Douglas DC-3
Douglas · piston, 2 engines · ICAO DC3
The Douglas DC-3 has the joint lowest maximum takeoff weight in Design Group III (77 types, 76 with a published figure), and the joint longest wheelbase among the 117 piston aircraft on this site with a published figure. It also has the joint 3rd-widest main gear and the 3rd-tallest tail among the 120 piston aircraft on this site.
Airport design codes
- III
Design Group III. Set by the wingspan; the tail height alone would give Group I.
- B
Approach Category B. From its FAA reference approach speed of 97 kt (band 91 to 120 kt).
Gear and weights
| Cockpit to main gear | 36.3 ft | 11.1 m |
|---|---|---|
| Span-to-length ratio | 1.47 | |
| Max. takeoff weight | 25,200 lb | 11,431 kg |
| Max. landing weight | 24,400 lb | 11,068 kg |
| Main gear code | S | |
| Taxiway Design Group | 3 | |
| ICAO wake category | Medium |
Where it sits
The DC-3 also has the 2nd-lowest tail and the 2nd-shortest length in Design Group III (77 types), and the 4th-greatest length and the 2nd-longest wingspan among the 120 piston aircraft on this site. It also has the joint 3rd-highest maximum takeoff weight among the 116 piston aircraft on this site with a published figure. Among the 223 twin-engine types, it has the 4th-highest wingspan-to-length ratio. Among the 77 types in Design Group III (the input for its Approach Category), it has the joint 4th-lowest FAA reference approach speed. By length it falls between the Embraer EMB 120 Brasilia and the Embraer Legacy 450.
Main gear 20.1 ft wide (6.1 m), 21% of the span; wheelbase 36.3 ft (11.1 m), 56% of the length.
US records: 394 US flight-plan operations in FY2024; 175 on the US register.
One of 2 variants on the Douglas DC-3 page.
Closest in size on this site
Source: FAA Aircraft Characteristics Database, October 2024 release. How we measure.