The Douglas DC-6 was designed to be a lengthened, pressurised version of the DC-4. First flying on 15 February 1946, regular service began with American Airlines and United Airlines in March 1947.
Seating between 42 and 89 passengers, this popular aircraft carried passengers throughout the world during its heyday in the 1950s. Produced until 1958, Douglas sold 704 examples meaning it was very successful.
Douglas DC-6 Video
Following on from last weeks video about the Vickers Viscount, this week we go Stateside and look at the Douglas DC-6. This promotional film by United Airlines comes from 1950 and runs just over half an hour.
Much is made of the maintenance of the aircraft for the first 11 minutes. An interesting fact is that after eight years of maintenance, every part will have been replaced except for the skin. This is something that is true even today.
One interesting portion notes the aircraft will fly at over 300 miles per hour, and it can continue to climb with one engine out or maintain height with two engines out. Probably a good point, since mechanical failures were much more common in this era.
From 11 minutes, the film goes into a flight on the Douglas DC-6 – “The Hollywood” – from Los Angeles to New York with a stop in Chicago. There are excellent on board and air to air shots as well as a close look at airline operations in 1950.
Overall Thoughts
Flying on a Douglas DC-6 in the 1950s is not too different to today. The film explains how pilots navigate the aircraft and why they choose certain routes. All of it seems to be designed to make people feel comfortable flying.
Seeing the technology of the era shows just how much things have changed in the meantime. It’s all quite good – they certainly don’t make films like this anymore!
Have you ever flown on board a DC-6? What was it like? Thank you for reading and if you have any comments or questions, please leave them below.
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Wonderful to hear from you, Elaine! Fantastic that you got to fly during that era. I imagine it would have been very glamourous and from what I hear, quite decently paid. Sounds like you have fond memories of that time. Thanks so much for the comment, I love hearing from ex-crew!
I also Had a chance to fly DC 6 On Air France, long time ago in 1959. Flight was from New Delhi, India to Paris. Wish my memory would do me justice, I seems to remember it made 4 stops on way to Paris.
I want to recreate that trip in my mind. I have also tried to reach Air France but they were not able to help. Wondering if someone with better memory can fill in the gaps, as to what stop it would have taken.
I look forward to an enlightened reply,
Thanks
It may well have been four stops from Paris to New Delhi, as those piston engine aircraft needed to stop off for fuel quite a bit more than the jets of today. I found a 1959 timetable and it seems it was Karachi, Cairo, Athens, Paris on the DC-6B. The flights from New Delhi are New Delhi, Teheran, Istanbul, Frankfurt, Paris on the Lockheed Super G Constellation. That is from the August-September 1959 timetable, which is available here -https://www.timetableimages.com/ttimages/af.htm … Sorry for not getting back to you in so long, I just saw your message hadn’t been replied to, so I must have somehow missed it originally.
I flew on the DC 6 (B) in 1965 from CYEG (Edmonton) to EGPK / PIK (Prestwick), with a stopover to refuel in Sondrestrom Greenland on the best airline ever WARDAIR Canada. Was about 16 hours all in, was a good aircraft, descending for landing in “stages”.
I know of Wardair, another blast from the past that I’ll never get to experience. Sounds like a long enough journey. I’d say most people these days would have never stopped in Greenland, so even that would be unique enough today. A bit like stopping in Goose Bay or Gander, not as common as it once was. Sounds like an awesome trip! Thanks for the comment!
Flew Delta DC-6’s in the 1960’s from ATL to CHS via CAE, AGS and SAV. Also flew many Mackey 1 DC-6 and 6B’s from MIA and PBI to the Bahamas also during the 60’s. DL planes has about 65 seats in a two class seating arrangement. All Mackey 6’s had (80) seats and had a lounge in the rear of the aircraft. The aircraft were fast and smooth compared to other piston engine aircraft of the day. The DC-6B had the best economics and cheapest per seat mile costs of any four engine aircraft of that era!.
That’s a milk run route if I ever saw one. I like that area of the world, I spent a few days in Savannah a couple of years ago. Lovely city! Nice information there – I remember hearing about Mackey before, but not for a long time. It must have been very cost effective considering how many were sold. Thanks for the info! Always like reading things like this.
Flew in a Vlcount in Windsor in 1966.
It was great.The engine noise was exciting.
Fantastic! Sounds like a memorable flight! Thanks for the comment!