Comments - The United DC-4E - Model Airplane Collectors2024-03-19T13:39:44Zhttp://www.modelairplanecollectors.com/profiles/comment/feed?attachedTo=6343803%3ABlogPost%3A55035&xn_auth=no
The Douglas DC-4E was an…tag:www.modelairplanecollectors.com,2011-08-16:6343803:Comment:556022011-08-16T13:35:46.745ZMatt Whisenanthttp://www.modelairplanecollectors.com/profile/0c8gbbvyb2nys
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<p>The Douglas DC-4E was an experimental airliner that was developed before World War II. The design originated in 1935 from a requirement by United Air Lines. The goal was to develop a much larger and more sophisticated replacement for the DC-3, before the first DC-3 had even flown. There was enough interest from other airlines, that American…</p>
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<p>The Douglas DC-4E was an experimental airliner that was developed before World War II. The design originated in 1935 from a requirement by United Air Lines. The goal was to develop a much larger and more sophisticated replacement for the DC-3, before the first DC-3 had even flown. There was enough interest from other airlines, that American Airlines, Eastern Air Lines, Pan American Airways, and TWA joined United in providing $100,000 each toward the cost of developing the new aircraft.<br/> <br/> With a planned capacity of 42 passengers, the DC-4 (as it was then known) would seat twice as many people as the DC-3. It would be the first large airplane with a nose wheel. Other innovations included auxiliary power units, power-boosted flight controls, alternating current electrical system, and air conditioning. Cabin pressurization was also planned for the production aircraft. The aircraft also featured a novel tail with three vertical stabilizers. This provided sufficient vertical stabilizer area to allow the aircraft to take-off with only two engines on one side operating while still allowing the plane to fit into existing hangars.<br/>
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The prototype first flew on June 7, 1938 from Clover Field in Santa Monica, California. It was used by United Air Lines for in-service evaluation during 1939. Operating the aircraft was remarkably trouble-free. However, the complex systems proved to be expensive to maintain and the design was abandoned in favor of a less complex four-engined design. This newer design was designated DC-4, leading to the earlier design to be re-designated DC-4E (E for "experimental"). The DC-4E was sold to Japan, which was buying western aircraft for evaluation and technology transfer during this period. The design became the basis of the Nakajima G5N bomber.<br/>
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General characteristics<br/>
Crew: three<br/>
Capacity: 52 passengers<br/>
Length: 97 ft 0 in (29.7 m)<br/>
Wingspan: 97 ft 0 in (29.7 m)<br/>
Height: 24 ft 6 1/2 in (7.4 m)<br/>
Wing area: 2,155 ft² (200.2 m²)<br/>
Empty weight: 42,564 lb (19,308 kg)<br/>
Loaded weight: 61,500 lb (27,896 kg)<br/>
Max takeoff weight: 66,500 lb (30,164 kg)<br/>
Powerplant: 4× Pratt & Whitney R-2180-S1A1-G Twin Hornet , 1,450 hp (1,081 kW) each<br/>
Performance<br/>
Maximum speed: 245 mph at 7,000 ft (394 km/h at 2,135 m)<br/>
Range: 2,200 miles (3,540 km)<br/>
Service ceiling: 22,900 ft (6,980 m)<br/>
Rate of climb: 1,175 ft/min (356 m/min)<br/>
Wing loading: 28.5 lb/ft² (139.3 kg/m²)<br/>
Power/mass: 0.09 hp/lb (0.16 kW/kg)</p>