Swiss Air Lines Douglas DC-4 (1:200)

WWII in Europe had only ended a few months earlier when Overseas Airlines introduced the first commercial North Atlantic DC-4 service. Another first took place on March 7, 1946 when American Airlines introduced U.S. DC-4 domestic service between New York and Los Angeles. During the late 1940s and early 1950s the DC-4 and converted C-54s carried more passengers than any other four-engine transport. Amazingly many of these aircraft are still operating more than 60 years after they were first manufactured.

In February of 1947 Swissair was designated the national airline and took delivery of HB-ILO. It wasn�t a WWII ex-military leftover, it was one of the 78 brand new Douglas DC-4-1009�s. With the extended range of the four-engine DC-4 the airline began trans-Atlantic flights between Geneva and New York City. On December 14, 1951 the aircraft was lost while attempting an ILS Approach to Amsterdam in thick fog. The pilot was late pulling up to go-around resulting in the crash that destroyed the aircraft but luckily no loss of life.
Specifications for the Douglas Aircraft Company DC-4-1009
Crew � 4
Passengers � up to 86
Dimensions
Length � 93 ft 10 in (28.6 m)
Wingspan � 117 ft 6 in (35.8 m)
Height � 27 ft 6 in (8.38 m)
Weight
Empty � 43,300 lb (19,640 kg)
Normal Load Weight � 63,500 lb (28,800 kg)
Maximum Take-Off � 73,000 lb (33,100 kg)
Performance
Engines � (4) Pratt & Whitney R-2000 radial / 1,450 hp each
Maximum Speed � 280 mph (450 km/h)
Cruise Speed � 227 mph (365 km/h)
Range � 4,250 miles (6,839 km)
Service Ceiling � 22,300 ft (6,800 m)