C-54, DC-4, DC-6

[michaelharadon]

Does anyone know how many of them still fly, at airshows or hauling freight or whatever, and how many are under restoration to either flying or static condition? TIA.

[airtj]

check this website out for prop news.

http://www.proplinerinfoexchange.com/

[Mike]

One DC-4 (Castle) occasionally (if infrequently) flying, less than 10 DC-6s I’d guess, (Red Bull, one in Hawaii and the rest with Everts in Alaska)

Another DC-4 due to be ferried from the US to Canada for storage with Buffalo before Covid intervened, plus the one at New Smyrna Beach being made airworthy for the BAHF.

The Alaska Air Fuel DC-4 was wrecked when it ran off the end of a grass strip a couple of days ago, sadly.

[wendovertom]

Wendover Airfield Museum just acquired a C-54 that is a potential flyer. As in, it was flown in many years ago, plane brought to "ferry" status about 5 years ago and then it has sat until the museum was able to buy it recently.

The museum is going to cosmetically restore it to look like a C-54 belonging to the 320th Troop Carrier Squadron of he 509th Composite Group.

Tom P.

[michaelharadon]

My thanks for the responses. Much appreciated!

[bdk]

This one is!

https://www.asias.faa.gov/apex/f?p=100: ... LL+DOUGLAS

[BigGrey]

This one is!

https://www.asias.faa.gov/apex/f?p=100: ... LL+DOUGLAS

Not any longer as it suffered pretty good damage when the the nose gear was ripped out with heavy damage to the nose. This site has a good picture of the airplane on it's nose and if you click on the picture to enlarge it you can see the damage to at least 3 props if not all 4. The FAA had put out a notice for aircraft heavier than 5000 lbs to not use that runway due to damage. Apparently no fuel leaked in this accident.

http://www.kathrynsreport.com/2020/10/d ... ident.html

[Tulio]

check this website out for prop news.

http://www.proplinerinfoexchange.com/

Thank you so very much for that link!!!

I have spent a few hours for a couple of days, reading the info there. The Latin American stuff interests me a lot.

Saludos,


Tulio

[EDMJ]

What about the two DC-4's in South Africa?

I flew in ZS-BMH when it was in Germany in 1998; glad I did while I had the opportunity.

[Invader26]

HARS in Australia has a flyable C-54 [DC-4] just out of repaint looking beautiful...

The HARS aircraft was built by Douglas Aircraft Company Inc. at Santa Monica and delivered to the U.S.A.A.F. (US Army Air force) on 14/5/1945 seeing war service as 44-9126 and used for troop and cargo transport till 1971, when she was retired and stored at Davis Montham Airbase in Arizona. She was sold in 1975 and she had many subsequent owners, including being impounded twice – once in the USA for non-payment of fees and once in the Bahamas for alleged smuggling. Ultimately she was brought to Australia in 1995 for Pacific island freight operations, eventually being stored at Archerfield until being donated to HARS in 2008. She was flown to Albion Park in December 2009.

She is being restored to full airworthiness by HARS members into a passenger configuration. At this stage (2014) she will be the only flying DC-4 in Australia.

For a history of VH-EAY and a collection of great images go here.

[LysanderUK]

I don't think the South African DC-4's have flown for a while, I think they are both parked up at Rand. There is a S. African registered DC-3 still active, but it's been flying in other parts of the world in recent years. I think the only classic airliner active in S Africa at the moment is a deHaviiland Dominie/Dragon Rapide.

[bdk]

Not any longer as it suffered pretty good damage when the the nose gear was ripped out with heavy damage to the nose. This site has a good picture of the airplane on it's nose and if you click on the picture to enlarge it you can see the damage to at least 3 props if not all 4. The FAA had put out a notice for aircraft heavier than 5000 lbs to not use that runway due to damage. Apparently no fuel leaked in this accident.

Thanks for the update. Hopefully they will consider splicing on a new nose, but like many planes, a belly landing can doom them based upon the engine repair cost alone.

[Mike]

The last airworthy DC-7 was flown back to its base at Madras yesterday after coming off contract for the fire season. Perhaps we’ve seen the final flight of the DC-7.

[Airlift48]

We were airworthy with N500EJ (44-9144) until this past April when ourplane was damaged by a tornado in Walterboro, SC.
Our most recent event was on December 17th at KItty Hawk.

We are now finishing up a #3 service inspection on our replacement C-54 N9015Q (43-17228), (Soon to be reregistered as N500EJ). Flight should happen in November, then its off to the paint shop to receive our imitation 48th Troop Carrier "Spirit of Freedom" paint scheme. We should be ready to be back on the display circuit in the spring.

[Mick G]

Does anybody here know what Alaska Air Fuel is going to be doing to stay operational?

I'm curious if 3054V will be put back in service? As I recall it sustained some minor damage several yeas ago as well. If not, perhaps the other one they picked up at auction earlier this year N51802? Hope they have options.........I can't imagine they have 4 serviceable engines ready to go?