Only true aviation enthusiasts will understand the significance of these two names: Douglas Aircraft Company and Pan Am. Together, they represent the golden era of air travel, which conjures up images of elegant flight crews in crisp uniforms, wide and comfy seats despite smaller cabins, and luxurious travel. Now, you can relive this treasured era by putting together Douglas’ most successful aircraft and the iconic, now-defunct American airline, Pan American World Airways, with the new LEGO Icons Douglas DC-3 PAN AM Airliner (11378).
Using 1,903 elements, the set lets you build a detailed model of the legendary 1930s twin-engine aircraft. The model is loaded with authentic details, from radial piston engines to UHF/VHF antennas to pitot tubes—it has them all. The only thing missing is the HF radio line that ran from the top of the fuselage, above the cockpit area, to the vertical stabilizer. The model is finished in the sleek late-1950s Pan Am color scheme.
The completed model, which measures 51 cm long, 76 cm wide, and 24 cm high (about 20 x 30 x 9.5 inches), features removable panels that reveal a detailed cockpit and passenger cabin with an aisle and seating, along with retractable landing gear that can be deployed by rotating a dial. It also comes with a buildable flight stand and a museum-worthy plaque, plus a whopping four minifigures—a pilot, stewardess, flight attendant, and purser—which can be displayed on a Pan Am-branded minifigure stand.
The LEGO Icons Douglas DC-3 PAN AM Airliner (11378) is set to drop on April 04, 2026, for US$219.99. This set is sure to tickle the nostalgia of aviation enthusiasts, much like the Concorde and the Shuttle Carrier Aircraft did. But man, you will probably need a hangar if LEGO keeps turning out such beautiful aircraft and vessels.
Images: LEGO.