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Canadair DC-4M NORTHSTAR
The Canadair C-54GM North Star in RCAF service (CF Photo)
The Canadair North Star was a unique Canadian development of the Douglas C-54 / DC-4 aircraft. Instead of radial piston engines found on the Douglas design, Canadair selected Rolls-Royce Merlin engines in order to achieve a 35 mph faster cruising speed. The prototype flew on 15 July 1946 and the type was selected by various airlines as well as by the RCAF.
The RCAF North Stars were unpressurized and were used on a wide variety of general transport duties. They were also unfortunately infamous for the high level of interior cabin noise caused by the Merlin engines. The North Stars were assigned to 426 Transport Squadron initially deployed to Dorval, Quebec and then to Trenton, Ontario.
During the Korean War, from 1950 to 1952 RCAF North Star aircraft were employed ferrying supplies to Korea across the Pacific. They flew 599 round trips over the Pacific and delivered seven million pounds of cargo and 13,000 personnel both ways.
North Stars were also employed by 412 Squadron from Ottawa on various VIP transport duties and overall the aircraft provided valuable and reliable long range transport services to the RCAF.
Northstar Serials 17500-17523
(the following list is not complete but based on photographic/logbook evidence of the specific aircraft actually being assigned to the squadron)
412 Squadron 17518 17520
426 Squadron 17502 17503 17504 17505 17509 17510 17511 17512 175514
Unknown 17057 17508 17506 17517 17501 17515
| Manufacturer: | Canadair Aircraft Ltd. |
| Crew/Passengers: | crew of seven with provisions for 44 passengers or 11,500 lbs ( 5,216 kg) of cargo |
| Power Plant: | four 1,760 hp Rolls-Royce Merlin 622 piston engines |
| Performance: | Max Speed: 353 mph (568 km/h) Cruising Speed: 325 mph ( 523 km/h) Service Ceiling: 36,000 ft (10,970 m) Range: 420 mi ( 677 km) |
| Weights: | Empty: 43,500 lb ( 19,731 kg) Gross: 73,000 lb ( 33,112 kg) |
| Dimensions: | Span: 117 ft 6 in ( 35.81 m) Length: 94 ft 9 1/2 in ( 28.89 m) Height: 27 ft 6 in (8.38 m) Wing Area: 1,462 sq ft (135.82 sq m) |
| Armament: | None |
| Cost: | Unknown |
Trans Canada Airlines Lockheed Super Constellation L-1049G
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