Douglas C-1

The Douglas C‑1 was the United States Army Air Service’s first purpose‑built transport aircraft, entering service in 1925 after being developed by the Douglas Aircraft Company. Based on the successful commercial DC‑2 airliner, the C‑1 featured a single‑engine, low‑wing monoplane design with a robust all‑metal fuselage and fixed landing gear, allowing it to operate from the rough airfields typical of the post‑World War I era. It could carry up to six passengers or a mixed load of cargo and personnel, and its 420‑horsepower Liberty V‑12 engine gave it a maximum speed of roughly 120 mph and a range of 400 miles, sufficient for the Army’s logistical needs. The aircraft’s spacious cabin and easy access doors facilitated rapid loading of ammunition, spare parts, and mail, making it a versatile workhorse for the Army’s nascent air‑transport network. Although only a few dozen were built before being superseded by the more powerful C‑2 and later C‑39 models, the C‑1 demonstrated the strategic value of dedicated transport planes and helped establish the doctrinal foundation for future military airlift operations. Its legacy lives on in the evolution of tactical air transport that remains critical to modern armed forces.

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