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| C-54 Skymaster | |
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| Role | Military transport aircraft |
| Manufacturer | Douglas Aircraft Company |
| Introduced | 1942 |
| Retired | 1975 |
| Primary users | United States Army Air Forces United States Navy United States Air Force |
| Number built | 1,170 |
| Developed from | Douglas DC-4 |
The Douglas C-54 Skymaster was a four-engined transport aircraft used by the United States Army Air Forces in World War II.
Contents |
Design and development
Like the C-47 Skytrain, the C-54 Skymaster was derived from a civilian airliner (the Douglas DC-4).
Operational history
C-54s began service with the US Army Air Forces in 1942, carrying up to 26 passengers. (Later versions carried up to 50 passengers.) The U.S. Navy also acquired the type, under the designation R5D. The C-54 was one of the most commonly used long-range transports by the U.S. armed forces in World War II. 515 C-54s were manufactured in Santa Monica, CA and 655 were manufactured in Chicago, Illinois.
After World War II, the C-54 continued to serve as the primary airlifter of the new United States Air Force and with the United States Navy.
On 23 July 1954, a Douglas C-54 Skymaster civilian airliner, registration VR-HEU, operated by Cathay Pacific Airways, en route from Bangkok to Hong Kong, was shot down by Chinese Communist La-7 fighters off the coast of Hainan Island, killing 10.1234
The USAF Strategic Air Command had C-54 Skymasters in service from 1946 through 1975.
President Harry S. Truman signed the National Security Act of 1947, which created the U.S. Air Force, on board "Sacred Cow", the Presidential C-54 which is preserved at the National Museum of the United States Air Force. More than 300 C-54s and R5Ds formed the backbone of the US contribution to the Berlin Airlift in 1948. They also served as the main airlift during the Korean War. After the Korean War, the C-54 was replaced by the Douglas C-124 Globemaster II, but continued to be used by the U.S. Air Force until 1972.
The C-54 was the personal aircraft of Franklin D. Roosevelt, Douglas MacArthur, and Winston Churchill (along with an Avro York). The C-54 was also used by the Royal Air Force, South African Air Force, Royal Canadian Air Force, the Armée de l'Air, and the armed forces of at least twelve other nations.
Variants
- C-54
- First production variant adapted from DC-4, 24 built.
- C-54A
- First military version with strengthened airframe, increased fuel capacity, provision for passengers or cargo, Navy equivalent R5D-1, 252 built.
- MC-54A
- Optional designation for C-54As used for medical evacuation.
- C-54B
- Increased fuel capacity in the wing, One was used by Winston Churchill, 220 built.
- VC-54C
- One C-54A converted as Presidential transport version used by Franklin D. Roosevelt and later Harry Truman.
- C-54D
- Same as C-54B but with R-2000-11 engines, 380 built.
- AC-54D
- Small number of aircraft modified with special electronic calibration and communications equipment. The aircraft were redesignated EC-54D.
- EC-54D
- Redesignation of the AC-54D.
- HC-54D Rescuemaster
- Redesignation of the SC-54D.
- JC-54D
- Nine C-54Ds temporary converted for missile tracking and nose-cone recovery.
- SC-54D
- 38 aircraft converted by Convair, as search and rescue aircraft. Later redesignated HC-54D.
- TC-54D
- C-54Ds converted into multi-engine training aircraft.
- VC-54D
- C-54Ds converted into VIP transport aircraft.
- WC-54D
- C-54Ds converted for weather reconnaissance.
- 'C-54E
- Further revision to fuel tanks and provision for rapid conversion from passenger to cargo, 125 built.
- AC-54E
- C-54Es converted for airways calibration, redesignated EC-54E in 1962.
- EC-54E
- AC-54E redesignated in 1962.
- HC-54E
- SC-54E redesignated in 1962.
- SC-54E
- C-54E converted for air-sea rescue, redesingated HC-54E in 1962.
- VC-54E
- C-54Es converted as a staff transport.
- XC-54F
- Proposed experimental paratroop version, not built.
- C-54G
- Same as C-54E but with different version of the R2000 engine.
- HC-54G
- SC-54G redesignated in 1962.
- JC-54G
- C-54Gs used for temporary testing.
- SC-54G
- C-54Gs converted for air-sea rescue, redesignated HC-54G in 1962.
- VC-54G
- C-54Gs converted into VIP/staff transport aircraft.
- C-54GM
- The designation of the DC-4 version made by Canadair.
- C-54H
- Paratroop transport. None built.
- C-54J
- Staff transport project, none built. Navy designation R5D-6.
- XC-54K
- Long range version, one aircraft built with Wright R-1820 engines.
- C-54L
- One C-54A aircraft tested in 1947 with an experimental fuel system.
- C-54M
- Specialized modification of C-54 to carry coal during the Berlin Airlift, 38 conversions.
- MC-54M
- Specialized modification of C-54E for medical evacuation, 30 conversions.
- VC-54N
- R5D-1Z redesignated in 1962.
- C-54P
- R5-D2 redesignated in 1962.
- VC-54P
- R5-D2Z redesignated in 1962.
- C-54Q
- R5D-3 redesignated in 1962.
- VC-54Q
- R5D-3Z redesignated in 1962.
- C-54R
- R5D-4R redesingated in 1962.
- C-54S
- R5D-5 redesingnated in 1962.
- VC-54S
- R5D-5Z redesignated in 1962.
- C-54T
- R5D-5R redesingated in 1962.
- EC-54U
- R5D-4 redesignated in 1962.
