C-54 Skymaster.

[D.R.H.]

Just another quick video of one of my favorites, and probably yours too. Right Ben?? I wish I had been born about 15 years earlier, I would have really enjoyed seeing these planes in the air. That Pratt and Whitney R-2000 sure makes some beautiful music!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lcuLdVivLnY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9tSsJ9Owvq8

[Joe Gopan]

How can anything so beautiful be so old? I have had few pleasant flights in 30 year old USAF C-54's.
Was the O.D. C-54 called "Santa Monica Maid" at one time?

The USAF installed those R-2000's in a few C-47's, they still sound the same as the R-1830s.
Arthur Godfrey had a DC-3 with the R-2000's.

[D.R.H.]

Gosh Ben, I don't know about that name. I just stumbled on the video on the web and decided it would be fun to share it.

[Joe Gopan]

The owners of thee C-54 "Santa Monica Maid" offered it at a bargain price in "Trade A Plane" about 20 years ago. Can't think of another reason for anyone to paint another O.D. Miss the good old days when large recips were everyday life at nearby military bases. I remember some postsa while back of a member that flew in EC-47's in Viet Nam. Some of those were upgraded from R-1830 to the R-2000 from the C-54.
Wreckless, maybe?

[1943Willysgpw]

Thank you for sharing this. I love the sound these make when they fire up and idle. Cool.

[clintm20]

There is a missing c-54 that has never been found with 44 people on board, C-54D 42-72469 on a flight from Anchorage to Missoula on Jan 26, 1950.

[1943Willysgpw]

The chances of it not being toothpicks in that rough area are very slim.

[clintm20]

Probably but some distress signals were heard so maybe not.

https://pacaeropress.websitetoolbox.com ... ?&trail=15