Douglas DC-4

Following proving flights by United Airlines of the DC-4E, it became obvious that the 52-seat airliner was too inefficient and unreliable to operate economically and the partner airlines, American Airlines, Eastern, Pan American, Trans World and United, recommended a lengthy list of changes to the design. Douglas took the new requirements and produced an entirely new, smaller design, the DC-4A, with a simpler, still unpressurized fuselage, Pratt & Whitney R-2000 Twin Wasp engines, and a single fin and rudder. A tricycle landing gear was retained.

With the entry of the United States into World War II, in December 1941, the United States Army Air Forces took over the provisional orders for the airlines and allocated them the designation C-54 Skymaster. The first C-54 flew from Clover Field in Santa Monica, California, on 14 February 1942.

File:Kabine DC-4.jpg

File:Pan Am DC4 Cipper.jpg DC-4 in Trinidad in the 1950s]]

To meet military requirements, the first production aircraft had four additional auxiliary fuel tanks in the main cabin, which reduced the passenger seats to 26. The following batch of aircraft was the first built to military specifications, and was designated C-54A and built with a stronger floor and a cargo door with a hoist and winch. The first C-54A was delivered in February 1943. With the introduction of the C-54B in March 1944, the outer wings were changed to hold integral fuel tanks, allowing two of the cabin tanks to be removed; this allowed 49 seats (or 16 stretchers) to be fitted. The C-54C was a hybrid for Presidential use; it had a C-54A fuselage with four cabin fuel tanks and the C-54B wings with built-in tanks to achieve maximum range.

The most common variant was the C-54D, which entered service in August 1944, essentially a C-54B with more powerful R-2000-11 engines. With the C-54E the last two cabin fuel tanks were moved to the wings, which allowed more freight or 44 passenger seats.

In total, 1,163 C-54s (or R5D in US Navy service) were built for the United States military between 1942 and January 1946 and another 79 DC-4s were built after the war. A later variant, with more powerful Merlin engines allowing it to fly over 40% faster, was built in Canada as the Canadair North Star.

The DC-4/C-54 proved to be a popular and reliable type, with 1,245 being built between May 1942 and August 1947, including 79 postwar DC-4s. Several remain in service as of 2022.

Douglas continued to develop the type during the war in preparation for a return to airline use when peace returned. Sales of new aircraft had to compete against 500 wartime ex-military C-54s and R5Ds which came onto the civilian market, many of which were converted to DC-4 standard by Douglas. DC-4s were a favorite of charter airlines such as Great Lakes Airlines, North American Airlines, Universal Airlines, and Transocean Airlines. In the 1950s, Transocean (Oakland, California) was the largest civilian C-54/DC-4 operator.

File:Aerolineas Argentinas DC4 atEZE 1958.jpg DC-4 starting engines at Buenos Aires international airport in 1958]]

File:Douglas DC-4 Pan Am.jpg DC-4 in flight]]

Douglas produced 79 new-build DC-4s between January 1946 and August 9, 1947, the last example being delivered to South African Airways. Pressurization was an option, but all civilian DC-4s (and C-54s) were built unpressurized.

A total of 330 DC-4s and C-54s were used in the Berlin Airlift, which made them one of the most numerous types involved.

Purchasers of new-build DC-4s included Pan American Airways, National Airlines, Northwest Airlines, and Western Airlines in the US, and KLM Royal Dutch Air Lines, Scandinavian Airlines System, Iberia Airlines of Spain, Swissair, Air France, Sabena Belgian World Airlines, Cubana de Aviación, Avianca, Aerolíneas Argentinas, Aeropostal of Venezuela (1946), and South African Airways overseas.Berry 1967, pp. 70–73. Several airlines used new-build DC-4s to start scheduled transatlantic flights between Latin America and Europe. Among the earliest were Aerolíneas Argentinas (1946), Iberia Airlines of Spain (1946), and Cubana de Aviación (1948).

