C-54 vs C-118

[Daryl]

While both of these were built by Douglas, there were some differences.
Mostly in the fuselage. The 118 was larger and came with Prop
Spinners making it the favorite for the General's Bird from the day it
came out until the late 70s. It was based on the DC-6. The DC-6 and
C-118 came out after WWII ended.

Meanwhile, the C-54 was a workhorse. It's still being flown today in
many guises. It is based on the DC-4. The DC-4 and C-54 came out the
middle of WWII.

I know of one C-54 that was shotdown in 1943. Can you imagine that
Canadian Birds flew that painted on the side of his kill area? I bet
that is embarrassing.

[Peter Stickney]

Post by Daryl
While both of these were built by Douglas, there were some differences.
Mostly in the fuselage. The 118 was larger and came with Prop
Spinners making it the favorite for the General's Bird from the day it
came out until the late 70s. It was based on the DC-6. The DC-6 and
C-118 came out after WWII ended.
Meanwhile, the C-54 was a workhorse. It's still being flown today in
many guises. It is based on the DC-4. The DC-4 and C-54 came out the
middle of WWII.

The C-54 was a commercial DC-4 (The DC-4 in this guise - there was a somehat
earlier DC-4E that would have been a commercial bomb and which was sold to
the Japanese before the war)
After the war, the DC-4 was stretched, pressurized, and up-engined frpm P&W
R2000s to P&W R2800s.
The DC-6A and DC-6B were stretched again. The C-118A and C-118B (R6D) were
re-badged DC-6A freighters.
Civilianized C-118s fly under the DC-6A Type Certificate

Post by Daryl
I know of one C-54 that was shotdown in 1943. Can you imagine that
Canadian Birds flew that painted on the side of his kill area? I bet
that is embarrassing.