Douglas DC-6
| DC-6 | |
|---|---|
| A Douglas DC-6B of Western Airlines, Oct 1956 | |
| General information | |
| Type | Airliner/transport aircraft |
| Manufacturer | Douglas Aircraft Company |
| Status | In limited service |
| Primary users | Pan American World Airways |
| Number built | 704 |
| History | |
| Manufactured | 1946–1958 |
| Introduction date | March 1947 with American Airlines and United Airlines |
| First flight | 15 February 1946 |
| Developed from | Douglas DC-4 |
| Developed into | Douglas DC-7 |
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.