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Aviation History
1961
1961 - 1710.PDF
816 FLIGHT, 23 November 1961 Commercial Aircraft of the World . . . TAI's three DC-8 Series 30s operate a round-the-world jet service in conjunction with Air France Boeing 707s DC-6B The DC-6B passenger airliner was the logical outcome of theDC-6A freighter. It had a fuselage lengthened by another 13in and dispensed with the various special freighting provisions of its predeces-sor. It will accommodate between 60 and 100 passengers depending on the layout. The first DC-6B flew on February 2, 1951, and the type wentinto service with Western Air Lines in April of the same year. Flown by American Airlines on the prestige "coast-to-coast" routes, the DC-6Bwas for a time the fastest equipment in use. However, it was not so much for its performance, which does not differ greatly from that ofthe DC-6, as for its excellent economics that the DC-6B was to gain a great reputation, remain longer in production and be built in greaternumbers than any other of the later developments of the DC-4. It is probable that lower seat-mile costs have, in fact, been achieved withDC-6Bs than with any other piston-engined equipment. A total of 287 DC-6Bs were produced and production was not completed until late in1958, when manufacture of the DC-8 jet transport was getting under way; 264 are still in service with 40 airlines. The DC-6B cost abou:£500,000 in 1958 and resale price today is about £2OO,OOO-£25O,OOO. Powerplant: As DC-6A.Dimensions: As DC-6A, except: length, 106ft 8in. Weights: As DC-6A, except: capacity payload, 19,2001b; weight lessfuel and payload, 64,0001b. ' • 29 •54 \\_ -29 Payload accommodation: As DC-6A.Fuel capacity: As DC-6A. Performance: Typical cruising speed, 274kt (315 m.p.h.) at 22,500ftand 88,2001b; corres consumption, 350 Imp gal/hr; balanced field length, max take-off weight, SL, ISA, 6,150ft; at 5,000ft, ISA, 5,420ft at90,0001b; landing distance from 50ft, 3,100ft; range A (max payload), 2,650 n.m. (3,050 st.m.); range B (max fuel), 4,100 n.m. (4,720 st.m.);corres payload, 14,0001b; corres cruise speed, 230kt (265 m.p.h.). DC-7 This further development of the DC-4 family owed its originsto the competitive pressures on the domestic routes within the United States and particularly to the struggle between the airline "giants,"American, United and TWA, on the transcontinental routes. In 1950 TWA ordered from Lockheed a stretched version of the Constellation,the L.1049C with the new powerful Wright Turbo-Compound engine. This aircraft was obviously going to outpace the DC-6B then in serviceand would, for the first time, offer non-stop coast-to-coast capability. American Airlines accordingly ordered from Douglas an equivalentdevelopment of the DC-6B using the same compound engine, and this became the DC-7. It entered service in 1953.Although fast, the DC-7 is perhaps an example of a transport aero- plane which has been developed beyond the point of diminishing returns.Although the type served its purpose admirably—indeed, 107 were built —its economic characteristics are inferior to those of the DC-6B. Thecost was about £570,000; price today is very much lower. About 95 are in service. Fliqht description: July 30, 1954.Powerplant•:" Four Wright R-3350-988 TC-18 DA-4 Turbo-Com- pounds of 3,250 b.h.p. driving four-bladed Hamilton Standard Hydro-matic 1 3ft 6in propellers. 89 56' ,140 © Iliffe Transport Publications Ltd 1961 DOUGLAS DC-8 140 "Flight" operators' reference drawing—see page 800 for key 747
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