Douglas C-54A Skymaster

On the Aviodrome grounds stands a Douglas C-54A, the military version of the DC-4. This aircraft is painted in the livery of the KLM DC-4 with registration PH-TAR, which in 1946 operated the first scheduled flight between Amsterdam and New York by a European airline. A total of almost 1,250 were built, and you can take a look at this remarkable aircraft at Aviodrome.

During and immediately after World War II, air transport was provided by No. 1316 Dutch Communications Flight of RAF Transport Command. When this unit was disbanded, the aircraft in question were incorporated into the "Netherlands Government Air Transport" (NGAT). On December 28, 1945, operation of the service was transferred to KLM. Meanwhile, on November 10, 1945, the first aircraft, NL-300, with captain K.D. Parmentier, had left for the Dutch East Indies and later for the West Indies.

The C-54A gets off the ground by propulsion from four engines. These Pratt & Whitney radial type R-2000-7 engines produce as much as 1,350 hp (good for 1,006 kW).