Flying the C-54

Well I have now finished training on the C-54 and am now on duty until october,
with Tanker 65, which is a C-54E, and this particular plane actually was Adm
Nimitz transport during WW2. It still has the USAAF dataplate, but it was sent
to the navy shortly after it was built where it was there an R5D.

Its certainly a big change from twin engine cessnas, and much higher in the
cockpit. You could walk under the aircraft if it wasnt for the retardant tank.
The control quadrant has countless levers, for those 4 oil drinking (and
leaking) engines, but the roomy cockpit sure is nice. Nothing is automatic,
with there being no autopilot or prop sync, but there is a TCAS. Takeoff,
climbout and landing can keep a new copilot as busy as a one legged man in an
ass kicking contest.

Gassing up the plane can be a chore, since there are 8 tanks, and the fuel hose
has to be pulled up to the wing to refuel it. Each engine has its own 22
gallon oil tank, and there is also an oil tank in the fuselage, which can be
used send oil to the other oil tanks.

Yes, flying this plane can be a lot of work, and it does require a lot of fuel,
oil and muscle, but when you are cruising along, and you look out the window at
those big radials, each turning those big props, you have to admit it looks
pretty damn cool!


Ron
Tanker 65, C-54E (DC-4)
Silver City Tanker Base

In '71 and '72 I flew one, got 750 hours in them, like to do it again.
The North American Trainer Association is a (501)[c]3 association dedicated to
the restoration, preservation and safe flying of all North American Aviation
built trainer aircraft (AT-6, SNJ, Harvard, NA-64, T-28, TF-51, TB-25). Dues
are $45.00 per year US