Continental Airlines donates historic DC-3 Aircraft to museum

Exactly 100 years after the first successful airplane flight, Continental Airlines is helping to perpetuate the legacy of flight by donating its award-winning, historic, 63-year-old DC-3 aircraft to the Lone Star Flight Museum, Galveston, Texas.

"The DC-3 was a major stepping-stone in the development of today's worldwide commercial aviation system," said Continental Chairman and CEO Gordon Bethune. "We are proud to help preserve a bit of aviation history on the occasion of the Centennial of Flight. And giving away this antique aircraft helps to drive home the point that we really do have one of the youngest fleets in the business."

The Aircraft

Manufactured by the Douglas Aircraft Company in Santa Monica, Calif., in 1940, this aircraft has a storied history. After serving in the American Airlines fleet for seven years, the aircraft was acquired by Trans-Texas Airways, a predecessor of today's Continental Airlines. The DC-3 later flew routes in New England for Provincetown-Boston Airlines, and was reacquired and restored in '50s-vintage colors by Continental in 1989. Since then, the aircraft has attended many air shows, winning prizes including "Grand Champion Antique Air Transport" at the 1997 EAA Convention and Airshow, Oshkosh, Wisc.

The Lone Star Flight Museum

The Lone Star Flight Museum contains an award winning, flying collection of over 35 historically significant aircraft. A few notable aircraft in the collection include a B-17 Flying Fortress, B-25 Mitchell, P-47 Thunderbolt, P-38 Lightning, F4U Corsair, F6F Hellcat, SBD Dauntless and a British MkXVI Spitfire. Since the aircraft of the Lone Star Flight Museum are maintained to flying standards, they are in constant demand on the airshow circuit. Lone Star aircraft take the living history lesson to the skies and are seen by over 1.5 million people at more than 30 aviation events each year. 

The Texas Aviation Hall of Fame is located on Galveston's west end between Moody Gardens and the Galveston International Airport at Scholes Field.