Aviation 101 Douglas DC-6
| DC-6B - Photo: Jon Proctor |
The Douglas DC-6 project began in 1944 as a request by the Army Air Force for a lengthened, pressurized version of the DC-4 with more powerful engines to be used as a military transport with the designation C-112. By the time the prototype flew in early 1946, the war was over and the program continued with a civilian version, the DC-6 which first flew later that year. Production continued until 1958, by which time 704 aircraft had been delivered, including at least 167 for the military with the designation C-118.
As of 2014, 147 DC-6s survived of which 47 were air-worthy. Several were preserved in museums.
| A comparison of the DC-4,6,7. |
Specifications
| Variant | DC-6 | DC-6A | DC-6B |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | Three to Four | ||
| Capacity | 48-68 Passengers | 28,188 lb (12,786 kg) of Cargo | 42-89 Passengers |
| Length | 100 ft 7 in (30.66 m) | 105 ft 7 in (32.18 m) | |
| Wingspan | 117 ft 6 in (35.81 m) | ||
| Height | 28 ft 5 in (8.66 m) | ||
| Wing Area | 1,463 sq ft (135.9 m2) | ||
| Empty weight | 52,567 lb (23,844 kg) | 45,862 lb (20,803 kg) | 55,357 lb (25,110 kg) |
| Max takeoff weight | 97,200 lb (44,100 kg) | 107,200 lb (48,600 kg) |
107,000 lb (49,000 kg) |
| Powerplant (4x) | Pratt & Whitney R-2800-CA15 "Double Wasp" radial engine, 2,400 hp (1,800 kW) with water injection each | Pratt & Whitney R-2800-CB16 "Double Wasp" radial engine, 2,400 hp (1,800 kW) with water injection each | Pratt & Whitney R-2800-CB17 "Double Wasp" radial engine, 2,500 hp (1,900 kW) with water injection each |
| Propellers | Hamilton Standard 43E60 "Hydromatic" constant-speed props with autofeather and reverse thrust | ||
| Cruise speed | 311 mph (501 km/h) | 315 mph (507 km/h) | |
| Fuel Capacity | 4,260 US gal (16,100 l) 4,722 US gal (17,870 l) | up to 5,512 US gal (20,870 l) | |
| Range | 3,983 nmi (7,377 km) | 2,948 nmi (5,460 km) Max payload 4,317 nmi (7,995 km) Max fuel | 2,610 nmi (4,830 km) Max payload 4,100 nmi (7,600 km) Max fuel |
| Service ceiling | 21,900 ft (6,700 m) | 25,000 ft (7,600 m) | |
| Rate of climb | 1,070 ft/min (330 m/min) |
| |
| DC-6 - Three-view |
|
DC-6 in Bolivia |
_______________________________________________________________________________
The Facebook Page:
"Friends of Lloyd Aereo Boliviano"
________________________
LAB Douglas DC-6 Aircraft Fleet
Detailed histories and photos of four aircraft
operated by Lloyd Aereo Boliviano
________________________________________
CP-698
Douglas DC-6B c/n 43273
History:
Built by Douglas Aircraft Co. Production line # 191 1951
American Airlines N90761 7 Jul 1951
- named "Flagship Virginia"
- renamed 'Flagship Richmond" Dec 1953
| A similar DC-6B operated by American Airlines - Photo be Jon Proctor |
LAB CP-698 15 Dec 1960
Accident: " 26 Sep 1969
Report: Aviation Safety Network
Last updated: 11 September 2015
| Status: | |
| Date: | Friday 26 September 1969 |
| Time: | ca 15:10 |
| Type: |
|
| Operator: | |
| Registration: | CP-698 |
| C/n / msn: | 43273/191 |
| First flight: | 1951 |
| Engines: | |
| Crew: | Fatalities: 5 / Occupants: 5 |
| Passengers: | Fatalities: 69 / Occupants: 69 |
| Total: |
Fatalities: 74 / Occupants: 74 |
| Airplane damage: | Damaged beyond repair |
| Location: | 176 km (110 mls) SE of La Paz ( Bolivia) |
| Phase: | En route (ENR) |
| Nature: | Domestic Scheduled Passenger |
| Departure airport: |
|
| Destination airport: | La Paz-El Alto Airport (LPB/SLLP), Bolivia |
Narrative:
The DC-6 flew into the side Mount Choquetanga at FL155. The airplane carried 16 members of
one of Bolivia's top football teams. The wreckage was found on September 29.
