"Spitit of Santa Monica"

The first flight of a DC-3 took place on December 17, 1935, at the Santa Monica Airport. These aircraft were so successful and reliable that many DC-3 aircraft remain in service throughout the world today.
The aircraft on display was built here at Santa Monica Airport and delivered to the U.S. Army Air Corps as a C-53-DO on February 17, 1942. Its initial role was as a 28-seat paratrooper and glider tug.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
Powerplant: Two Pratt & Whitney R-1830-92 Twin Wasp 14-cylinder radials with a takeoff rating of 1,050 hp and a maximum rating of 1,200 hp at 7,500 feet
Wingspan: 95 feet
Wing Area: 987 square feet
Length: 63 feet, 9 inches
Empty Weight: 18,000 lbs
Loaded Weight: 26,000 lbs
Maximum Weight: 31,000 lbs
Maximum Speed: 230 mph @8,800 feet
Cruising Speed: 160 mph
Stall Speed: 67 mph

HISTORY OF THIS AIRCRAFT
February 17, 1942: Delivered to the USAAC as 41_20107
February 21, 1942: Transferred to the US Navy as a R4D-3 as BuAer No. 05075
August 31, 1946: Retired from military service, purchased by Nationwide Airlines as DC-3 tail # NC1075M
December 1, 1953: Purchased by Richfield Oil Company
April 4, 1956: Reregistered as N60R
Fall of 1957: Reregistered as N596AR to Atlantic Refining Company
May



1970: Reregistered to Atlantic Richfield Company of Philadelphia
By 1985: Stored at Sonoma County Airport
Spring of 1989: Displayed at the Museum of Flying, Santa Monica, on loan from the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County
May 1, 1997: Purchased by David G. Price from the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County
October 6, 2004: Donated to the City of Santa Monica by David G. Price
June, 2005: Restoration team begins work on the "Spirit of Santa Monica"
December 17, 2005: Ceremony for the completed restoration and groundbreaking for the monument
March 21, 2009: DC-3 "Spirit of Santa Monica" monument dedication

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