Douglas C-74 Globemaster
Douglas · United States · first flew 1945 · transport aircraft
The Douglas C-74 Globemaster was an enormous four-engine strategic transport and the immediate predecessor to the C-124, featuring the unique twin individual bubble cockpit canopies for pilot and co-pilot — one of the most distinctive cockpit arrangements in aviation history.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Low-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 4 × piston, wing-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 37.08 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Four-engine postwar heavy strategic transport
- Distinctive twin-bubble cockpit canopy (no conventional windscreen)
- Pratt & Whitney R-4360 Wasp Major radial engines
Unmistakable for its twin individual bubble canopies atop a broad fuselage (later replaced by a conventional cockpit in some aircraft), four Wasp Major engines with large paddle-blade propellers, and enormous wing area — among the largest aircraft of the piston era.
Specifications
- The Douglas C-74 Globemaster has a length of 37.08 m (122 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 53.05 m (174 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 483 km/h (300 mph).
- Typical crew: 12, up to 125 troops.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
First flown in September 1945, only 14 C-74s were built as the war ended and orders were dramatically cut. Despite the small number, the C-74 demonstrated the potential of very large strategic air transport and directly influenced the development of the C-124 Globemaster II. One C-74 set a record carrying 103 passengers across the Atlantic in 1949.
Variants
Only one production variant existed, the C-74; all 14 aircraft were essentially identical. One was later used as a test vehicle.
Where you'll see it
Operated by USAF Military Air Transport Service (MATS) from 1946; retired in the early 1950s as the C-124 entered service.
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