Douglas DC6
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| DC6 G-SIXC of Atlantic Airlines lifts off from its base at Coventry in the UK. |
| The DC6 emerged when Douglas realised it would have to upgrade its
DC4 design to compete with other post Second World War rivals such as the
Lockheed Constellation. Thus the first DC6 was basically a DC4 with uprated Pratt and Whitney R-2800 engines, a fueselage stretched by 6ft 11ins, and pressurisation. Design work was carried out to a military requirement, as the XC112, during the war but by the time the first aircraft flew, on February 15 1946, peace had returned and the order book could be cleared for civil customers. American Airlines was the first to declare an interest, with 50 aircraft, and United Air Lines followed with an order for 20. The first production machine, seating 52 passengers, took to the air in June 1946 and United introduced the type in November, using it on its transcontinental routes. Production of the basic DC6 reached 175 before production switched to the DC6B with an uprated R-2800 engine and space for 54 passengers, or 102 in a high density layout. In parallel with the DC6B, Douglas also produced the DC6A Liftmaster freighter without windows. Seventy-four DC6As and 288 Bs were produced, the last B being delivered in November 1958. The DC6C was a convertible DC6A with windows. The type found favour with many major carriers around the world and also saw widespread US military service as the C118. These aircraft when retired by the service and those rpassed on by major airlines, ensured the type continued in service into the 21st century. |
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