Classification:
_______________________
My memory of this accident: The Strongest Football Club is the oldest active football (soccer)
club in Bolivia and one of the most successful; it was founded in 1908. In Sept 1969 the team
had been invited to participate in a tournament in Santa Cruz, Bolivia on the 24th, a local
holiday.
Two days following the game The Strongest was scheduled to return to their home
in the Altiplano city of La Paz, located at 13,323 feet in elevation, (the airport). The aircraft
to be used was a Douglas DC-6 belonging to Lloyd Aereo Boliviano, registration CP-698. Sixteen
of the club players plus three members of the coaching staff boarded the plane at El Trompillo,
airport in Santa Cruz at 1371 feet elevation. A total of 69 passengers and 5 crew members were
onboard.
The flight path was to pass thru the Andes mountain range past peaks as high as
21,000 feet and more. The LAB DC-6 had made this flight many times, but not that day. The
aircraft crashed at an elevation of about 15,500 feet after undoubtedly having encountered
stormy weather with low or zero visibility. All onboard perished. The wreckage was found
three days later.
The country came to a standstill as the funerals drew massive crowds of stunned fans and
a grieving public.
The nation entered a period of mourning that was still evident 20 months later when I
arrived in Bolivia in May 1971. The team and players had been raised to a level of idolization
that is seldom seen among the living. Banners, posters and a wide variety of mementos with the
yellow and black team colors were visible everywhere. It was my introduction to the powerful
influence that sports figures (mainly football) hold in the countries of Latin America.
| The Strongest FC - Photo: La Patria |
| Photo: clubthestrongest.net |
| Funeral for the team members that perished - Photo: La Patria |
| A poster of the deceased in the team colors still available into the 1970's. |
| All that remains |
An excellent article about the tragic accident (in Spanish):
______________________________________________________
CP-707
| A similar American Airlines DC-6B - "Flagship Dayton" Photo: Jason McDowell - airliners.net |
Douglas DC-6B Skymaster c/n 43547
History:
Built by Douglas Aircraft Co. Production line # 204 1951
American Airlines N90764 9 Nov 1951
- named "Flagship Cincinnati" #764
Swissair HB-IBC 16 Jun 1958
- named "Nidwalden"
- leased from AA
| Swissair HB-IBC 1958-1961 |
American Airlines N90764 Sep 1961
- returned from Swissair
LAB CP-707 9 Nov 1961
Accident: " 15 Mar 1963
Report from Aviation Safety Network:
Accident description
Last updated: 12 September 2015
|
Status: | |
| Date: | Friday 15 March 1963 |
| Time: | ca 13:55 |
| Type: |
|
| Operator: | |
| Registration: | CP-707 |
| C/n / msn: | 43547/204 |
| First flight: | 1951 |
| Engines: | |
| Crew: | Fatalities: 3 / Occupants: 3 |
| Passengers: | Fatalities: 36 / Occupants: 36 |
| Total: |
Fatalities: 39 / Occupants: 39 |
| Airplane damage: | Damaged beyond repair |
| Location: | near Tacora Volcano ( Peru) |
| Phase: | En route (ENR) |
| Nature: | International Scheduled Passenger |
| Departure airport: | |
| Destination airport: | La Paz-El Alto Airport (LPB/SLLP), Bolivia |
| Flightnumber: | 915 |
Narrative:
The flight departed Arica at 13:27 for an 8-hour VFR flight at cruising flight level 170. The DC-6 struck the Chachacomani Peak.
PROBABLE CAUSE: "A flight under visual flight rules was attempted below the minimum altitude indicated in the flight plan in weather conditions that were marginal for this type of operation and were associated with the severe turbulence which usually exists in that region (western area)."
Classification:
Sources:
» ICAO Accident Digest No.15 - Volume I, Circular 78-AN/66 (80-85)
No photos of CP-707 found with LAB colors.
