R4D-6 Skytrain

The Douglas R4D‑6 Skytrain, the United States Navy’s designation for the famed DC‑3 transport, entered service in 1944 as a wartime workhorse. Built by the Douglas Aircraft Company, the R4D‑6 incorporated the DC‑3‑115B airframe with strengthened floor beams, enlarged cargo doors, and a reinforced tailwheel, allowing it to carry up to 28 troops, 6,000 lb of cargo, or a medical evacuation load of stretchers. Powered by two 1,200‑hp Pratt & Whitney R‑1830‑94C radials, the aircraft could cruise at 180 mph and reach a range of 1,500 mi, making it ideal for trans‑Pacific supply routes and island‑hopping operations. Its rugged construction and simple systems earned a reputation for reliability in harsh environments, from the jungles of New Guinea to the icy Arctic. After World War II the R4D‑6 continued service in the Korean and early Vietnam conflicts, and many were transferred to civilian operators, forming the backbone of post‑war commercial aviation. The Skytrain’s versatility demonstrated the strategic value of a capable transport aircraft, influencing later designs such as the Lockheed C‑130 and cementing the DC‑3 lineage as one of the most influential airframes in aviation history.

Douglas

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