Grandson of Donald Douglas and ‘Hap’ Arnold to Deliver Keynote at DC-3 Society Conference
Robert Bruce Arnold to headline Saturday evening program as DC-3 Society opens registration for inaugural Operators Conference & Showcase
RIVERSIDE, Calif. | October 6, 2026 — Robert Bruce Arnold, grandson of Douglas Aircraft Company founder Donald Douglas Sr. and General Henry “Hap” Arnold, will deliver the Saturday evening keynote at the inaugural DC-3 Society Operators Conference & Showcase, December 4–6, 2026, at Flabob Airport in Riverside, California.
Arnold will headline the Saturday evening dinner program, bringing a uniquely personal connection to the history of the DC-3 and the people who helped shape American aviation. He is the grandson of Donald Douglas, whose company designed and built the DC-3, and General Henry “Hap” Arnold, a pioneering military aviator and World War II commanding general of the Army Air Forces. Douglas and Arnold were longtime friends beginning in 1917.
Today, Arnold serves as President of the Air Force Historical Foundation and is a writer with several book projects underway, including a project focused on the DC-3. His appearance will anchor an evening celebrating the history, people and enduring legacy of the DC-3, followed by a special screening of Into Flight Once More with executive producers from Sound Off Films.
Read more on our website about Robert Arnold HERE
A Family Legacy Woven Into the Story of the DC-3
Arnold's connection to aviation history is extraordinary. He is the grandson of Donald Douglas, Sr., founder of the Douglas Aircraft Company and the aircraft designer and builder behind some of America's most significant aircraft, including the Douglas DC-3.
He is also the grandson of General Henry “Hap” Arnold, aviation pioneer, World War II commanding general of the Army Air Forces, and a five-star general of the United States Army and United States Air Force. Douglas and Arnold were longtime friends, beginning in 1917.
Arnold's mother, Barbara Douglas Arnold, was Donald Douglas's only daughter.
Today, Robert continues that connection to aviation history through his work as President of the Air Force Historical Foundation, as well as through his writing and several book projects, including a project focused on the DC-3.
“This conference is about much more than an airplane. It is about the people who built these airplanes, the people who flew them, the people who have preserved them, and the people who are carrying that legacy forward. Having Robert join us for our Saturday evening program brings an extraordinary personal connection to that story,” shared Moreno Aguiari, Board President of the DC-3 Society |
Registration Is Now Open
With the announcement of Arnold as Saturday evening's headline keynote, the DC-3 Society is officially opening registration for the December conference experience.
Attendees can now register for:
DC-3 Society Operators Conference & Showcase
Aircraft registration (FREE)
DC-3 Flightline Pass Experience
STEM Expo registration (FREE)
The three-day event will bring together DC-3 operators, owners, pilots, mechanics, museums, historians, aviation professionals, enthusiasts and members of the public for a weekend focused on the aircraft's history, current operation and future.
More Than a Conference
The DC-3 Society Operators Conference & Showcase is designed to bring the DC-3 community together in one place—not simply to look back at the aircraft's history, but to address the realities of keeping these aircraft flying today and ensuring that knowledge and experience are passed to the next generation.
The weekend will feature opportunities for operators and members to connect, share knowledge and resources, explore the aircraft on the flight line, participate in educational programming and experience the DC-3 story through both historic and contemporary perspectives.
The STEM Expo will also provide an opportunity to introduce young people and families to aviation, engineering, technology and the people behind the aircraft.
Saturday Evening: Dinner, Keynote & Film
Saturday evening's program will be a centerpiece of the weekend. Following dinner, Robert Bruce Arnold will take the stage for the keynote presentation, followed by a special screening of Into Flight Once More featuring the executive producers from Sound Off Films, with some cast and crew. The documentary chronicles the historic 2019 D-Day Squadron mission that returned DC-3s to Europe for the 75th anniversary of D-Day and the 70th anniversary of the Berlin Airlift. The evening will connect the legacy of the DC-3, the people who created it, those who preserve it today, and the stories that continue to bring these aircraft to life.
Join the DC-3 Community in December
The inaugural DC-3 Society Operators Conference & Showcase takes place December 4–6, 2026, at Flabob Airport in Riverside, California. Registration and additional event information are available through the DC-3 Society’s event website: www.dc3society.org/dc3-showcase
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