_____________________________________________________________________________
CP-715
| A similar DC-6B of American Airlines |
Douglas DC-6B Skymaster c/n 43543
History:
Built by Douglas Aircraft Co. Production line # 210 16 Nov 1951
American Airlines N90765 26 Nov 1951
- named "Flagship Maryland" - #765
- renamed "Flagship Baltimore" Dec 1953
Accident: In Buffalo, NY 7 Mar 1962
On a flight from St. Louis,MO to Buffalo via Detroit,MI the aircraft suffered
substantial damage when the (right ?) main landing gear collapsed on landing at
Buffalo airport. Some minor injuries were sustained by the 51 passengers and 5
crew members. The cause of the accident was determined to be a fatigue fracture
in the main landing gear oleo strut. The aircraft was repaired and returned to service.
- National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) report
LAB CP-715 24 Jul 1963
Fuerzas Aereas Bolivianas (FAB) /
Transportes Aereos Bolivianos (TAM) TAM-63 1974
- stored 1980
- wfu in La Paz
- derelict as of 2001
_________________________________________________________________________________
CP-740
| LAB DC-6B CP-740 - Photo: Roll Out & Fotografia airlinehobby.com |
Douglas DC-6B Skymaster c/n 43272
| CP-740 - Photo: from Nathalia Melgar Palacios |
History:
Built by Douglas Aircraft Co. Production line #190 1951
American Airlines N90760 1 Jul 1951
- named "Flagship Michigan" #760
- renamed "Flagship Detroit" Dec 1953
LAB CP-740 5 Jan 1964
- leased from AA
- purchased from AA 2 Mar 1965
- wfu and stored at La Paz 1974
| CP-740 |
Fuerzas Aereas Bolivianas (FAB) " 1974
- ntu (not taken up) - never flown by FAB
- used for spare parts
Purchased by Capt. Dicky Chavez " Oct 1994
- to be restored - never happened
| CP-740 El Alto - 23 Sep 1994 Photo: Peter M. Garwood - airliners.net |
Air Beni CP-2291 Sep 1997
- conversion to freighter configuration
| CP-740 operated by Air Beni - just before the accident - 1999 |
Accident: " 12 Oct 1999
Accident Report from Aviation Safety Network :
Hull-loss description
Last updated: 13 September 2015
| Status: | Preliminary |
| Date: | Tuesday 12 October 1999 |
| Type: |
|
| Operator: | |
| Registration: | CP-2291 |
| C/n / msn: | 43272/190 |
| First flight: | 1951 |
| Engines: | |
| Crew: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 2 |
| Passengers: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 0 |
| Total: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 2 |
| Airplane damage: | Damaged beyond repair |
| Location: |
La Paz-El Alto Airport (LPB) ( Bolivia) |
| Phase: | Standing (STD) |
| Nature: | - |
| Departure airport: | |
| Destination airport: |
Narrative:
Some repair work had been done and a mechanic and a flight engineer tried to start the
engines. Suddenly a fire erupted in the no. 2 engine and both crew members fled from
the aircraft without following the correct emergency procedures. It is said that a.o. the
fuel pumps were operating at high pressure. The fire spread, destroying part of the
fuselage. The airport fire fighting services were practicing elsewhere on the airport
and failed to reach the scene in time.
A local newspaper argued that the aircraft might have been set afire deliberately
because a plastic bottle was found in the no. 2 engine, containing a fuel, apparently
kerosene, different from the gasoline used by the DC-6B. The aircraft had been insured
for USD 360,000.
Classification:
Sources:
» Airnieuws 364 (p. 95)
» La Razon
After the fire the damaged forward part of the aircraft was removed and the aft
part was left to rust away.
| After the fire - 1999
|
Latest comments
Los K-8 llegaron a Bolivia recién en 2011,no en 1993. La pista podría ser la de Tarija.
FRIMO= Frigorífico Movima, empresa de carga de los años 70- 80
Thank you for creating this website on the LAB fleet. I am writing a book, set in 1996, flight Riberalto, Bolivia to La Paz Bolivia & my research led me here. It was incredibly informative & helpful!
Steeling my pictures from La Paz 1973 they have my copyright, no permission is ask