Douglas
M2
Mail Plane

Photo: Robert Deering 10/23/2006
Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum
Dulles International Airport (IAD)
Chantilly, Virginia
Designed to replace de Havilland DH-4s for delivering the air mail in the mid 1920s, Douglas M-2s were sturdy, dependable aircraft that were popular with the newly formed airlines.

This M-2 was flown by Western Air Express, predecessor of Western Airlines, which inaugurated air mail service between Los Angeles and Salt Lake City via Las Vegas in April 1926. It was delivered to the Post Office Department in 1926 as an M-4, which had a longer wing than the M-2 and cost $15,000. It was later reconfigured as an M 2. Western Air Express acquired the airplane in June 1927 and flew it for almost 914 hours, before the airplane crashed in January 1930. It was then resold several times and was reacquired by Western Airlines in 1940 for display.

Physical Description:
Single engine, single seat, bi-plane, liberty V-12 engine; used by post office and Western Airlines.
SPECIFICATIONS: PERFORMANCE:
Span:  12.1 m (39 ft 8 in) Maximum speed: 
Length:  8.8 m (28 ft 11 in) Cruising speed: 
Height:  3.1 m (10 ft 1 in) Range: 
Empty Weight:  1,329 kg (2,910 lb) Service ceiling: 
Gross Weight:  2,253 kg (4,968 lb)  
Crew: 
Engines: 
   
SOURCE:  Smithsonian National Air & Space Museum