Douglas DC-6
Douglas Aircraft Company · United States · first flew 1946 · airliner
The Douglas DC-6 was the dependable, single-tailed American piston airliner that out-economised the Constellation and became a long-lived workhorse in passenger and cargo service worldwide.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Low-mounted, tapered |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 4 × piston, wing-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | Straight, level cylindrical fuselage with a rounded nose |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Four wing-mounted radial pistons with circular cowlings
- Conventional single-fin tail, unlike the triple-tailed Connie
- Straight, level cylindrical fuselage with a rounded nose
The DC-6 is the conventional four-piston-engined American airliner most easily confused with the Constellation; the decisive difference is the DC-6's single fin versus the Connie's three, and its straight, level fuselage versus the Constellation's curved dolphin shape.
Specifications
- The Douglas DC-6 has a length of 32.18 m (106 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 35.81 m (117 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 507 km/h (315 mph).
- Typical crew: 3-4.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Developed from the DC-4 as a pressurised, more powerful competitor to the Constellation, the DC-6 first flew in 1946 and became one of the most reliable and economical piston airliners ever built. A total of 704 were produced between 1946 and 1958, including military C-118 transports, and many remained in cargo service for decades.
Variants
The baseline DC-6 was followed by the stretched DC-6A freighter, the all-passenger DC-6B widely regarded as the definitive piston airliner, and the convertible DC-6C with removable seats and cargo doors.
Where you'll see it
The DC-6 was not a front-line BOAC or BEA type, as Britain favoured its own Argonaut and later jet fleets, but it did serve British independents, notably British Eagle, and later the UK-based Air Atlantique. Preserved UK examples include British Eagle-liveried G-APSA under restoration at the South Wales Aviation Museum at St Athan.
Related aircraft
AircraftIQ — the aircraft field guide: 4,893 recognition guides, live overhead identification, works offline.