Douglas DC-6

what is it?

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.

🔎How to recognise it: 4 engines · low wing · retractable tricycle gear · 35.8 m wingspan

base stats

• seats 89passengers
• built 704made in total

Bars compare against all aircraft: 3,500 km/h, 20,000 km, 850 seats; size and number built on a log scale up to 640 t (An-225) and 45,000 built (Cessna 172).

fun facts

• 🎂First flew 80 years ago, in 1946.
• 🚗Wingspan of 35.8 m: about 8 cars parked nose to tail.

spec sheet

first flight

1946-02-15

introduced

1947

status

still flying

number built

704

role

airliner/transport aircraft

origin

🇺🇸 United States

makers

Douglas

engines

4×

passengers

89

length

32.2 m

wingspan

35.8 m

height

8.7 m

top speed

—

range

—

ceiling

7,600 m

wings

low wing

landing gear

retractable tricycle gear

Specs are for the version in the Wikipedia article's specification section. Blank means the sources don't say.