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Description
| Manufacturer: | Douglas | |
| Base model: | R4D | |
| Designation: | R4D | |
| Version: | -8Z | |
| Nickname: | Skytrain | |
| Designation System: | U.S. Navy / Marines | |
| Designation Period: | 1931-1962 | |
| Basic role: | Transport | |
| Modified Mission: | Staff transport | |
| Crew: | Pilot, Co-Pilot, Navigator | |
Specifications
| Length: | 67' 9" | 20.6 m | |
| Height: | 18' 3" | 5.5 m | |
| Wingspan: | 90' | 27.4 m | |
| Wingarea: | 969.0 sq ft | 90.0 sq m | |
| Empty Weight: | 19,537 lb | 8,860 kg | |
| Max Weight: | 31,000 lb | 14,058 kg | |
Propulsion
| No. of Engines: | 2 | ||
| Powerplant: | Wright R-1820-80 | ||
| Horsepower (each): | 1475 | ||
Performance
| Cruise Speed: | 251 mph | 404 km/h | 218 kt |
| Max Speed: | 270 mph | 434 km/h | 234 kt |
| Climb: | 1,300 ft/min | 396 m/min | |
Recent comments by our visitors
| Todd Falconer , CA | Airpower, Inc. owns and operates what we believe to be the sole surviving example of a Douglas R4D-8Z. It is one of four R4D-6Z "Zulu" staff transports converted to the R4D-8 configuration. After use initially during WWII as an R4D-6Z, and then after a 1950 Santa Monica plant factory conversion, the aircraft was based at NAS Anacortes, Maryland, just across the Potomoc from the Penagon, where it was reportedly used primarily on weekend "golfing support missions" to Key West, Bermuda, etc by various Admirals. The airplane passed from the Navy to the Marines, and thence in 1976 to the Lee County (Florida) Mosquito Abatement District, which used the aircraft as fitted with 16 place VIP interior for golfing trips from home base in Fort Meyers to Tallahassee and other important mosquito related and unrelated Government business. The airplane is now civilly certificated under multiple Supplemental Type Certificates (STCs) to conform to the Douglas DC-3S "Super DC-3" Type Certificate in the Transport Category, and is undergoing full restoration in its hangar; a multi-year project. The airplane is used for golfing support and other important company business. Airpower specializes in the overhaul and maintenance of the Curtiss-Wright R-1820 family of 9 cylinder radial engines used in the R4D-8 and numerous other types. The "Zulu" is in good shape overall with 14,000-odd airframe hours and will probably last longer than you, I or our children.
12/15/2000 @ 23:39 [ref: 1190] |
