American Airlines   Douglas DST-217C     NC28325               (c/n  2263)

                                          
               
                                             American Airlines had long advocated offering sleeper accommodation on their trans-continental routes.
                                             Doubtless they felt the need to offer comparable luxury to that given by the Railroad Pullman cars of
                                             the day.  In the summer of 1934 C.R. Smith, President of the airline, approached Douglas with a view
                                             to acquiring a sleeper version of the popular DC-2.   Douglas at first said it couldn't be done, but when
                                             Smith upped the ante and stated he would buy 20 such machines (unheard of in those days) Douglas
                                             avowed that, indeed, it might be possible.  The result was the Douglas DST, the prototype of which,
                                             in essence, became the progenitor of all the DC-3 variants to follow.   The example above was a late
                                             model DST, and was delivered in 1940.   The DST was fitted with 14 to 16 berths (see photo below)
                                             which made up into 28 regular seats during the daytime.    During WW II NC28325 was impressed into
                                             service with the Army Air Corps as a C-49E, serial 42-43622.  It, along with most of the other DSTs
                                             were used as air ambulances during their military service.  After the war it returned to American but
                                             was converted into a "straight" DC-3-217C.  American sold it in 1949 to Island Air Ferries.  From
                                             there it went to the Hercules Powder Company as an executive transport and was re-registered
                                             N15583.   The Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad Company bought it in 1961 and it was re-registered
                                             N272L.   This old bird is still on the US Civil register although may not be airworthy.