Aircraft Quiz #95

DougRobertson

It has been a while since my last Quiz so here is the ninety-fifth. A Douglas quiz.

Name the first DOUGLAS company aircraft that was certificated, and also name the first (different) DOUGLAS aircraft that flew with date of flight.

1a. First Douglas aircraft to be certificated, and 1b. date and certificate number.

2a. First Douglas aircraft that successfully flew, and 2b. date of the first flight.

Hint. I am requesting two different Douglas aircraft.

Bonus questions-3a. What was the official original name of the Douglas aircraft company and 3b. date of its maiden flight aircraft.

SunvisorFlyer

Well, I'm struggling with this one..., but I'll post what I can..

1a. Early aircraft by Douglas included the DT-1 & DWC, along with the C-1.

1b. In order, Nov. 1921, Nov. 1923, May 1925.

2a. I'm assuming you mean the Douglas Cloudster..

2b. The Cloudster first flew on February 24, 1921.

3a. Donald Douglas's original company was Davis-Douglas Company, founded in 1920 and dissolved the following year.

3b. Bit of confusion for this second part.. "date of its maiden flight aircraft"?

What stands out to me with Douglas in those early years is how quickly the company changed: First producing a one-off flyer to obtaining a Navy contract to starting a new company to producing and flying that same year. Nothing in aviation moves that fast anymore.

DougRobertson

You basically got it; and I will end your struggles. Here are my answers.

1A. Douglas Model O-2. 1B. Certificated on 18 June 1927 with Approved Type Certificate #4 by Department of Commerce. Power plant of most versions was the Liberty 12 V-type engine of 400-435 H.p. First of the O-2 series was designed in 1924 and flew as an Air Service "observation airplane" early in 1925.

2A. Davis-Douglas Co. 'Cloudster'. 2B. a one-off first to fly in February 1921 (prior to any USA Aircraft Registry). No production ensued.

Bonus: The DAVIS-DOUGLAS Co. was formed in 1920 in Santa Monica, California. Notable was their first aircraft was designed, built and had the first flight early the next year! Couldn't happen today!

In 1924 the three Douglas "World Cruisers" made the very first circumnavigation of the World by air making history for aviation and navigation. Thank you for your participation in these quizzes.