- RC-54V
- R5D-3P redesignated in 1962.
- R5D-1
- 56 C-54As transferred to the United States Navy.
- R5D-1C
- R5D-1s modified in US Navy service, with a fuel system based on the one used in the C-54B.
- R5D-1F
- Naval staff transport conversions of the R5D-1, redesignated R5D-1Z then VC-54N.
- R5D-1Z
- Interim designation of the R5D-1F.
- R5D-2
- 30 C-54Bs transferred to the United States Navy, redesignated C-54P in 1962.
- R5D-2F
- Naval staff transport conversion of the R5D-2, redesignated R5D-2Z then VC-54P in 1962.
- R5D-2Z
- Interim designation of the R5D-2F.
- R5D-3
- 95 C-54Ds transferred to the United States Navy, redesignated C-54Q in 1962.
- R5D-3P
- Photo survey conversions of the R5D-3, redesignated RC-54V in 1962.
- R5D-3Z
- Naval staff transport conversions of the R5D-3, redesignated VC-54Q in 1962.
- R5D-4
- 20 C-54Es transferred to the United States Navy, redesignated EC-54U in 1962.
- R5D-4R
- Passenger only conversion of the R5D-4, redesignated C-54R in 1962.
- R5D-5
- R5D-2 and R5D-3s re-engined to approximate C-54G standards, redesignated C-54S in 1962.
- R5D-5R
- Passenger only conversion of the R5D-5, redesignated C-54T in 1962, 86 conversion.
- R5D-5Z
- Staff transport conversion of the R5D-5, redesignated VC-54S in 1962.
- R5D-6
- Proposed USN version of the C-54J with passenger interior, not built.
- XC-112
- Pressurized variant of the C-54B with Pratt & Whitney R-2800 engines. None built.
- XC-112A
- As XC-112. One built. Developed into DC-6 / C-118 family.
- XC-114
- Stretched C-54E powered by Allison V-1710 engines. One built.
- XC-115
- XC-114 with Packard V-1650 engines. None Built.
- YC-116
- XC-114 with thermal de-icing rather than rubber boots for testing, one built.
- Skymaster I
- Royal Air Force designation for 22 C-54Ds.
Operators
Military operators
Argentina
Belgium
Brazil
Canada- Royal Canadian Air Force - (DC-4M)
Colombia
Cuba
Denmark
Ethiopia
France- Armee de l'Air
Honduras
Iceland- Icelandic Coast Guard
Israel- Israeli Air Force
Mexico
Niger
Peru
Portugal
Republic of China
Saudi Arabia
South Africa- South African Air Force
South Korea
Spain
Thailand
Turkey
United Kingdom- Royal Air Force
United States- US Army Air Corps, United States Army Air Forces, US Air Force, United States Navy, US Marine Corps, US Coast Guard
Zimbabwe
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Civilian operators
Australia- Trans Australia Airlines
- Belgium
- Sabena, Avions Fairey, Belgian International
- Canada
- Canadian Pacific, Curtiss Reid Flying Services Canada, Kenting Aviation, Maritime Central Airways, Pacific Western, Transair
- Colombia
- Avianca
Hong Kong- Cathay Pacific Airways
- Iceland
- Icelandair, Loftleidir
- Israel
- El Al
- Republic of China
- China Airlines
- United Kingdom
- Invicta, Starways,
- United States
- Pan American, Trans World Airlines, Aero Union
Specifications (C-54G)
General characteristics
- Crew: 4
- Capacity: 50 troops
- Length: 93 ft 10 in (28.6 m)
- Wingspan: 117 ft 6 in (35.8 m)
- Height: 27 ft 6 in (8.38 m)
- Wing area: 1,460 ft² (136 m²)
- Empty weight: 38,930 lb (17,660 kg)
- Loaded weight: 62,000 lb (28,000 kg)
- Max takeoff weight: 73,000 lb (33,000 kg)
- Powerplant: 4× Pratt & Whitney R-2000-9 radial engines, 1,450 hp (1,080 kW) each
Performance
- Maximum speed: 275 mph (239 knots, 442 km/h)
- Cruise speed: 190 mph (165 knots, 310 km/h)
- Range: 4,000 mi (6,400 km)
- Service ceiling 22,300 ft (6,800 m)
- Wing loading: 42.5 lb/ft² (207 kg/m²)
- Power/mass: 0.094 hp/lb (160 W/kg)
See also
Related development
Related lists
- List of military aircraft of the United States
- List of military aircraft of the United States (naval)
References
- ^ ASN Aircraft accident Douglas C-54A-10-DC VR-HEU Hainan Island - Aviation Safety Network
- ^ Accident details - VR-HEU - Plane Crash Info
- ^ VR-HEU Account by passenger: Valerie Parish - Major Commerical Airline Disasters
- ^ VR-HEU - The Life & Times of James Harper
- Francillon, René (1979). McDonnell Douglas Aircraft Since 1920: Volume I. London: Putnam. ISBN 0-87021-428-4.
- Yenne, Bill (1985). McDonnell Douglas: A Tale of Two Giants. Greenwich, Connecticut: Bison Books. ISBN 0-517-44287-6.
External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: C-54 Skymaster |
- Berlin Airlift Historical Foundation - Operates C-54 "Spirit of Freedom" as flying Berlin Airlift Museum
- Air Force Association page on C-54
- Air Force Museum page on the VC-54C
- Warbird Alley: C-54 page
- Cockpit View of C-54 During Landing/Taxi
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Wikipedia content modification information:
- This page was last modified on 3 January 2009, at 00:24.
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