C54 Fleet up for grabs

[old iron]

DC-7 N836D would make a better candidate for the Smithsonian, with all the work that was put into it...

I will continue to argue that a DC-4 would go better than a DC-7. For on thing, I think the Smithsonian already has a DC-7 cockpit. Also, there were only some ~350 Dc-7 built but far more DC-4s, plus DC-4 saw significant use in the Berlin Airlift. (Perhaps one of the DC-4s in question goes bqack that far?)

[Chris Brame]

(Did Carlos and the guys that renovated her store the original interior??).

Wikipedia quotes Randy Dufault in a 2010 EAA article (although the link no longer works, just goes to the main site):

Seats had to be replaced, but the original seats are preserved in storage for the day the aircraft is again grounded. Likewise, the original design had hat shelves that are now preserved in storage.

[Mick G]

DC-7 N836D would make a better candidate for the Smithsonian, with all the work that was put into it...

I will continue to argue that a DC-4 would go better than a DC-7. For on thing, I think the Smithsonian already has a DC-7 cockpit. Also, there were only some ~350 Dc-7 built but far more DC-4s, plus DC-4 saw significant use in the Berlin Airlift. (Perhaps one of the DC-4s in question goes bqack that far?)

I completely agree with "old iron".....the DC4 is by far and wide a more significant aircraft than the DC7. It was not only the 7's predessesser, but saw wartime use and helped pave the way for commercial aviation as we know it. Enough said !!

[Warbird Kid]

Link: https://www.trade-a-plane.com/search?category_level1=Multi+Engine+Piston&make=DOUGLAS&model=DC-4&listing_id=2287161&s-type=aircraft

[Mark Sampson]

The author Guy Murchie was a C-54 navigator with the Air Transport Command during WWII. He described his job in the first chapter of his book "Song of the Sky"... worth looking up on abebooks.com or similar. Some real history up for sale here.. 75 years of service is a long time for anything mechanical, let alone a four-engine airliner. Hope some of them, at least, are saved!

[Kudzu]

She was essentially abandoned in place at the Carolinas Aviation Museum. A nice, unexpected "gift" for which the museum has repaid by doing absolutely ZERO cosmetic upkeep. Just washing the plane would do wonders...oh, there are no volunteers to do the job!

There WERE volunteers, but the new paid "professional" staff ( who only care about STEM=bigger paycheck ) ran them all off due to "liability" concerns ( except those that want to be docents ). Yet they continue to hire consultants to study the problem of everything going to hell due to lack of upkeep. Rant over, for now.

Hope someone keeps the Buffalo DC4/C54's flying !

[Bearcat SA]

Hello,

another DC-4 (ZS-AUA) that is currently being returned to flight plus

Is this the one bought by a Dutch Association with the plan to operated her from Netherlands ?

Regards

It is currently being restored to be exported to Europe
This how it looked in June this year

[Bearcat SA]

Here are the two airworthy ones at Rand Airport South Africa. Both are still used on passenger charters
ZS-BMH ... the last DC-4 built


And ZS-AUB

[Mick G]

So what does that leave for active aircraft? 2 in South Africa, 1 (or 2?) in Palmer Alaska any others left in the world still in service and flown commercially??

[Mick G]

Anybody know if they sold? Ad is no longer listed.