been flying DC-3s for 30 years. He credits the plane's rugged landing gear for handling rough runways in Haiti and the Dominican Republic, where he often flies.
COURTESY RIC HALLQUIST
The DC-3 can be temperamental, especially for pilots without much experience with them, says Catalina Flying Boats pilot Robby Bolling, who flies this DC-3 on a cargo route from Long Beach, California, to Catalina Island, about 30 miles offshore. "I kind of feel like I'm going back in time to the 1940s or '50s, flying these airplanes around."
The DC-3 flies high after 80 years —
The DC-3 can be temperamental, especially for pilots without much experience with them, says Catalina Flying Boats pilot Robby Bolling, who flies this DC-3 on a cargo route from Long Beach, California, to Catalina Island, about 30 miles offshore. "I kind of feel like I'm going back in time to the 1940s or '50s, flying these airplanes around."
COURTESY ROGER L. MEADOWS
An Eastern Air Lines DC-3, which was known as "The Great Silver Fleet" during its heyday, is seen through an airport viewing gallery in 1945.
The DC-3 flies high after 80 years —
An Eastern Air Lines DC-3, which was known as "The Great Silver Fleet" during its heyday, is seen through an airport viewing gallery in 1945.
Frederic Lewis/Getty Images
United Airlines released this promotional photo of one of its Douglas DC-3s, circa 1937.
The DC-3 flies high after 80 years —
United Airlines released this promotional photo of one of its Douglas DC-3s, circa 1937.
Courtesy FPG/Archive Photos/Getty Image
American Airlines, one of the airliner's first operators, features an immaculately restored DC-3 at its museum near the Dallas-Fort Worth airport in Texas.
The DC-3 flies high after 80 years —
American Airlines, one of the airliner's first operators, features an immaculately restored DC-3 at its museum near the Dallas-Fort Worth airport in Texas.
Courtesy CR Smith Museum
A DC-3 carrying ex-service men and women flies over Sydney Harbor on Australia New Zealand Army Corps Day to commemorate the anniversary of the World War I invasion of Gallipoli.
The DC-3 flies high after 80 years —
A DC-3 carrying ex-service men and women flies over Sydney Harbor on Australia New Zealand Army Corps Day to commemorate the anniversary of the World War I invasion of Gallipoli.
Ian Waldie/Getty Images