Basic prices for a new DC-4 in 1946–47 were around £140,000-{{Inflation|UK|160,000|1946|fmt=eq|orig=yes|cursign=£}}. In 1960, used DC-4s were available for around {{Inflation|UK|80,000|1960|fmt=eq|orig=yes|cursign=£}}.{{cite journal |url=http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1960/1960%20-%202687.html |title=de havilland {{!}} 1960 {{!}} 2687 {{!}} Flight Archive |journal=Flight |date=18 November 1960 |access-date=28 February 2017}}

{{As of|2020|June}}, two DC-4s were used for charters in South Africa by the South African Airways Museum Society, with both aircraft (ZS-BMH and ZS-AUB) carrying historical South African Airways livery.{{cite web |url=http://flyskyclass.com/portfolio/skyclassic/#tab-1396342235-2-97 |title=SkyClassic |website=SkyClass Aviation |location=South Africa |access-date=7 June 2020 |archive-date=7 June 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200607015148/http://flyskyclass.com/portfolio/skyclassic/#tab-1396342235-2-97 |url-status=dead }}{{cite web |url=http://www.saamuseum.co.za/our-aircraft.html |title=Our Aircraft |website=South African Airways Museum Society |location=South Africa |access-date=7 June 2020}}

Buffalo Airways of Yellowknife, Northwest Territories continues to operate the type commercially.{{cite news |last=Stapleton|first=Rob |url=http://www.alaskajournal.com/community/2009-08-14/brooks-fuel-keeps-alaska-supplied-using-legacy-aircraft |title=Brooks Fuel keeps Alaska supplied using legacy aircraft |newspaper=Alaska Journal of Commerce |date=15 August 2009 |access-date=27 February 2017}}

{{Main|List of Douglas DC-4 variants}}

;DC-4

:Main production airliner, postwar

;Canadair North Star

:Canadian production of a Rolls-Royce Merlin-powered variant, plus a single example powered with Pratt & Whitney R-2800s

;Aviation Traders Carvair

:British cargo and car ferry with a modified nose with a raised cockpit to allow cars to be loaded more easily

{{Main|List of Douglas DC-4 operators}}

File:Airmail 5c 1946 issue.JPG

{{Main|List of accidents and incidents involving the Douglas DC-4}}

File:Douglas DC-4 Flying Dutchman.jpg

Very few DC-4s remain in service today.Blewett 2007, p. 101.

• The last two passenger DC-4s operating worldwide are based in Johannesburg, South Africa. They fly with old South African Airways (SAA) livery. They are ZS-AUB Outeniqua and ZS-BMH Lebombo and are owned by the South African Airways Museum Society{{cite web |url=http://www.saamuseum.co.za/our-aircraft/70.html |title="Outeniqua" Douglas DC-4 1009 ZS-AUB c/n 42984 |publisher=South African Airways Museum Society |access-date=21 January 2015}}{{cite web |url=http://www.saamuseum.co.za/our-aircraft/73.html |title="Lebombo" Douglas DC-4 1009 ZS-BMH c/n 43157 |publisher=South African Airways Museum Society |access-date=21 January 2015}} and operated by Skyclass Aviation,{{cite web |url=http://flyskyclass.com/portfolio/skyclassic/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140608001648/http://flyskyclass.com/portfolio/skyclassic/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=8 June 2014 |title=Portfolios: SkyClassic |publisher=SkyClass Aviation |date=31 March 2014 |access-date=20 January 2015 }} a company specialising in classic and VIP charters to exotic destinations in Africa.
• A 1944-built DC-4/C-54 is on display at Historical Aircraft Restoration Society in New South Wales, Australia, with a planned restoration to airworthiness.{{cite web |url=https://www.thesenior.com.au/story/8009136/world-war-ii-era-aeroplanes-to-fly-high-again/?cs=6744 |title=DC4, Vampire planes on display at HARS Aviation Museum Tarmac Days in December 2022 |website=thesenior.com.au |access-date=5 January 2023 |date=7 December 2022 }}
• A 1945-built DC-4 (C-54D) 43-17228 is being operated by Berlin Airlift Historical Foundation as a flying museum of the Berlin Airlift. Called the Spirit of Freedom, it replaced a previous C-54 (44-9144) damaged by a tornado in 2020.{{cite web |url=http://www.spiritoffreedom.org |title=Berlin Airlift Historical Foundation |access-date=25 August 2021}}
• One ex-Buffalo Airways DC-4{{Cite web|title = Douglas DC-4 "Oil Bomber" Spray Plane at KCGI|url = http://www.semissourian.com/story/1739871.html|website = seMissourian.com|date = 28 June 2011|access-date=9 February 2016}} (N55CW c/n 10673, currently registered to Aircraft Guaranty Corp Trustee) is fitted with spray bars on top of the wings and is currently based in Florida on standby for oil pollution control.{{cite web|url=http://de.flightaware.com/resources/registration/N55CW|title=N55CW (1942 DOUGLAS C54D-DC owned by AIRCRAFT GUARANTY CORP TRUSTEE) Aircraft Registration ✈ FlightAware}}
• A 1945-built C-54 (C-54E-5-DO) c/n 27289, USAAF serial 44-9063, was recovered from Reconstruction Finance Corporation by Douglas aircraft for conversion to DC-4. It served with Pan American World Airways from 1946 to 1952 as NC-88887, then with a succession of carriers and private owners until retired in 1989 as N88887. Around 1990 it was placed on display at the Berlin Airlift Memorial at Frankfurt Airport.{{cite web |url=https://www.planelogger.com/Aircraft/Registration/N88887/629654 |title=Registration Details for N88887 |work=PlaneLogger |access-date=22 November 2021}}

