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Description
| Manufacturer: | Douglas |
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| Base model: | C-54 | ||
| Designation: | C-54 | ||
| Version: | D | ||
| Nickname: | Skymaster | ||
| Equivalent to: | R5D-3 R5D3R5D-3 / // C-54Q C54QC-54Q | ||
| Designation System: | U.S. Air Force | ||
| Designation Period: | 1925-1962 | ||
| Basic role: | Transport | ||
| See Also: |
Specifications
| Length: | 93' 10" | 28.6 m | |
| Height: | 27' 6" | 8.3 m | |
| Wingspan: | 117' 6" | 35.8 m | |
| Wingarea: | 1,460.0 sq ft | 135.6 sq m | |
| Empty Weight: | 38,000 lb | 17,233 kg | |
| Gross Weight: | 62,000 lb | 28,117 kg | |
| Max Weight: | 73,000 lb | 33,106 kg | |
Propulsion
| No. of Engines: | 4 | ||
| Powerplant: | Pratt & Whitney R-2000-11 | ||
| Horsepower (each): | 1450 | ||
Performance
| Range: | 3,100 miles | 4,991 km | |
| Cruise Speed: | 203 mph | 326 km/h | 176 kt |
| Max Speed: | 275 mph | 442 km/h | 238 kt |
| Ceiling: | 22,300 ft | 6,796 m | |
Known serial numbers
Examples of this type may be found at
| Museum | City | State |
| Pima Air & Space Museum | Tucson | Arizona |
| South Dakota Air and Space Museum | Ellsworth AFB | South Dakota |
| Travis Air Force Museum | Travis AFB | California |
C-54D on display
Pima Air & Space Museum |
Recent comments by our visitors
| Donald Lepori Atwater, CA |
Donald Lepori Atwater, CA Does anyone in the C-54 world remember a "Flight Engineer", on the C-54 with the name Chester L. Anderson (Andy)? Andy was stationed at Ramey AFB from around 1958 through 1963. His wife's name was Alice and he had a son named Mark and daughter named Linda. Andy served his entire time in the Air Force in the C-54; throughout WW2 and ,I think, retired in the late 1960's. I understand he died shortly after his retirement but not sure! I would Like to locate his wife or children. Andy was also stationed at Westover AFB a couple of times and home state was Alabama. If you have any info about Andy or his family please let me know at dllepori@pacbell.net...Thanks 02/23/2012 @ 17:08 [ref: 53332] |
| sims , MN | What's happened to this site? It has been hijacked by a bunch of bloggers whose notes have nothing to do with the subject of C-54s or aircraft. Can't the webmaster cut them off or delete their comments? 08/17/2011 @ 08:04 [ref: 46165] |
| Raymond Elms Louisville, KY | I was a flight radioman with VR6 during 1945-46 based in Guam Island. Also served in VR1 at Patuxent MD 47-48.
