C-118 Liftmaster

The C-118 Liftmaster was similar in appearance to the C-54 Skymaster, from which it evolved. In its refined variant -- the civilian DC-6B -- this aircraft achieved the best operating economics of any piston airliner.

The C-118 had the same basic configuration as the C-54, featuring the same double-tapered low wing with four engine nacelles in the leading edges, tapered tailfin and tailplane with rounded tips, and retractable landing gear. It had a stretched and pressurized...