File:Douglas R5D-2 Skymaster 3-view line drawing.png

{{Aircraft specs

|ref=Jane's all the World's Aircraft 1947,{{cite book |title=Jane's all the World's Aircraft 1947 |editor1-last=Bridgman |editor1-first=Leonard |year=1947 |publisher=Sampson Low, Marston & Co |location=London |page=219c}} McDonnell Douglas aircraft since 1920 : Volume I{{cite book |last1=Francillon |first1=René J. |title=McDonnell Douglas aircraft since 1920 : Volume I |date=1988 |publisher=Naval Institute Press |location=London |isbn=0870214284 |pages=313–333}}

|prime units?=imp

|crew=4

|capacity= Day transport: 44 pax with baggage and freight; Sleeper transport: 22 pax with baggage and freight; — later, up to 86 in high density seating

|length ft=93

|length in=10

|length note=

|span ft=117

|span in=6

|span note=

|height ft=27

|height in=6

|height note=

|wing area sqft=1460

|wing area note=

|aspect ratio=

|airfoil=root: NACA 23016; tip: NACA 23012{{cite web |last1=Lednicer |first1=David |title=The Incomplete Guide to Airfoil Usage |url=https://m-selig.ae.illinois.edu/ads/aircraft.html |website=m-selig.ae.illinois.edu |access-date=16 April 2019}}

|empty weight lb=43300

|empty weight note=

|gross weight lb=63500

|gross weight note=

|max takeoff weight lb=73000

|max takeoff weight note=

|fuel capacity={{cvt|2868|USgal|impgal l}} normal capacity or {{cvt|3592|USgal|impgal l}} with alternative inner wing tanks

|more general=

|eng1 number=4

|eng1 name=Pratt & Whitney R-2000-2SD13-G Twin Wasp

|eng1 type=14-cylinder air-cooled radial piston engines

|eng1 hp=1450

|eng1 note=for take-off

::::{{cvt|1100|hp}} at {{cvt|14000|ft}}

|prop blade number=3

|prop name=Hamilton-Standard Hydromatic

|prop dia ft=13

|prop dia in=1

|prop dia note=constant-speed propellers

|max speed mph=280

|max speed note=at {{cvt|14000|ft}}

|cruise speed mph=227

|cruise speed note=60% power at {{cvt|10000|ft}}

::::Maximum cruise speed {{cvt|246|mph|kn km/h}} in high blower at {{cvt|20800|ft}}

