DC-4
Douglas · United States · first flew 1942 · airliner
The Douglas DC-4 was a four-engined piston airliner that became the backbone of long-haul travel and military transport in the 1940s.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Low-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 4 × piston, wing-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | Long unpressurised cylindrical fuselage with a single tailfin |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Low straight wing carrying four radial piston engines
- Long unpressurised cylindrical fuselage with a single tailfin
- Tricycle undercarriage, advanced for an early-1940s airliner
A low straight wing with four radial pistons, a plain single fin and a tricycle stance distinguish it from the rounder, pressurised DC-6.
Specifications
- The DC-4 has a length of 28.6 m (94 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 35.8 m (117 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 450 km/h (280 mph).
- Typical crew: 4.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
First flown in 1942, it entered mass production as the wartime C-54 Skymaster, flying transatlantic and transpacific routes before returning to civil airline service. It pioneered reliable four-engine point-to-point operations.
Variants
The military C-54 Skymaster spawned numerous sub-types, and the design was later stretched and pressurised into the DC-6 and DC-7 family.
Where you'll see it
DC-4s and C-54s flew the Berlin Airlift and worldwide airline networks; several remain airworthy with preservation groups and in survey and firefighting roles.
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