American Airlines DC-6B "Flagship Roanoke," 1950s ~N90744 (1:200)

The Douglas DC-6B first flew on February 10, 1951 with its first scheduled passenger flight on April 11, 1951 with United Airlines. The DC-6 might have had the same wingspan as the DC-4 but that is all. The DC-6 fuselage was longer and stronger and pressurized. The more powerful engines used a 3-bladed propeller capable of reversing pitch for braking. The DC-6B was the most successful of all the DC series of aircraft with the last of the 288 produced being delivered on November 17, 1958.

American Airlines placed an order for 50 new Douglas DC-6's. The first aircraft was delivered on November 24, 1947 as N90774 c/n 43049/103 with the name "Flagship Nevada'. A few years later the aircraft was renamed "Flagship Roanoke" with the old name going to a DC-7. N90744 served with American until November 1966 when it was taken out of the fleet. In 1969 the aircraft was sold and then again in 1970 to Ecuatoriana as HC-ASC. In 1971 it was converted to a freighter and re-registered as HC-AVF. The aircraft was scrapped in 1975.

Douglas DC-6B specifications

Type - Long-Range passenger transport

Manufacturer - Douglas Aircraft Co

Crew - 5

Production - 288

Powerplant
4 X 2400-hp Pratt & Whitney R-2800CBI6 Double Wasp
or
4 X 2500hp R-280
-CB 17 Double Wasp 18-cylinder two-row radial engines

Performance
Cruising speed - 315 mph (507 km/h) @ 20,600 ft (6,279 m)
Range with maximum payload - 3,005 miles (4,835 km)
Payload - 24,565Ib (11,143 kg) with seating for up to 102 passengers

Dimensions
Wing Span - 117ft 6 in (35.81 m)
Length - 105ft 7in (32.18m)
Height - 28 ft 8 in (8.74 m)
Wing area - 1,463 sq ft (135.91 m2)

Weight
Maximum - 107,000 lb (48,535 kg)
Empty - 58,6351b (26,595 kg)