|
| Built as an enlarged and pressurised DC-4 in order to compete with the Lockheed Constellation, the DC-6 (as the XC-112A) first flew on 15 February 1946. It had a 2.06m longer fuselage than the DC-4, accommodation for 48-52 passengers and was powered by four 1,565kW Pratt & Whitney Double Wasp CA15 engines. American Airlines and United Air Lines introduced the DC-6 on 27 April 1946. A total of 175 DC-6 were built. The windowless DC-6A freighter followed in 1949, powered by 1,788.5kW Double Wasps, with reinforced floor and double cargo doors - 74 were built.
The DC-6A was 1.52m longer than the DC-6 (101 going to the USAF as C-118A transports). The DC-6B, with accommodation for 54-102 passengers, first flew on 2 February 1951 and also had the longer fuselage. American Airlines introduced DC-6B on its US transcontinental services on 29 April 1951. It was one of the finest and most economical piston-engined transports. It remained in production until 1958 and 288 were built. Many of the DC-6 series were later converted to freighters.
| CREW | 3-5 |
| PASSENGERS | 64-92 |
| ENGINE | 4 x P+W R-2800-CB17, 1840kW |
| WEIGHTS |
| Take-off weight | 48125 kg | 106098 lb |
| Empty weight | 24583 kg | 54197 lb |
| DIMENSIONS |
| Wingspan | 35.8 m | 117 ft 5 in |
| Length | 32.2 m | 106 ft 8 in |
| Height | 8.7 m | 29 ft 7 in |
| PERFORMANCE |
| Max. speed | 575 km/h | 357 mph |
| Cruise speed | 495 km/h | 308 mph |
| Range w/max.fuel | 7856 km | 4882 miles |
| Jack Pickard, e-mail, 21.01.2011 07:26 Just looked at comment by H. Alan Davis. I was @Hickam AFB
from 1962 to 64 as a crew chief on C-118s tgat you flew. We had a fine group of flight crews and I always were treated good. The one colonel I remember was Colonel Nordike. He was tough but fair. I still love my time at HAFB. I never had an abort or lost engine.the R-2800 was a good engine reply | | Michael Baker, e-mail, 12.01.2011 00:02 A loadmaster in the c-118 out of Barbers Point from 67 to 68. The pineapple express was a good time. Remember those wes pac adventures starting inQuam and then to Japan and on to Nam,Phillipins,Thailand. What great crew rests we used to have. Have the same problem looking for people to document our time for Disability. HELP reply | | CDR Jim Glendenning, e-mail, 02.01.2011 21:01 Flew the C-118 in the Navy Reserves at Los Alamitos (1968-71) Then at NAS Whidbey (1972-75). I was always single engine (A-1, TV-2, T-28) while on active duty. Learning the ropes of transport flying was a great experience. Two years to become TPC then trips to West Pac, the Aleutians, Europe, and many CONUS flights. The knowledge gained helped in my civilian job, flying for UAL.
We had a rash of engine failures in the 70s because the Navy had farmed out overhaul of the R-2800s to an outfit in Hondo, Texas. We were getting about 600 hours out iof them before failure. I became very good at engine failure procedures. Experienced three engine failures in a week at one point.
I was CO of VR 51 Det Whidbey (Scoochamendi Airlines)in 1975 when I retired from the Navy. reply | | Jerry Lewis, e-mail, 14.12.2010 19:51 Jim Scherman, jscherman=cableone.net, 24.08.2009
I was in VR-21...I was a Aviation Electronic Tech. 1969-71
We might have flown together. I was a Radioman /Natops at the time. Joined VR-21 as an AT2 and left as an AT1 reply | |
| | Jack Pickard, e-mail, 10.12.2010 09:50 I was a crew chief on c-118s at Hickam AFB in the 1502oms. Loved the aircraft cause she never let me down. We were set up to fly dependence and military. Our air craft had full gallies with 2 bathrooms. Still love this aircraft. I was at Hickam 1962 to 1964 reply | | Steve Cotton, e-mail, 08.12.2010 21:07 I was stationed at NAS Los Alamitos from 1968 thru 1969 with Aircrew training division. Was C-118 loadmaster and Flight communications operator until transferred to the C-188 simulator school at NAS Glenview in 1970 under Commander Henry Putek and TDCS Ben Lauretta. Went thru flight engineer training and spent hundreds of hours flying the C-118 simulator which was an excellent trainer. While at NAS Disneyland, as we referred to NAS Los Alamitos, I logged hundreds of $118 aircrew time including some WESTPACS supporting VR-21 out of Barbers Point. The DC-6B was a fantastic aircraft, very forgiving and we did things with that airplane that I still can't believe. One trip from Barbers Point to Los Alamitos we developed an oil leak on number 2 that completely coated the wing and that R2800 didn't miss a beat. They basically trashed the engine after we landed. So many more stories about that airplane and our crews, I'll never forget it. Check out some of the youtube clips of the Red Bull DC-6 in flight. Graet memories. Any other Los Alamitos or Glenview guys out there from late 60's early 70's?? reply | | conkle, hj, e-mail, 27.11.2010 21:18 With VR21 Nov 61 to Apr 64. In workload sched with CMDR Fogg as Maint Officer. Flew as orderly /loader and loved the C-118. I remember we put a late model 58' Ford on one and flew it to Guam for officers. The Ford got trashed by a typhon, but we never lost a C-118. reply | | Barbara McFarland/ Wathen, e-mail, 13.11.2010 19:11 I was a Flight Traffic Spec. (Stewardess) at McGuire for
the 30th ATS. Got there in summer of 1959 and left in late summer of 1960. My first flight was to Mildenhall (sp?) England. On our return, we circled out over the Atlantic
and dumped our fuel as they had put jet fuel in the C-118.
