Douglas DC-6 over ALASKA

In the most northern state of the USA, many small towns and remote places rely on supplys via air transportation. Everts Air Cargo does the job and they use the well known vintage C-46 and DC-6 aircraft which are especially well-suited to the many shorter, unimproved gravel or ice runways in Alaska. They haul everything that fits into the planes, from cookies to fuel.
In the summer of 2017 I had the chance to take a look behind the scenes at their base at the airport in fairbanks. The Everts Air Cargo fleet consists of two C-46, eight DC-6, one DC-9, two EMB 120 freighters and two EMB 120 passenger aircraft

Special thanks to Peter Merry for giving me that unique chance.

Also, thanks to Everts Air Cargo for the Hoodie, it fit`s well.

Website:

[PaddyPatrone]

NOTE: The Aircraft at 5:26 is a DC-4, not in the fleet of Everts Air Cargo.

[greyjay]

This is how I grew up, flying in DC-3's, DC-6's, and Lockheed Constellations. A pity to see these wonderful aircraft taken out of service. To my way of thinking, you haven't really flown, until you've been in one of these prop-driven aircraft. The sound of those big radials is sweet music.

[DanielDuhon]

It’ll be a very sad day when there are no more DC-6’s flying 😢 I’m glad they are still around

[ChevyBM]

The sound that these old 4 radial engines makes is wonderful!

[MarsFKA]

I made my first trip to Alaska – mainly Fairbanks, Prudhoe Bay and Anchorage – in August 2015, and was amazed at the amount of old stuff still flying up there.

[craiglee]

My father, Captain Eric D. Lee spent thirty years hauling cargo all over the state of Alaska in those DC-6s, I grew up on board those trusty old birds. They still come out of Anchorage on a regular basis and I always stop whatever I’m doing to watch and listen as they fly by. 80B, known as 80 Bravo she was Howard Hughes’s airplane, and she was the best in the fleet of DC-6s that Northern Air Cargo owned having next to no time on her when they acquired her from the Howard Hughes estate. When I was a kid and dad said “were flying 80 Bravo today” I was in, wherever she was going throughout the great state of Alaska. My dad was the number one pilot on the line at NAC and had been for over 20 years before the Flying Bulls came looking for some expertise to help out with their DC-6.

At age 66 he was diagnosed with stomach cancer. He said “it’s ok, I’ve lived more in one life then most do in two, if it’s my time I’m ok with that”. He died Sept 11, 2015. I'm 49 now, but it does my heart good to see 80 Bravo still doing what she has always done since I was a child all over the great state of Alaska. Thank you Everets for keeping her flying. As long as 80 Bravo still lives, so shall a piece of my father.

[harryhoodeeny]

I was in the Navy in VR-21, we had 20 of these known as C-118B. I had the joy of being flight crew member position called “ plane captain” which would be same as civilian flight engineer. 1965 to 1969 supporting missions all over west pacific into Vietnam . They were great planes!

[univibe]

What a beautiful airplane! Never get tired of that sound either.

[markomaticd]

Very nice video. I was stunned when we were on he beach in Anchorage last year and saw a DC-6 fly right over us. I did get a couple pics, but couldn't react in time to get a video.

[SuperScratch]

What beautiful engine sounds !! And not a piece of "musak" to be heard !! Just great !!

[HRGSXR]

Thanks for uploading this. They are beautiful birds and I stop whatever I am doing when one starts or takes off or lands, just great to see and hear. Kinda makes my day.

[joshs]

A sight and sound of my childhood. Thank you so much for keeping these legendary airplanes flying. 😎

[davidchristensen]

I just love the sound of the 4 engines roaring past. I grew up near Portland airport that has a air national guard station. Early 60’s over the summers we would have some DC 3 and flying boxcars fly over as they jumped out for parachute training. We had delta wing and then the phantoms. Over the summer ever night at 8 pm sharp either the delta wing or the phantoms, depending on the year would take off and do a unrestricted climb. We never heard the regular air traffic but the 8 o’clock jets we heard and every kid would run out and watch. What a nice video. Sorry I got off topic but these are the planes I grew up with flying over my head.

[ChevyBM]

The Red Bull DC-6 is one of the coolest things I have ever seen!

[arthurthompson]

Thanks a million for letting us hear the roar, it been a long time since i heard those 4 rascals singing

[rhyscadwallader]

I work at a testing centre for the building industry and we use a Pratt and Whitney (I believe 'Wasp') engine to generate 80 mph winds. Radials make a great noise! When it's running, I often wonder how many people it may have taken somewhere sunny, how many, now elderly, kids that engine may have ferried to happy memories... Cool plane regardless.

[Agwings]

I FE'ed on the DC6 in Alaska during the 90's, fast, reliable, hauls a heck of a load and lands on short Alaskan bush runways. Douglas knew what they were doing when they designed the DC6

[Aviatr]

So good they can't get rid of it. Simply amazing that they are not just still flying but they are operational too!

[scotabot]

Sound and sight wise, about as beautiful as it gets!! Just stunning, and Mr Douglas sure knew how to build them right. Many designers are still trying to design a better DC-3, but it's not possible.

[jackd]

I saw that you have a few former Zantop Intl Airlines Dc-6’s !!! That’s Awesome. I used to work for them many years ago as a cargo handler in Boston and looked forward to those old birds coming in !!! 😎