Douglas DC-6

DC-6
A Douglas DC-6B of Western Airlines, Oct 1956
General information
TypeAirliner/transport aircraft
ManufacturerDouglas Aircraft Company
StatusIn limited service
Primary usersPan American World Airways
Number built704
History
Manufactured1946–1958
Introduction dateMarch 1947 with American Airlines and United Airlines
First flight15 February 1946
Developed fromDouglas DC-4
Developed intoDouglas DC-7

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.

The DC-6 was known as the C-118 Liftmaster in United States Air Force service and as the R6D in United States Navy service before 1962, after which all U.S. Navy variants were also designated as the C-118.