The Cessna Model DC-6 was a 1920s American high-wing four-seat tourer built by the Cessna Aircraft Company. It was used by the

United States Army Air Corps The United States Army Air Corps (USAAC) was the aerial warfare service component of the United States Army between 1926 and 1941. After World War I, as early aviation became an increasingly important part of modern warfare, a philosophical ri ...

as the UC-77/UC-77A.

Design and development

The DC-6 was a scaled-down four-seat version of the six-seat CW-6. It was rolled out in February 1929 and went into production in two versions, the DC-6A and DC-6B. Both versions were

type certificate A type certificate signifies the airworthiness of a particular category of aircraft, according to its manufacturing design (''type design''). Certification confirms that the aircraft of a new type intended for serial production is in compliance w ...

d on October 29, 1929. The Wall Street crash that day and subsequent depression reduced demand for the aircraft and only about 20 of each model were produced.

Operational history

In addition to use as private touring aircraft, DC-6As and DC-6Bs saw use as newspaper delivery aircraft and were impressed as liaison aircraft with the

United States Army Air Forces The United States Army Air Forces (USAAF or AAF) was the major land-based aerial warfare service component of the United States Army and ''de facto'' aerial warfare service branch of the United States during and immediately after World War II ...

(USAAF) in 1942. The DC-6A was designated the UC-77 and the DC-6B, the UC-77A; note that the company's 6''B'' model became the 77''A''.

Variants

;DC-6 :The original aircraft, powered by a Curtiss Challenger, developed as a scaled-down Cessna CW-6. ;Model DC-6A Chief :Fitted with a Wright R-975 (J-6-9) Whirlwind engine; 20 built. ;Model DC-6B Scout :Fitted with a Wright J-6-7 (R-760) engine; 24 built. ;UC-77 :Military designation of four DC-6As impressed into service by the USAAF. ;UC-77A :Military designation of four DC-6Bs impressed into service by the USAAF. *Note that the designations UC-77B, UC-77C and UC-77D were not DC-6s, they were used for the Cessna Airmaster.

Operators

; *

Specifications (DC-6A Chief)

References

External links

{{USAF transports DC-06 1920s United States civil utility aircraft Single-engined piston aircraft Single-engined tractor aircraft High-wing aircraft Aircraft first flown in 1929 Aircraft with fixed conventional landing gear