Only DC-1 built. Completed in nine month after the contract with TWA was signed.
Initially powered with two 690 hp Wright SGR-1830-F.
First flight was July 1, 1933.
On Sept 4, 1933 it passed the hardest test required by TWA. One engine was shut down on the takeoff run at Winslow, Arizona. The flight continued to Albuquerque, New Mexico on one engine.
In Sept 1933 the Wright engines were replaced with to 700 hp P&W Hornet SD-G. However, the original Wright were reinstalled.
TWA took delivery of the DC-1 as NC223Y. The engines were replaced with two 710 hp SGR-1820 F3s, then two 760 hp SGR-1820 F52s.
A number of speed and distance records were set by this aircraft.
After TWA the DC-1 was acquired by Western Aero & Radio Co for Howard Hughes. Hughes planed to set some records with this aircraft, but in the end, he got a Lockheed 14 for record flights.
In May of 1938 it was acquired by Viscount Forbes of the UK and registered as G-AFIF.
It was then sold to a French company acting on the behalf of LAPE, an airline operated by the Spanish Republican Government, registered as EC-AGJ.
It changed ownership again becoming part of the fleet of SATA and registered as EC-AAE.
In Dec 1940 it had an engine failure departing Malaga, Spain. All passengers and crew walked away, but the DC-1 was damaged beyond repair.
Aeroplane Photo Supply No. 1900
