Douglas World Cruiser – Fotografije & Video posnetki

V Douglas Svetovna križarka (DWC) was developed to meet a requirement from the United States Army Air Service for an aircraft suitable for an attempt at the first flight around the world. The Douglas Aircraft Company responded with a modified variant of their DT torpedo bomber, the DWC. Five aircraft were ordered for the round-the-world flight, one for testing and training and four for the actual expedition. The success of the World Cruiser bolstered the international reputation of the Douglas Aircraft Company. The design of the DWC was later modified to create the O-5 observation aircraft, which was operated by the Army Air Service.

Vir: Douglas World Cruiser na Wikipediji, prosta enciklopedija

V Douglas Svetovna križarka was a historic aircraft that achieved the first aerial circumnavigation of the world in 1924. It was developed by the Douglas Aircraft Company as a modified version of their DT torpedo bomber, which had been used by the US Navy. The World Cruiser had a steel fuselage, a larger wing and rudder, and six fuel tanks that increased its range and endurance. It could also switch between wheels and floats, depending on the terrain and weather conditions. The US Army Air Service ordered four World Cruisers for the expedition, named Seattle, Chicago, Boston, and New Orleans. They were piloted by four officers and accompanied by four mechanics.
Let je odletel iz Seattla 6. aprila 1924 in sledil poti, ki je prečkala 28 držav in štiri celine. Let se je soočal s številnimi izzivi, kot so slabo vreme, mehanske težave in sovražne oblasti. Eden od svetovnih križark, Seattle, je strmoglavil na Aljaski, drugi, Boston, pa je bil izgubljen v Atlantskem oceanu. Preostala dva svetovna križarja, Chicago in New Orleans, sta potovanje zaključila 28. septembra 1924, potem ko sta letela 175 dni in prepotovala več kot 26.000 milj. Douglas World Cruiser je bil izjemen dosežek, ki je pokazal izvedljivost in potencial letalstva na dolge razdalje.