Most memorable was the time after VJ Day when our squadron was part of the "Magic Carpet" operation out of the base at Kisarazu Japan. Sure would like to hear from anyone from those squadrons!! 07/04/2011 @ 12:32 [ref: 39893] |
| Tony Gambaro Englishtown, NJ | I flew in R5D's from 55-65 with squadrons VR3 out of Norfolk, Va and VR833(reserves)out of Brooklyn,NY. I flew as radioman and flight orderly. About 4 years ago, I attended an air show in Millville, NJ. There was a C-54 with the distinction of flying in the Berlin Airlift. This plane seemed small compared to the R5D in our squadron.We had an extra compartmen forward about 7 feet in lenght that had 2 bunks(one on top of the other) on the starboard side and a small head with a small sink on the port side.This was between the radio/navigator section and the compartment with 2 large fuel tanks. The aft of the plane had another head on the port side and large stainless steel utility table with electical outlets for hot plates and making coffee. It also had a small refrigerator that never worked. We used it to stare our box lunches. Does anyone have a model number? 02/23/2011 @ 07:52 [ref: 36277] |
| CLOVIS EARL CRAIG DEQUEN,, AR | I AM CODY CRAIG FROM RAMEY AFB 1955 TO 1958. GEORGE, I REMEMBER YOU WELL. I RETRIRED IN AUG 70. PLEASE SEND ME YOUR E MAIL ADDRESS 03/06/2010 @ 15:48 [ref: 25833] |
| Jack Gilbert Rio Rancho, NM | My father, SMSgt Jack L. Gilbert, Sr., USAF (ret'd), served as a C-54 Flight Engineer with the 1st Ait Transport Unit @ Roswell AFB, NM, in 1947, & the 40th Troop Carrier Sqdn. @ RAF Celle, during the Berlin Airlift. He logged 135 trips into the city. He is currently retired and living in Summerville, SC. He is a member of the Berlin Airlift Historical Society and he donated the plaque that can be seen in the cockpit of the "Spirit of Freedom" which is dedicated to C-54 engineers. If you get a chance to visit the aircraft and to speak with the pilot, Tim Chopp, ask him about my dad. Tim is a great friend and a dedicated supporter of the airlift veterans. 02/27/2009 @ 06:46 [ref: 23827] |
| Donald Lepori Atwater, CA | George Smith Portland, TN. Did you know Chester (Andy) Anderson when you were stationed at Ramey. Andy was a Flt Mech on the C-54 there.
Donald Lepori dllepori@pacbell.net 02/05/2009 @ 16:42 [ref: 23638] |
| Matt Kennebec Fairbanks, AK | I am researching the disappearance of 42-72469(AF2469) en route Anchorage-Great Falls 1/26/1950. This transport had 44 souls on board and vanished over land. I would really like to talk to some C-54 crewmembers and maintenance folks, especially those who flew MATS flights to Alaska. I have questions about MELs, what was in the 'polar' or 'arctic' survival kits carried on Alaska flights and at least a dozen other related subjects. We will be making a third attempt to locate this a/c in British Columbia this summer.
Anyone who can help answer my questions please contact me at: Matt Kennebec 907-457-2519 mattjohn@acsalaska.net 01/02/2009 @ 07:04 [ref: 23401] |
| David G. Davies Irvington, VA | I spent most of a 4 year enlistment in the Air Force on C54Ds, first as an A&E mechanic at Rhein/Main and then as a flight engineer at Westover Field. We did a lot of arctic flying from Westover supporting the construction of Thule AFB. Thule and all stop over bases (Goose Bay, Frobisher Bay and BW8) were very primative and arctic operations not without occasional challenges. These bases were not supported by mechanics and many spare C54 parts and the burden fell to the flight engineer to keep em flying. My worst experience was at Frobisher Bay where I had to replace an oil cooler at night in minus 40 temperatures. A spare was flown in from Goose Bay. Our first flights into Thule involved landing on a gravel strip that had both downhill and uphill segments;sleeping in engine crates fitted with a double decker and sleeping bags; dining at the Danish weather station. Then there was the scary BW8 at the end of 100 plus mile long narrow Sondrestrom Fjord that cut between mountains up to 10,000 ft. Letting down in the fjord was dramatic and landing at a single strip that ended at the base of the glacier. Mosquitos there would eat you alive when they were not trying to have relations with the airplane.
Anyway, I loved that airplane, I can still hear those R2000s in my dreams and can still visualize the location of just about every part on the aircraft and still know by heart the fuel capacities of all of the wing tanks. 12/09/2008 @ 13:53 [ref: 23222] |
| dsims , MS | In answer to Tim Powell, a twin engine, twin tail could be a B-25 Mitchell bomber or if a tail dragger could be a C-45 (Beechcraft D-18). You can find photos on this website or Google the plane name. 08/25/2008 @ 16:26 [ref: 22547] |
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