The Airplanes That Wouldn't Die: The Replacements

摘要

As in the movie business, a sequel rarely outperforms the original, but rather continues the story line or takes the plot in a slightly different direction. So it was in the airplane business as each new contender stepped into the ring for its turn at attempting to wrest the crown of having the best twin-engined medium-range airplane in the world away from the Douglas Aircraft Company. Such boons to aircraft design as pressurized cabins, tricycle landing gear, more powerful radial engines, and advanced radio and navigation equipment all contributed to more modern airplanes that flew higher, faster, and farther than the DC-3. What separated the wheat from the chaff in this bunch, however, was the single factor that spells success or doom any business enterprise - economics.