Serial Number: 53-3294

Northern Air Cargo DC-6B N43872 (1:400) by GeminiJets 400 Diecast Airliners Item Number: GJNAC1152

From the Boeing Web Site

The Douglas DC-6 was one of the first airplanes to fly a regularly scheduled around-the-world route. With its higher performance, increased accommodation, greater payload and pressurized cabin, it was a natural evolution of the DC-4.

Although the DC-6 had the same wingspan as the DC-4, its engines helped it fly 90 mph faster than the DC-4, carry 3,000 pounds more payload and fly 850 miles farther. The DC-6 could maintain the cabin pressure of 5,000 feet while flying at 20,000 feet.

American Airlines and United Airlines ordered the commercial DC-6 in 1946, and Pan American Airways used the DC-6 to start tourist-class service across the North Atlantic. The 29th DC-6 was ordered by the Air Force, adapted as the presidential aircraft and designated the VC-118. It was delivered on July 1, 1947, and called The Independence after President Harry Truman's hometown, Independence, Mo.

The larger, all-cargo DC-6A first flew Sept. 29, 1949; the larger capacity DC-6B, which could seat up 102 people, first flew Feb. 10, 1951. After the Korean War broke out in 1951, the military ordered DC-6As modified as either C-118A "Liftmaster" personnel carriers, as the Navy's R6D transports or as MC-118As for aeromedical evacuation. Between 1947 and 1959, Douglas built a total of 704 DC-6s, 167 of them military versions. By 1998, the DC-6 was still flying with smaller airlines around the world.

www.ruudleeuw.com www.thedc6.com Wikipedia - Douglas_DC-6 Boeing.com

YouTube - Everts Air Cargo DC-6 N43872 - In flight photo Taxiway photo More Photos

Northern Air Cargo DC-6B N43872 (1:400) by GeminiJets 400 Diecast Airliners Item Number: GJNAC1152

http://www.jetwaymodels.com/1400-gemini-jets-northern-air-cargo-douglas-dc-6-n43872.html

Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives http://www.baaa-acro.com/spotting/douglas-dc-6-n43872/ - Aug 15, 2001

From: www.ruudleeuw.com

Fred Barnes wrote me in Oct.2008: "NAC planned to retire their DC-6As/C-118s from service at the end of Sep08. Only 2 aircraft were left in service N6174C DC-6A c/n 44075 and N2907F C-118A c/n 44636.

Another C-118A N43872 c/n 44665 was parked at Anchorage and used as an engine test bed. That aircraft was selected to be donated to the Alaskan Aviation Heritage Museum.

Northern Air Cargo retired its last 2 DC-6 cargo aircraft on 26Sep08 with a ceremony at Ted Stevens Int'l AP (ANC). N6174C operated the final revenue flight, flying mail to Emmonak and returning with a load of fresh fish to ANC. The crew consisted of Capt Becky Wilbur, F/O Jim Foss and F/E Ron Valentine. The DC-6 has been the backbone of the NAC fleet for 39 years and has played a significant role in the development of rural Alaska. NAC added its first DC-6 in 1969 and ended up acquiring 15 Sixes over a period of 25 years. One DC-6 will be donated to the Alaska Heritage Museum.