aviation - the past, present and future of flight

executives and

proudly advertised

as the “club in the

sky”. Passengers

were allowed to

smoke, with the

airline providing

complimentary

cigars, drinks and a

steak dinner.

United was

popular with its

passengers and

the introduction of

the DC-6 increased load factors, despite the

aircraft being bigger than its predecessor.

Within months of the aircraft coming into

commercial service, the DC-6 was grounded

after two in-flight fires, including, on October

24, 1947, the total loss of flight 608. It was

en route from

Los Angeles

to Chicago

when a fire in

the baggage

compartment

took hold and

engulfed the

aircraft. It crashed

in southern

Utah at Bryce

Canyon, killing

all 52 aboard.

This was the

type’s first fatal accident. Just three weeks

later another aircraft, this time belonging

to American Airlines, was lost in similar

circumstances. Twenty-eight of the 46

people on board were killed in the accident

at Dallas Love Field, Texas.

50 Aviation News incorporating Jets March 2018

Aircraft N37540 on the ramp at Boston. The

aircraft was delivered from the Douglas plant

at Santa Monica to United in August 1948 and

served the airline for 20 years before being

sold to Mars Aviation at Ontario California,

where it was broken up in September 1968.

Bob O’Brien Collection

‘Mainliner’ was the marketing name for the United DC-6s with the aircraft’s designation usually including a route destination. This one (N37566),

being towed to a parking space, is named San Diego. AirTeamImages.com/ATI Collection

Passengers, dressed in the styles typical of the era, disembark from DC-6B N37547 at Santa Monica in 1951, while the co-pilot briefs the

engineers. Note the curtains on the windows. Douglas/Jon Proctor Collection

48-51_prop_unitedDC.mfDC.mfDC.indd 50 05/02/2018 14:15