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JNS0316 — Randomness

Published: 2017-08-03 15:39:08 +0000 UTC; Views: 522; Favourites: 18; Downloads: 0
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Description The random things you'll find in PR is the best part of the adventure.
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Comments: 7

kanyiko [2017-08-05 13:45:35 +0000 UTC]

The biggest giveaway are the oval windows, which were only used on the DC-4.  In fact, later on in its career, operators would paint fake square window apertures around the oval windows to make their DC-4s look more like DC-6s.

N74AF was a C-54 (the military transport variant of the DC-4) owned by West Indies Air Transport, and ended her career at Aguadilla-Borinquen Airport when she suffered a hydraulic failure during taxying on February 3rd 1992.  As a result of this, she lost steering and hit a parked Super Constellation (HI-542CT), after which she ran into a ditch.  An ensuing fire pretty much ensured she would never fly again.

It looks like they have also chopped off her tail - the pictures I've seen of her still had her with her tail in place.

Career:
Built by Douglas at Orchard Field, Illinois (present-day Chicago O'Hare Airport) as C-54D-15-DC 43-17249, but taken on charge by the US Navy as a Douglas R5D-3 with the Bureau Number 56547.  Converted to C-54Q status somewhere during her US Navy Career.
Withdrawn from use and stored at Davis Monthan AFB in January 1973
Sold to Interair Lease Inc. on January 31st 1975 and registered as N96450.
Sold to Derald D Wilson on December 12th 1975.
Sold to Al Marc Air in 1982
Sold to Buds Flying Service on October 5th 1982
Sold to Texas Aerial Applicators on January 31st 1984
Sold to American Air Freight on January 24th 1986 and re-registered as N74AF
Leased to, and subsequently bought by West Indies Air Transport.
Written off February 3rd 1992.

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JNS0316 In reply to kanyiko [2017-08-07 13:27:58 +0000 UTC]

Outstanding. Thanks so much! My husband will enjoy learning the background on it. 

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kanyiko In reply to JNS0316 [2017-08-09 14:24:06 +0000 UTC]

My pleasure!!

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DingoPatagonico [2017-08-03 17:41:56 +0000 UTC]

Looks like a DC-6. Poor thing

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JNS0316 In reply to DingoPatagonico [2017-08-03 17:46:16 +0000 UTC]

We were trying to figure it out too. We think it's a DC-5. 

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Tzoli In reply to JNS0316 [2017-08-03 19:15:08 +0000 UTC]

DC-5 has it's wings on the upper fuselage, DC-6 seems to be a correct assumption by the nose wheel doors location and the windows of the cockpit:
images5.alphacoders.com/413/41…
upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia…

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JNS0316 In reply to Tzoli [2017-08-04 13:18:27 +0000 UTC]

I'll check it out. I can't seem to get any answers about it on the internet. It was left behind after the Ramey Air Force Base, in Aguadilla, shut down in 1971. 

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