Air France Douglas DC-4, 1940s (1:200)

WWII in Europe had only ended a few months earlier when Overseas Airlines introduced the first commercial North Atlantic DC-4 service. Another first took place on March 7, 1946 when American Airlines introduced U.S. DC-4 domestic service between New York and Los Angeles. During the late 1940s and early 1950s the DC-4 and converted C-54s carried more passengers than any other four-engine transport. Amazingly many of these aircraft are still operating more than 60 years after they were first manufactured.

Air France DC-4 F-BELP was built as a Douglas C-54A-15-DC Skymaster 42-72268 (c/n 10373) for the USAAF. After WWII aircraft went to the Netherland East Indies AF in 1946 as NI-542. In November 1946 it was transferred to KNILM (Koninklijke Nederlandsch-Indische Luchtvaart Maatschappij - Royal Netherlands Indian Airways) as PK-DSC. On August 30, 1947 it went to KLM as PH-TSC and then to Air France on October 26, 1949 as F-BELP. In March 1966 it was purchased as EC-WDK but re-registered as EC-BER. The DC-4 was withdrawn from service and in January 1975 it was purchased by Club D-3 and registered as EC-BDK. Club D-3 converted it into '_'_'_'_'_'__Discoteque Puerto Christo'_'_'_'_'_'__, Majorca, Spain. In 1983 it was destroyed by fire

Specifications for the Douglas Aircraft Company DC-4

Crew '_'_'_'_'_'__ 4

Passengers '_'_'_'_'_'__ up to 86

Dimensions
Length '_'_'_'_'_'__ 93 ft 10 in (28.6 m)
Wingspan '_'_'_'_'_'__ 117 ft 6 in (35.8 m)
Height '_'_'_'_'_'__ 27 ft 6 in (8.38 m)

Weight
Empty '_'_'_'_'_'__ 43,300 lb (19,640 kg)
Normal Load Weight '_'_'_'_'_'__ 63,500 lb (28,800 kg)
Maximum Take-Off '_'_'_'_'_'__ 73,000 lb (33,100 kg)

Performance
Engines '_'_'_'_'_'__ (4) Pratt & Whitney R-2000 radial / 1,450 hp each
Maximum Speed '_'_'_'_'_'__ 280 mph (450 km/h)
Cruise Speed '_'_'_'_'_'__ 227 mph (365 km/h)
Range '_'_'_'_'_'__ 4,250 miles (6,839 km)
Service Ceiling '_'_'_'_'_'__ 22,300 ft (6,800 m)