Aircraft / Douglas DC-4
Aircraft / Douglas DC-4
The Douglas DC-4 is a four piston-engined, long range propeller-driven airliner manufactured by Douglas Aircraft Company, which was originally headquartered in Santa Monica, California USA, then relocated to Long Beach, California USA. In 1967 the Douglas Aircraft Company merged with St Louis-based McDonnell Aircraft Corporation to become McDonnell Douglas Corporation.
The DC-4 was designed in the late 1930s as a successor to an experimental aircraft known as the Douglas DC-4E. The type was quickly sent into production at the onset of World War II, and entered service with the US Army Air Force as the Douglas C-54 Skymaster in 1942. Douglas Aircraft built 1,170 C-54s in six variants during the war. In late 1945, several hundred C-54 aircraft were declared were sent into surplus, converted into civilian airliners by Douglas Aircraft, and resold to airlines around the world.
The Douglas DC-4 was the first aircraft type to deliver modern, non-seaplane based transatlantic passenger air service. On 23-24 October 1945, American Export Airlines (AMEX) flew from New York to Bournemouth in Great Britain, via Gander and Shannon - LGA-YQX-SNN-BOH. Bournemouth-BOH was replaced by London-LHR in May 1946. Pan American Airways began offering its own transatlantic service a few days later. While the debut AMEX flight carried only 12 passengers, within five years over 300,000 passengers were making the crossing annually, and the flying boat became obsolete.
A purpose-built C-54, the Douglas VC-54C, became the first dedicated Air Force One aircraft. Entering service in 1945, it was officially called The Flying White House, but became better known as the Sacred Cow due to the high security surrounding the aircraft and its special status.
Production of the DC-4 ended in 1947, when it was superseded in favor of the larger McDonnell Douglas DC-6 prop airliner. In later years DC-4s/C-54s were further modified to serve as freighters, air ambulances, civil firefighting equipment and air tankers until the 1990s. As of 2024, two passenger DC-4s remain extant, both in South Africa serving as vintage and VIP air charters.
Reference: Wikipedia.
Stats
Stats displayed are for the Douglas DC-4D four-engined aircraft.
Name: Douglas DC-4D/Douglas C-54D
Origin: Santa Monica, California USA
Role: Four Piston Engined Propeller-Driven Airliner
First Introduction: 18 September 1959
Status: Out of Production; In Very Limited Service
Cockpit Crew: Four
Seating: 44
Engines: 4 x Pratt & Whitney R-2000 Twin Wasp (Piston)
Cruise Speed: 197-214 knots (365-396 km/h; 227-246 mph)
Range: 2900 nmi (5300 km; 3300 mi)