Design and Development
The Douglas Commercial Model 5 was developed in 1938 as a 18/24 passenger civilian airliner, designed to use either Pratt & Whitney R-1690 or Wright Cyclone engines. Innovative features for the time included a high wing and tricycle landing gear, the relatively unique configuration providing for ease of passenger entry, loading and engine servicing. An very early change in design was changing the horizontal tail group from straight to a 15-degree dihedral to improve stability while another significant modification was in altering the nacelles to have exhaust stacks, retroactively incorporated after the series entered production. An unusual "optical trick" applied to the profile of the prototype was painting the top of the vertical stabilizer and outline of the engine nacelles a darker color, the shapes curving to follow the aircraft's contour, thus making the tail and engines appear somewhat smaller and the aircraft sleeker.
Prior to the US entry into World War II, one prototype and four production aircraft were constructed.
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