Although the DC-6 had the same wingspan as the DC-4, its engines helped it fly 90 mph faster than the DC-4, carry 3,000 pounds more payload and fly 850 miles farther. The DC-6 could maintain the cabin pressure of 5,000 feet while flying at 20,000 feet.

American Airlines and United Airlines ordered the commercial DC-6 in 1946, and Pan American Airways used the DC-6 to start tourist-class service across the North Atlantic. The 29th DC-6 was ordered by the Air Force, adapted as the presidential aircraft and designated the VC-118. It was delivered on July 1, 1947, and called The Independence after President Harry Truman's hometown, Independence, Mo.

The larger, all-cargo DC-6A first flew Sept. 29, 1949; the larger capacity DC-6B, which could seat up 102 people, first flew Feb. 10, 1951. After the Korean War broke out in 1951, the military ordered DC-6As modified as either C-118A "Liftmaster" personnel carriers, as the Navy's R6D transports or as MC-118As for aeromedical evacuation. Between 1947 and 1959, Douglas built a total of 704 DC-6s, 167 of them military versions. By 1998, the DC-6 was still flying with smaller airlines around the world.

Specifications

First flight:	Feb. 15, 1946
Model number:	DC-6
Span:	117 feet 6 inches
Length:	100 feet 7 inches
Height:	28 feet 5 inches
Power:	Four 2,400-horsepower Pratt & Whitney R2800CB engines
Weight:	107,000 pound
Operating altitude:	28,000 feet
Range:	2,990 miles
Speed:	308 mph
Accommodation:	3 crew, 52 to 102 passengers

Information courtesy http://www.boeing.com

Variants

C-118A	Designation of DC-6As for the United States Air Force. 101 built.
C-118B	R6D-1s re-designated.
DC-6	Initial production variant.
DC-6A	Freighter, longer fuselage than the DC-6 and fitted with a cargo door.
DC-6B	Passenger only version of DC-6A without a cargo door.
DC-6C	Convertible cargo / passenger version.
R6D-1	United States Navy designation for the DC-6A. 65 built.
R6D-1Z	Four R6D-1s converted for staff transport.
VC-118	One DC-6 bought for presidential transport. Had special 25 seat interior and 12 bed cabin layout
VC-118A	C-118As converted for staff transport.
VC-118B	R6D-1Zs re-designated.
XC-112	United States military designation of an improved version of the C-54 (DC-4) became the prototype DC-6. Eventually designated YC-112A it was pressurised and had four P&W R-2800-83AM3 radial engines.