Douglas DC-6
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The Douglas DC-6 is an aircraft built by the Douglas Aircraft Company from 1946 to 1959. Originally intended as a military transport near the end of World War II, it was reworked after the war to compete with the Lockheed Constellation in the long-range piston transport market. More than 700 were built, and many still fly today in cargo, military, and wildfire control roles.
The DC-6 was known as the C-118 Liftmaster in United States Air Force service, and as the R6D in United States Navy service.
History
The United States Army Air Forces commissioned the DC-6 project as the XC-112 in 1944. The Air Force wanted an expanded version of the popular C-54 transport, with improved engines. By the time the XC-112 flew, the war was over, and the USAAF had rescinded its requirement.Douglas converted its prototype into a civil air transport and delivered the first production DC-6 in March of 1947. However, a series of mysterious in-flight fires (including the fatal crash of United Airlines Flight 608) grounded the DC-6 fleet later that year: the cause was found to be a fuel vent located adjacent to the cabin heater intake. All DC-6's in service were modified to correct the problem, and the fleet was flying again after just four months on the ground.
Pan Am used DC-6 aircraft to inaugurate its first trans-Atlantic tourist class flights, starting in 1952.
On November 1st 1955 a time bomb exploded aboard the DC-6 killing 44 people above Longmont, Colorado.
Douglas designed three basic variants of the DC-6: the DC-6A was designed for cargo work, while the DC-6B was designed for passenger work and the DC-6C was a "convertible" aircraft that could accommodate both.
The military renewed its interest in the DC-6 during the Korean War, and commissioned a number of aircraft that later found their way into civilian service. Harry Truman's first presidential aircraft was an Air Force VC-118 called The Independence.
Many older DC-6 aircraft were replaced by the Douglas DC-7: those that survived into the Jet Age were replaced by Boeing 707 and Douglas DC-8 aircraft.
Airlines
Historical operators of the DC-6 include Aerolíneas Argentinas, Air Vietnam, Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Aviateca, Canadian Pacific Air Lines, JAT Jugoslovenski Aero Transport (now Jat Airways), KLM, LAN Chile, Mexicana, National Airlines, Northwest Orient, Olympic Airways, Pan American World Airways, Panair do Brasil, Philippine Airlines, Sabena, SAS, TEAL, United Airlines, Western Airlines, and Yemen Airlines.Today, most DC-6's in commercial use are based in Alaska. Air Cargo Express, Everts Air Fuel, and Northern Air Cargo operate the type. Several other DC-6's are still in operation for small carriers in South America. Atlantic Airlines, a cargo carrier based in Coventry, England, also uses the type.
Military Operators
- Colombia, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, El Salvador, South Korea, Taiwan.
DC-6 after 60 years
2006 marked the 60th anniversary since the introduction of the DC-6. The March issue of Airliner World had an article about the aircraft.
- About 100 still fly (or are potentially capable of flight)
- In 2002, 49 were fully active
- Two DC-6 are used as freighters by Atlantic Airlines, Coventry, UK
- One is in use by Red Bull in Salzburg, Austria
- One DC-6 is in use by Namibia Commercial Aviation
- An unknown number are in use as freighters or waterbombers in Canada and Alaska
Specifications (DC-6B)
Notes
External links
Related content
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