DC-3 Mainliner

The DC-3 Mainliner is a fully restored 1945 Douglas DC-3 that travels the United States to celebrate aviation history and inspire the next generation of aviators. Owned by DC3 Mainliner, LLC and operated by California Aeronautical University (CAU), it is based at Oxnard Airport in Oxnard, California, and is cared for by a team of aviation professionals, educators, mechanics, pilots and volunteers led by owner Matt Johnston, president of CAU. Built near the end of the Second World War, the aircraft remained stateside, served government leaders including Jimmy Carter as well as corporate and commercial operators, and later came to Van Nuys, California, where it caught the attention of aviation pioneer Clay Lacy.

History

• Clay Lacy, raised in Kansas during the Depression, had nearly 200 flight hours by age 19 and flew for United Airlines for more than 41 years, beginning his airline career on the DC-3; his career spans the military, air racing, corporate aviation and more than 3,000 film projects, with numerous world records and the most turbine jet flight hours in history
• In 2000 Lacy fully restored the aircraft in an authentic 1948 United Airlines paint scheme and christened her Mainliner O'Connor, honouring the executive DC-3 of United Airlines founder William Patterson

Bookings

The DC-3 Mainliner is available for air shows, aviation and community events, educational outreach, private experience flights and film production. Experience flights with a professional crew let passengers step into the golden age of air travel; the aircraft can fly demonstrations or be showcased on the ramp as a static display for air shows, airport events and STEM days where visitors explore it up close; and its period United Airlines livery makes it suitable for film, television, commercials and photography. CAU uses the aircraft as a flying classroom and storytelling platform that connects visitors with modern pathways into flight training and aviation careers, and the website offers booking enquiries and a news and events newsletter.

Shows

DC-3 Mainliner appears in the sponsor lists of the ICAS Convention 2026, where it is listed as a silver sponsor.

Contact

Based at Oxnard Airport, Oxnard, California, United States
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