Mercedes Mullins
The Douglas DC-4 is a four-engine long-range airliner with a maximum capacity of 50 passengers. The DC-4 was produced by the US-American manufacturer Douglas Aircraft Company. The military variant of the DC-4 was the C-54 Skymaster, which was allocated to the United States Army Air Forces during World War II. The C-54 had four additional auxiliary fuel tanks in the main cabin, and later variants moved the last two cabin fuel tanks to the wings, allowing for more freight or passenger seats. The DC-4/C-54 series proved popular and reliable, with several remaining in service as of 2022.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Fuel tank capacity | 2,868 US gallons (2,388 imperial gallons; 10,860 litres) as standard capacity, or 3,592 US gallons (2,991 imperial gallons; 13,600 litres) with alternative inner wing tanks |
| Engines | 4 × Pratt & Whitney R-2000 -2SD13-G Twin Wasp 14-cylinder air-cooled radial piston engines, 1,450 hp (1,080 kW) each for take-off |
| Range | Not enough fuel capacity for international range |
| Military variant | C-54 Skymaster |
| Number produced | 79 civil DC-4s produced by Douglas; 71 DC-4M North Star variants license-produced by Canadair of Canada |
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What You'll Learn
The DC-4's fuel capacity
The Douglas DC-4 is a four-engine long-range airliner with a maximum capacity of 50 passengers. The DC-4 was produced by the US-American manufacturer Douglas Aircraft Company. The DC-4 was license-produced by Canadair as the DC-4M North Star. The most common variant of the DC-4 is the C-54, which entered service in 1944. The C-54 is a military variant of the DC-4, with the first C-54 flying from Clover Field in 1942.
The fuel capacity of the DC-4/C-54 is 2,868 US gallons (2,388 imperial gallons or 10,860 litres) as standard, or 3,592 US gallons (2,991 imperial gallons or 13,600 litres) with alternative inner wing tanks. The C-54E variant of the aircraft moved the last two cabin fuel tanks to the wings, allowing for more freight or passenger seats. Even with these modifications, the DC-4 sometimes lacked the fuel capacity to operate long-haul international flights.
To address this issue, Douglas developed the DC-7C, which featured extended wings to provide more fuel capacity and increase range. The DC-7C also had more powerful engines and a longer fuselage to accommodate more passengers. This variant was marketed as the "Seven Seas", highlighting its trans-oceanic range.
In addition to its role as an airliner, the DC-4 has also been utilised as an air tanker for fighting wildfires. In this capacity, the aircraft would be fitted with a belly pack to carry water or retardant. While the DC-4 has since been retired from this role due to its age, it played an important part in aerial firefighting efforts.
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Military variant fuel tank differences
The Douglas DC-4 is an American four-engined propeller-driven airliner developed by the Douglas Aircraft Company. Military versions of the plane, the C-54 and R5D, served during World War II, in the Berlin Airlift and into the 1960s.
The first production variant of the DC-4, adapted from the DC-4E, featured four additional auxiliary fuel tanks in the main cabin to meet military requirements, which reduced the number of passenger seats to 44. The most common variant was the C-54D, which entered service in August 1944. The C-54E variant eliminated the last two cabin fuel tanks, moving them to the wings, which allowed for more freight or 44 passenger seats. The C-54E variant also featured no fuselage tanks.
The R5D-1 was a US Navy variant of the C-54A, which was refitted with the fuel system of the C-54B and redesignated "R5D-1C". The R5D-2 was a US Navy variant of the C-54B, while the R5D-3 was a US Navy variant of the C-54C. The R5D-4 was a US Navy variant of the C-54E, and the R5D-5 was a US Navy variant of an upgraded C-54G.
The C-54G variant featured R-2000-9 engines, while the C-54D variant featured more powerful R-2000-11 engines. A later variant, the Canadair North Star, featured more powerful Merlin engines that allowed it to fly over 40% faster.
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The DC-4's range
The Douglas DC-4 is a four-engine long-range airliner with a maximum capacity of 50 passengers. The DC-4 was produced by the US-American manufacturer Douglas Aircraft Company. The DC-4 was license-produced by Canadair as the DC-4M North Star, which built 71 aircraft. The military main variant was the C-54 Skymaster. The DC-4 proved to be a popular and reliable aircraft, with 1,245 being built between May 1942 and August 1947, including 79 postwar DC-4s. Several DC-4s remain in service as of 2022.
The DC-4 has a fuel capacity of 2,868 US gallons (2,388 imperial gallons or 10,860 litres) in its standard configuration. With alternative inner wing tanks installed, the fuel capacity increases to 3,592 US gallons (2,991 imperial gallons or 13,600 litres). This extended fuel capacity enables the DC-4 to undertake long-range flights, including transatlantic routes between Latin America and Europe.
