DC-2 Introduced

On May 11, 1934, TWA placed the Douglas DC-2 into service, giving the airline a more capable aircraft for its growing transcontinental operations. Rather than producing a second DC-1, Douglas chose to improve the original design. The company added 18 inches to the aircraft and carved out another 18 inches from a baggage compartment, creating enough room for two additional passengers and bringing the total capacity to 14. The DC-2 quickly demonstrated the progress being made in airline travel during the 1930s.

It could fly from Los Angeles to New York in just 16 hours with only two stops, a remarkable achievement for the period, while maintaining a cruising speed of 170 miles per hour. With its improved speed, range, and passenger capacity, the DC-2 helped make coast-to-coast air travel more practical and further established Douglas as a leader in modern airliner design.