JOE PAPPALARDO: Why the First True Spaceliner Will Change Everything: We need a DC-3 for space to finally democratize travel off our planet.

In the 1930s, before the DC-3, the state of aviation in the early 1930s was dire. Airplanes were slow, leaked fumes into the cabin, and had limited range. That range thing was a big deal, especially since there were hardly any airports around. Touchdowns for maintenance meant landing in fields, empty roads, or anywhere else it looked flat. Back then, it was standard operating procedure. Today we’d call it an emergency landing.

What aviation needed was a machine that could be safe, comfortable, and cheap enough to carry paying customers. C.R. Smith, the president of American Airlines in 1934, demanded Douglas Aircraft build an airplane that could serve as an airliner. The result was the DC-3, which first flew at the end of 1935.

The plane had twin 1200-hp engines and clever, cantilevered wings. Before the DC-3 it took 25 hours and 15 stops to cross the country in an airplane. The new airplane cut that down to three stops for fuel. And the passengers were treated well, with sleeping berths, drinks, and fine meals served for a $300 ticket. Rich people could fly and feel comfortable – physically and mentally.

Which, frankly, is an accomplishment even today.