DOUGLAS C-118 LIFTMASTER
C-118 SERVICE
| Manufacturer: | The Douglas Aircraft Co. Inc., Santa Monica, California, USA |
| Model: | DC-6 |
| Designations: | C-112, C-118, R6D |
| Name: | Liftmaster (freighter DC-6A / C-118) |
| First official flight: | (XC-112A) 15/02/1946 |
| Factory production period: | 1945 - 1958 |
| Primary service period: | 1947 - 1968 |
| Last official flight: | ? |
C-118 VARIANTS
| 1946 | Model DC-6 | DC-6 | 174 | |
| 1949 | Model DC-6A | DC-6A | 74 | |
| 1951 | Model DC-6B | DC-6B | 288 | Total: 536 |
| 1946 | Model DC-6 | XC-112A | 1 | |
| 1947 | Model DC-6 | VC-118 | 1 | |
| 1952 | Model DC-6A | C-118A | 101 | Total: 103 |
| 1951 | Model DC-6A | R6D-1 | 65 | Total: 065 |
|
Grand Total: 704 |
C-118 PRODUCTION
Civil Aircraft
DC-6
As civil DC-4, lengthened fuselage,
pressurized cabin.
Produced 1946 - 1951
Douglas Santa Monica, California
| civil reg. | mixed 42854 to 43295 |
Total: 174 |
DC-6A
As DC-6, cargo version, lengthened fuselage,
2 cargo doors, reinforced floor, engine upgrade.
Produced 1949 - 1958
Douglas Santa Monica, California
| civil reg. | 42901 | |
| civil reg. | mixed 43296 to 45551 |
Total: 074 |
DC-6B
As DC-6A, passenger version.
Produced 1950 - 1958
Douglas Santa Monica, California
| civil reg. | mixed 43257 to 45564 |
Total: 288 |
Military Aircraft
XC-112A
Prototype for the DC-6 / C-118 series, developed
from a cancelled C-54 variant designated XC-112.
Produced 1945 - 1946
Douglas Santa Monica, California (DO)
| 45-873 | 36326 |
Total: 001 |
VC-118
As civil DC-6, named: "Independence".
Second US Presidential aircraft,
served H. Truman
from 1947-1953, used once by J.F. Kennedy in 1961.
Retired in late 1965.
Produced 1947
Douglas Santa Monica, California (DO)
| 46-505 | 42881 |
Total: 001 |
C-118A
As civil DC-6A, USAF personnel / cargo transports.
Additional 40 transferred from US Navy.
Produced 1951 - 1955
Douglas Santa Monica, California (DO)
| 51-3818 / 51-3835 | 43565 / 43582 | |
|
53-3223 / 53-3305 - 4 to US Navy as R6D-1 with 3 assigned BuNo. 152687 / 152689. |
44594 / 44676 |
Total: 101 |
R6D-1
As C-118A, US Navy version.
40 to USAF in 1962, assigned s/n: 50-1843, 50-1844,
51-17626 / 51-17661, 51-17667, 51-17668.
Remaining 25 redesignated as C-118B in 1962.
Produced 1951 - 1955
Douglas Santa Monica, California (D)
| BuNo.128423 / 128433 | mixed 43206 to 43517 | |
| BuNo.131567 / 131620 | 43670 / 43723 |
Total: 065 |
|
Grand Total: 704 |
C-118 CONVERSIONS
Civil Conversions
| DC-6C | 1+ | DC-6A, cargo / passenger convertibles. |
| DC-6AB / AC / A(C) / BF | 1+ | DC-6A/B, unofficial designations as freighter
conversions. Conversions by Pacific Airmotive Corp., California. |
Military Conversions
USAF
| YC-112A | 1 | XC-112A, redesignation for service tests. |
| C-118A | 3 | Civil DC-6B, conversions for
Chilean Air Force. Assigned s/n: 65-12815, 65-12816, 66-14467, with Chile s/n: 985 / 987. |
| EC-118A | 1 | C-118A, conversion as reconn. aircraft. |
| MC-118A | 1+ | C-118A, designation for medical evacuation role. |
| VC-118A | 15+ | C-118A, staff transport conversions. |
US Navy
| R6D-1Z | 4 | R6D-1, conversions as VIP / staff transports. |
| (VC-118B) | 4 | 1962, redesignation of R4D-1Z. |
| (DC-118B) | 1 | VC-118B, 1962, single conversion as drone director. |
FOREIGN MILITARY / CIVILIAN SERVICE
- Many surplus DC-6 / C-118 airframes converted for foreign military
service.
- Many conversions made on civil market as freighters, fire-bombers
etc.