General Background

The DC-2 (Douglas Commercial 2) was developed to compete with Boeing’s 247. With the success of the DC-1, Douglas decided to build on it. The two Douglas aircraft had similar shapes but the DC-2 had more powerful engines that made it capable of longer flights at faster speeds. The DC-2 was two feet longer and could carry two more passengers. The DC- 2 was an immediate success and became the first Douglas airliner to enter service with a non-U.S. airline. Between 1934 and 1937 Douglas built 156 DC-2’s.