![]() ![]() When the CAM-3 (Chicago-Dallas) route was passed to National Air Transport Inc (NAT) in October 1925, the airline originally used the Curtiss Carrier Pigeon. One M-4 was also bought by Western Air Express and this was designated the M-4A. The M-4 had a new longer span wing and the Post Office converted some of the M-3s order to be built as M-4s. The M-3 had only detailed differences from the M-2.ĭouglas then redesigned the M-3 to try to increase the payload, and the new aircraft was designated the M-4. Just before Western Air Express introduced the aircraft into service (in April 1926 from Los Angeles to Salt Lake City), the Post Office ordered 50 aircraft designated M-3 for its major route network. It also had the provision to carry a passenger instead of mail in the front cockpit. ![]() The main change from the M-1 was that the tunnel radiator was replaced with a frontal type. When the Contract Air Mail (CAM) routes were introduced, the newly formed Western Air Express Company (later Western Airlines) ordered six mailplanes with the designation M-2. Small modifications were made to the exhaust system to keep fumes away from the pilot and the design was considered a success, but was not ordered into production. The M-1 used the same Liberty engine as the DH.4, which was available in large numbers. The aircraft was designated the DAM-1 (Douglas Air-Mail-One) but this was soon shortened to M-1. The company modified an O-2 by covering over the forward cockpit to make a mail compartment and moving the pilot into what had been the observer's cockpit. In 1925, it decided to modernize and placed an order with Douglas for a replacement aircraft based on the Douglas O-2 observation biplane. The United States Post Office had been running the air mail service since 1918 mainly using variants of the de Havilland DH.4 biplane. The aircraft were used to run the main routes of the United States Air Mail service until the introduction of three-engined aircraft in 1928. As a whole, the gameplay is tons of fun and I love that the map and cities change each time you complete a route.The Douglas mailplanes were a family of 1920s American single-seat mail planes designed and built by the Douglas Aircraft Company. Once you've navigated to the correct location you simply press Up on the controller to land, use the Lightpen to unload, and repeat the process until each package has been delivered. My only annoyance is that the flight path screen isn't always accurate, and it can fool you into thinking a city is located towards the right when it's actually diagonally-right. The threat of lightning is an integral part of the challenge, as without it, flying around and delivering packages would be easy! Its inclusion cleverly forces you to watch your fuel metre (as dodging clouds takes away precious fuel) while trying to be economical at all times. It's slow-paced and relaxing like Pilotwings (1991, SNES) and controls beautifully. You then accelerate and takeoff using the controller, and enter the heart of the action here, the game adopts a top-down view as you dodge clouds and search for the correct cities. Careful planning is crucial, and I found it helpful to take a picture of the drop-off points beforehand for navigational purposes! Next up is the mail loading sequence where you drag packages into the plane the Lightpen lacks true precision, but for the purposes of what's required here it works fine. Prior to takeoff, you have full control over the flight path, allowing you to map the most efficient route this is great for replayability and adds layers of strategy. What's most impressive is how the game is split into multiple sections to immerse the player. To increase the challenge, clouds must be avoided, otherwise you risk being hit by lightning and losing one of your five lives. The objective is to load five packages into your plane and deliver each one to a specific city before you run out of fuel. ![]()
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