|US Navy Douglas R3D-2| |Manufacturer||Douglas Aircraft Company|
|First flight||20 February 1939| United States Navy United
States Marine Corps |Developed from||Douglas DB-7| The Douglas
DC-5, the least known of the famous DC airliner series, was a
16-22 seat, twin-propeller aircraft intended for shorter routes
than the DC-3 or DC-4. However, by the time it entered
commercial service in 1940, many airlines were canceling orders;
consequently, only five civilian DC-5s were ever built. With the
Douglas Aircraft Company already converting to war production,
the DC-5 was soon overtaken by events, although a limited number
of military variants were produced. Design and development  The
Douglas Commercial Model 5 was developed in 1938 as a 18/24
passenger civilian airliner, designed to use either Pratt &
Whitney R-1690 or Wright Cyclone engines. Innovative features
for the time included a high wing and tricycle landing gear, the
relatively unique configuration providing for ease of passenger
entry, loading and engi