Aircrafttotal Encyclopedia

The Douglas DC-6 is a piston-powered airliner and cargo aircraft built by the Douglas Aircraft Company from 1946 to 1958. Originally intended as a military transport near the end of World War II, Douglas reworked it after the war to compete with the Lockheed Constellation in the long-range commercial transport market. Douglas built over 700, and many still fly 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 before 1962, after which all U.S. Navy variants were also designated as the C-118.

The United States Army Air Forces commissioned the DC-6 project as the XC-112 in 1944. The Army Air Forces wanted a lengthened, pressurized version of the DC-4-based C-54 Skymaster transport with more powerful engines. By the time the prototype XC-112A flew on 15 February 1946, the war was over, the USAAF had rescinded its requirement, and the aircraft was converted to YC-112A, being sold in 1955.

Douglas Aircraft modified the design into a civil transport 80 in (200 cm) longer than the DC-4. The civil DC-6 first flew on 29 June 1946, being retained by Douglas for testing. The first airline deliveries were to American Airlines and United Airlines on 24 November 1946. A series of inflight fires (including the fatal crash of United Airlines Flight 608) grounded the DC-6 fleet in 1947. The cause was found to be a fuel vent next to the cabin cooling turbine intake; all DC-6s were modified, and the fleet was flying again after four months on the ground.

Pan Am used DC-6Bs to start transatlantic tourist-class flights in 1952. These were the first DC-6Bs that could gross 107,000 lb (49,000 kg), with CB-17 engines rated at 2,500 hp (1,900 kW) on 108/135 octane fuel. Several European airlines followed with transatlantic services. The DC-6B and C subtypes could often fly nonstop from the eastern US to Europe but needed to refuel in Goose Bay, Labrador, or Gander, Newfoundland, when flying westbound into prevailing westerly winds

Douglas Aircraft

Douglas DC-6/C-118 Liftmaster

General Info

Crew Three to fourCapacity 48-68 passengers Length 100 ft 7 in Wingspan 117 ft 6 in
Height (8.66 m)
Wing area 1,463 sq ft (135.9 m2)

Powerplant

Empty weight (23,844 kg)
Max takeoff weight (44,100 kg)
Powerplant (4x)
Pratt & Whitney R-2800-CA15"Double Wasp" radial engine,2,400 hp (1,800 kW) withwater injection each
Pratt & Whitney R-2800-CB16"Double Wasp" radial engine,2,400 hp (1,800 kW) withwater injection each
Pratt & Whitney R-2800-CB17"Double Wasp" radial engine,2,500 hp (1,900 kW) withwater injection each

Performance

Cruise speed 311 mph (501 km/h) Fuel capacity 4,260 US gal (16,100 L)4,722 US gal (17,870 L) Range 3,983 nmi (7,377 km)4,317 nmi (7,995 km) Max fuel4,100 nmi (7,600 km) Max fuel
Service ceiling 21,900 ft (6,700 m) Rate of climb 1,070 ft/min

Aircraft of comparable Role

Special Links Aeromacchi Leonardo

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tarting in 1959 Douglas began converting DC-7s and DC-7Cs into DC-7F freighters to extend their useful lives. The airframes were fitted with large forward and rear freight doors and some cabin windows were removed.

Douglas
DC-6/C-118 Liftmaster

Since the late 1940s Pan Am and other airlines had scheduled a few non-stop flights from New York to Europe,

Youtube Link

The predecessor DC-6, especially the DC-6B, established a reputation for straightforward engineering and reliability. Pratt & Whitney, manufacturer of the DC-6s Double Wasp engines,

Douglas
DC-6/C-118 Liftmaster

Douglas
DC-6/C-118 Liftmaster

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History
Douglas DC-6/C-118 Liftmaster

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DC-6/C-118 Liftmaster