Forgotten Aircraft: Douglas DC-4E

The Douglas DC-4E was an experimental airliner that was developed before World War II. The design originated in 1935 from a requirement by United Air Lines. The goal was to develop a much larger and more sophisticated replacement for the DC-3, before the first DC-3 had even flown. There was enough interest from other airlines, that American Airlines, Eastern Air Lines, Pan American Airways, and TWA joined United in providing $100,000 each toward the cost of developing the new aircraft.

With a planned capacity of 42 passengers, the DC-4 (as it was then known) would seat twice as many people as the DC-3. It would be the first large airplane with a nose wheel. Other innovations included auxiliary power units, power-boosted flight controls, alternating current electrical system, and air conditioning. Cabin pressurization was also planned for the production aircraft. The aircraft also featured a novel tail with three vertical stabilizers. This provided sufficient vertical stabilizer area to allow the aircraft to take-off with only two engines on one side operating while still allowing the plane to fit into existing hangars.

The prototype first flew on June 7, 1938 from Clover Field in Santa Monica, California. It was used by United Air Lines for in-service evaluation during 1939. Operating the aircraft was remarkably trouble-free. However, the complex systems proved to be expensive to maintain and the design was abandoned in favor of a less complex four-engined design. This newer design was designated DC-4, leading to the earlier design to be re-designated DC-4E (E for "experimental"). The DC-4E was sold to Japan, which was buying western aircraft for evaluation and technology transfer during this period. The design became the basis of the Nakajima G5N bomber.

General characteristics
Crew: three
Capacity: 52 passengers
Length: 97 ft 0 in (29.7 m)
Wingspan: 97 ft 0 in (29.7 m)
Height: 24 ft 6 1/2 in (7.4 m)
Wing area: 2,155 ft² (200.2 m²)
Empty weight: 42,564 lb (19,308 kg)
Loaded weight: 61,500 lb (27,896 kg)
Max takeoff weight: 66,500 lb (30,164 kg)
Powerplant: 4× Pratt & Whitney R-2180-S1A1-G Twin Hornet , 1,450 hp (1,081 kW) each
Performance
Maximum speed: 245 mph at 7,000 ft (394 km/h at 2,135 m)
Range: 2,200 miles (3,540 km)
Service ceiling: 22,900 ft (6,980 m)
Rate of climb: 1,175 ft/min (356 m/min)
Wing loading: 28.5 lb/ft² (139.3 kg/m²)
Power/mass: 0.09 hp/lb (0.16 kW/kg)

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• Douglas
• DC-4E
• DC-4
• Skymaster
• C-54
• airliner
• aircraft
• airplane
• aviation
• history

[peepeevagi]

We sold it to japan and they turned it into a bomber? Yeah, real appreciative >.>

[brendonnz1964]

True, in fact the vast majority of Germans at the time were not in any way Anti-American, they had something in common with the US in that there was huge anti-communist feelings in Germany. Also Germany wanted to steal Russian resources for their economic developement. They people paid a huge price for the politicians folly.

[miguelmouta]

@brendonnz1964 Politicians come from the people, not the opposite. The german people accepted and promoted the nazi ideals: race superiority, revenge against France, irrestricted economic expantion by means of war.All understood as its natural destiny. Are ou an idiot or a bad intentioned person ?

[supersabrejet]

The nose of a 767, the wings of a dc3, the tail of a contellation, and we sold it to japan? it is always the same story....lets sell our stuff to other countries.

[neomuttley]

It's a baby Connie!! :-)

[awkwarddude]

@MouseGuns First thing I noticed, too! Love those Connies...heck, love the old props!

[applesweeter]

@emp29

It is big enought to be a home.

[emp29]

It's the a380's granddad

[JetMechMA]

No resemblence to the Nakajima whatsoever.

[JetMechMA]

At :35...Cheyenne? That's a LONG time ago.

[JetMechMA]

One MILLION dollars.  LOL

[oldfart387]

Long time ago my old man found a DC-3, it was far from flying again, but dad wanted to "fix-it-up" and take vacations in it. Thank God he never got around to it. It would be sitting in the field where he had 2 Hudson Hornets, a model T, an old broken down fire-truck and LOTS of rust. Pop had big ideas, but few follow throughs.

No, they aren't there anymore. Sorry.