|stall speed mph=

|stall speed note=

|never exceed speed mph=

|never exceed speed note=

|minimum control speed mph=

|minimum control speed note=

|range miles=3300

|range note= at 10% above max L/D speed

|combat range miles=

|combat range note=

|ferry range miles=4250

|ferry range note=with inner wing fuel cells

|endurance=

|ceiling ft=

|ceiling note=

|g limits=

|roll rate=

|climb rate ftmin=

|climb rate note=

|time to altitude=

|wing loading lb/sqft=50.1

|wing loading note=at maximum gross weight

|fuel consumption lb/mi=

|power/mass={{cvt|0.0787|hp/lb}} at maximum gross weight with take-off power

|more performance=

|avionics=

}}

{{aircontent

|related=

• Aviation Traders Carvair
• Canadair North Star
• Douglas DC-4E
• Douglas C-54 Skymaster
• Douglas DC-6
• Douglas DC-7

|similar aircraft=

• Boeing 307 Stratoliner
• Lockheed Constellation
• Lockheed L-049 Constellation

|lists=

• List of aircraft
• List of civil aircraft

}}

{{Notelist}}

{{Reflist|30em}}

• {{cite journal |last=Aro |first=Chuck |title=Talkback |journal=Air Enthusiast |number=18 |date=April–July 1982 |page=80 |issn=0143-5450}}
• {{cite book |last1=Berry |first1=Peter |display-authors=etal |title=The Douglas DC-4 |location=Tonbridge, Kent, UK |publisher=Air-Britain (Historians) Ltd |year=1967}}
• {{cite book |last=Blewett |first=R. |title=Survivors |location=Coulsden, UK |publisher=Aviation Classics |year=2007 |isbn=978-0-9530413-4-3}}
• {{cite book |last=Francillon |first=René |title=McDonnell Douglas Aircraft Since 1920 |volume=I |location=London |publisher=Putnam |year=1979 |isbn=0-87021-428-4}}
• {{cite journal |last1=Griffith |first1=Alan |title=Ploughshares into Swords: The Douglas DC-4/4E Bomber Projects |journal=The Aviation Historian |date=2019 |issue=28 |pages=20–31 |issn=2051-1930}}
• {{cite book |last=Pearcy |first=Arthur |title=Douglas Propliners: DC-1–DC-7 |location=Shrewsbury, UK |publisher=Airlife Publishing |year=1995 |isbn=1-85310-261-X}}
• {{cite book |last=Yenne |first=Bill |title=McDonnell Douglas: A Tale of Two Giants |location=Greenwich, Connecticut, US |publisher=Bison Books |year=1985 |isbn=0-517-44287-6}}

{{Commons}}

• [https://www.boeing.com/history/products/dc-4.page Boeing: Historical Snapshot: DC-4/C-54 Skymaster Transport]
• [http://www.saamuseum.co.za/skyclass-aviation-operate-our-dc-3-a-dc-4.html The last DC-4s flying passenger service] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170217014747/http://www.saamuseum.co.za/skyclass-aviation-operate-our-dc-3-a-dc-4.html |date=2017-02-17 }}
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20100705142057/http://www.vintagewings.ca/page?a=543&lang=en-CA Vintage Wings of Canada Canadair North Star showing RR Merlin installation]
• [https://www.google.com/search?q=douglas+cargo++planes+elisofon&q=source%3Alife&biw=1440&bih=688&sei=9TegT_yODM2o8QPhx7mWAQ&tbm=isch Life magazine photos by Eliot Elisofon of first production batch of DC-4s being completed (partly outdoors) as military C-54s (note absence of cargo door on these), and including early air-to-air photos of 42-10237 the first DC-4/C-54 to fly]
• [https://books.google.com/books?id=f9sDAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA210 Popular Mechanics Article about testing prototype DC-4. Incl photo of triple-tail prototype]

{{Douglas airliners}}

{{Douglas DC-4 family}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Douglas Dc-4}}

DC-04

Category:1940s United States airliners

Category:Low-wing aircraft

Category:Four-engined tractor aircraft

Category:Aircraft first flown in 1942

Category:Four-engined piston aircraft

Category:Aircraft with retractable tricycle landing gear