Was a first flight experience not to be forgotten. Love seeing other folks here and their comments on being at McGuire AFB. We Waf personell have a difficult time staying in touch as all of us undoubtedly married and lost contact. reply |
| Joe Lewand, e-mail, 06.11.2010 07:10 I was stationed at Andrews AFB 75-78 as Avn Ops Chief and doubled as a steward for CMC on the VC-118. It was a great VIP acft and very durable. Ours had are own full galley and crew compartment and VIP qtrs for General's. We also had Covair 440 equipped the same way. Both were a lot of fun. reply | | Dave Stockbridge, e-mail, 25.10.2010 07:22 Flew the C-118 in the 29th ATS at McGuire AFB 1958-1964,then Hickam AFB in the 48th ATS, then PACAF SAM sqdn on CINCUSARPAC SAM TRIPLE THREE O FIVE. Finished career at McClellan AFB 1969 with over 9000 hours in this great aircraft. Loved every minute, no problems. Had some happy hours with H Alan Davis. Would like to touch base, Hugh. reply |
| Don Jaynes, e-mail, 21.10.2010 06:07 i was station at mcguire afb from 1957-1960 and i was a aircraft electrican and i worked on the c-118 and have a lot of good memories from those days.a bunch of us from mcguire have a reuion every year at mrytle beach,sc in april and talk about the good times we had there !! reply | | Stanley Spiro, e-mail, 14.09.2010 04:25 I flew as radioman /aviation electronics technician for VR-832, a C-118 reserve squadron stationed at Floyd Bennett field in Brooklyn, NY. In 1965 and 1966 our two weeks of active duty involved transporting cargo and personnel into Vietnam. The military has unfortunately lost all records of crew members on those flights which makes it nearly impossible to file disability claims based on past Vietnam service. Has anyone else encountered this problem? reply | | Wayne G. Lawson, e-mail, 09.09.2010 20:58 I started working on C-118's in October 1973 at VR-54 Atlanta, and started flying in 1975, I believe, as a Flight Attendant. Later I qualified as a Flight Engineer and was an instructor at the C-118 Flight Simulator School at NAS Glenview, Il from mid 1979 to late 1981 when I was transferred back to VR-46 Atlanta where I flew until they were replaced by the DC-9's. I sure wish I had some in-flight video of these things--sure miss them. A magic carpet. reply | | Harry Mitchell, e-mail, 02.07.2010 01:55 Did they ever fix the corrosion problem on the main spar caps? reply | |
| | Harry Wismer, e-mail, 15.07.2010 22:53 Flew engineer from 61-76 retired out of VR-52,Nas Willow Grove.Great aircraft,a real workhorse,plus it saved my life many times. reply | | Paul Boellner, e-mail, 18.05.2010 17:12 I was a radio operator in VR-22 1958-1960. Many trips to Port Lyauty and Naples. Great trip to Christchurch New Zealand. Many good memories. VR-22 is having a reunion in Mertle Beach SC in October. reply | | Dennis Baxendale, e-mail, 05.05.2010 06:44 Canadian Pacific Airlines flew 4 DC6B's from Vancouver, British Columbia Canada
in the late 50's to Amsterdam, Buenos Aires /Argentina, Sydney /Australia,and Hong Kong /China. Long, long trips but great layovers as the old 6 didn't come back for a week to pick us up. I can't remember an engine failure during my time on the aircraft. Landing at Shemya and Cold Bay under G.C.A. approach plus going through the thunderstorms with no radar were the main challenges. God bless the old bird reply | | Doug Hendrickson, e-mail, 04.05.2010 21:51 I was a flight traffic spec. in VR-22 from 1959 thru 1962 logged in about 3800 hours in the
C-118s A lot of found memories. reply | | Larry Wittmayer, ISC,USN Ret., e-mail, 22.04.2010 21:25 I was a passenger on COMUSTDC R6D in 1977 that crashed on takeoff at Chung Shan AB Taiwan. Crew did fantastic getting us out of the aircraft. Nose gear strut collapsed. I took the only pictures of the aircraft after crash. Would be glad to hear from anyone who is aware of this. reply | | Shannon Fuhrmann, e-mail, 17.04.2010 22:54 I hope someone can answer this for me. I have a friend that is working on restoring a C-118 here at McGuire and was wondering what the armature on the underside of the engine cowling is? It looks like some type of exhaust outlet & I wasn't sure of its purpose.
Also does anyone know where my friend can get some type of technical data on this airframe? reply |
|
Do you have any comments?
|
| 
COMPANY
PROFILE
All the World's Rotorcraft
|
Dave Stockbridge
I was in the 30th from May 1955 to Feb 1960 as a FTS. Did we meet? So sorry if I have and cannot remember. Please refresh and maybe we can chat. I have lost all my records when our home burned down and I have been wishing I could find someone who may still have connections. Did you know Betty Jo Adams, Pat Weaver, Eve Thorne, Johanna VanNew Hause? I would be so happy to hear from you!
reply