Douglas DC-7 at St Maarten with Crosswind

Beautiful old plane.

It’s really nice to see such an old plane still flying.

Very lovely one-gear touch and turn crab crosswind landing.

The Douglas DC-7, the final piston-engine aircraft produced by Douglas Aircraft Company, played a pivotal role in the evolution of commercial aviation. Developed between 1953 and 1958, the DC-7 was designed to meet American Airlines’ request for a coast-to-coast non-stop aircraft. Initially hesitant, Douglas committed to building the aircraft when American Airlines placed an order for 25, amounting to $40 million—a significant sum that covered development costs.

The DC-7 was equipped with four powerful Wright R-3350 Duplex-Cyclone Turbo-Compound engines, making it slightly larger than its predecessor, the DC-6. This aircraft took its maiden flight on May 18, 1953. American Airlines received its first DC-7 in November of the same year and became the first carrier to offer non-stop coast-to-coast flights in the United States.

This breakthrough in transcontinental travel forced competitors like TWA to follow suit with their Lockheed L-1049 Super Constellations. To meet the demanding flight times imposed by pilots’ eight-hour work limits, the DC-7’s engines were pushed to their limits, occasionally leading to overheating and diversions to the nearest airfields.

Recognizing its potential, Douglas introduced the DC-7B, offering more power. Pan Am used these aircraft to operate transatlantic flights, significantly reducing travel times compared to the Boeing 377 Stratocruisers. European airlines also embraced the DC-7, with BOAC purchasing the aircraft when delayed deliveries of its Bristol Britannias became untenable.

However, the DC-7’s success was overshadowed by the advent of jet travel. As the Boeing 707 and Douglas DC-8 entered service in 1958 and 1960, the DC-7’s sales dwindled. To prolong its life, Douglas converted some passenger-configured DC-7s into cargo planes, known as the DC-7F, by removing windows and adding freight doors.

The Douglas DC-7, with its pioneering coast-to-coast capabilities, marked the end of an era in commercial aviation, making it an essential part of aviation history.