The range of the DC-4 is further enhanced by its efficient powerplant configuration, utilising four Pratt & Whitney R-2000-2SD13-G Twin Wasp 14-cylinder air-cooled radial piston engines. Each of these engines generates 1,450 horsepower (1,080 kilowatts) during take-off, providing ample power for extended operations.
In certain situations, the DC-4's range was influenced by headwinds, which could require additional fuel stops. For example, on the route from Shannon to Gander, it was not uncommon for the DC-4 to make a stop in Keflavik, Iceland, due to headwinds. This detour added approximately three hours of flight time, necessitating sufficient fuel to return to Prestwick, Scotland.
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Fuel tank location
The Douglas DC-4 is a four-engine long-range airliner with a maximum capacity of 50 passengers. The military variant of the DC-4 is the C-54 Skymaster. The DC-4 was produced by the US-American manufacturer Douglas Aircraft Company.
The DC-4 has undergone several modifications since its initial design, including changes to the fuel tank location. The original DC-4 design included a pressurized fuselage, Pratt & Whitney R-2000 Twin Wasp engines, and a single fin and rudder. However, it was found to be inefficient and unreliable, leading to a new, smaller design known as the DC-4A.
The DC-4A featured an unpressurized fuselage, retaining the same engines and landing gear as the original DC-4. With the onset of World War II, the United States Army Air Forces adopted the DC-4A design and designated it as the C-54 Skymaster. To meet military requirements, the C-54 incorporated four additional auxiliary fuel tanks installed within the main cabin. This modification reduced the number of passenger seats available.
The C-54 underwent further variants, including the C-54D and C-54E. The C-54E variant, in particular, underwent a notable change in fuel tank location. The last two cabin fuel tanks were relocated to the wings, thereby increasing freight capacity or accommodating up to 44 passenger seats.
The DC-4/C-54 series proved to be popular and reliable, with a total of 1,245 aircraft produced between May 1942 and August 1947. Several DC-4 and its variants remained in service as of 2022. In their later years, some of these aircraft were utilized as ""air tankers," equipped with belly packs to carry water or retardant for fighting wildfires.
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Fuel tank size
The Douglas DC-4 is a four-engine long-range airliner with a maximum capacity of 50 passengers. The DC-4 was produced by the US-American manufacturer Douglas Aircraft Company. The DC-4 was license-produced by Canadair of Canada as the DC-4M North Star (71 aircraft).
The DC-4's fuel tank size and capacity varied depending on its variant and configuration. The standard fuel capacity of the DC-4 is 2,868 US gallons (2,388 imperial gallons or 10,860 litres). However, with alternative inner wing tanks, the fuel capacity could be increased to 3,592 US gallons (2,991 imperial gallons or 13,600 litres).
The DC-4 had several variants, including the C-54, which was the military main variant, and the DC-4M North Star, which was license-produced by Canadair. The C-54 had several subvariants, including the C-54B, C-54D, and C-54E, each with slight differences in fuel tank configuration.
The C-54E variant of the DC-4 did not have any fuselage tanks, indicating a different fuel tank configuration from the other variants. The C-54B and C-54D variants had fuel tanks in the cabin, with the C-54E moving the last two cabin fuel tanks to the wings, increasing freight or passenger capacity.
The DC-4's fuel tank size and configuration played a role in its range and performance. The addition of auxiliary fuel tanks in the main cabin of the early production aircraft reduced passenger capacity but likely increased the aircraft's range. The DC-6, a similar aircraft to the DC-4, had a long-range variant with more fuel capacity and more powerful engines, further highlighting the importance of fuel tank size and configuration in aircraft performance.
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Frequently asked questions
The fuel capacity of a DC-4 is 2,868 US gallons (2,388 imperial gallons or 10,860 litres).
With alternative inner wing tanks, the DC-4's fuel capacity is increased to 3,592 US gallons (2,991 imperial gallons or 13,600 litres).
Yes, the DC-4 had several fuel tank configurations. The C-54E variant had no fuselage tanks, while the C-54B and C-54C models had additional auxiliary fuel tanks in the main cabin, and the C-54E had its last two cabin fuel tanks moved to the wings.
The DC-4 is powered by four Pratt & Whitney R-2000-2SD13-G Twin Wasp 14-cylinder air-cooled radial piston engines, each producing 1,450 hp (1,080 kW) at take-off.
Yes, the initial DC-4 design was found to be inefficient and unreliable for economic operation. This led to the development of the smaller DC-4A variant, which had a simpler, unpressurized fuselage and more efficient engines.
