This film is a classic United Airlines promotional film, showing the activities of the airline in the late 1950s. There are a number of different types of aircraft shown, including venerable DC-3 aircraft and the DC-6 which entered service in 1946. In addition to passenger operations, there’s an extended portion of the film dedicated to maintaining the planes. The underlying message of course is to allay safety concerns, and to demonstrate that air travel is safe, and that planes are superbly inspected and maintained on a scheduled basis, and prior to every flight!
The film begins (01:00:14.22) showing the Douglas DC-6 Mainliner. During an inspection, ground crew begin taking apart an 18 cylinder wasp piston engine. The engine components are taken apart and sent to be tested and cleaned. (01:01:03:12) Aircraft interior is being stripped and cleaned while the outside mechanical gear and parts are being tested and inspected by “top instrument craftsmen”. (01:02:33:00) Engines are being reassembled. After 5 hours of being run in a test cell the engine is deemed ready for takeoff! (01:03:20:00) Engine is returned to the dock and placed back onto the wing. (01:04:31:00) United 6534 is taken on a test flight and completes its test run. (01:10:55:00) United 6534 begins takeoff heading to Chicago with passengers onboard. (01:15:06:00) Aircraft shown flying eastward across the Continental Divide, stewardesses serve passengers their in-flight meal. (01:16:25:00) explanation of how the instrument landing system “ILS” works as the plane approaches its destination.(01:19:25) Landing gear is in place as the aircraft begins to descend towards the runway.(01:20:47:00) United 6534 lands and arrives to Chicago. (01:52:00) A new plane crew goes aboard United 6354 as they take off to New York. (01:22:43:00) United 6534 is shown flying over New York City. (01:23:31) Landing gear is out as the plane approaches its destination, aircraft lands. Narrator points out the aircraft first flew from Los Angeles to Chicago to New York. End shows the front of United #6534, ready for another trip (01:24:29:00)
The Douglas DC-6 is a piston-powered airliner and transport aircraft built by the Douglas Aircraft Company from 1946 to 1958. Originally intended as a military transport near the end of World War II, it was reworked after the war to compete with the Lockheed Constellation in the long-range commercial transport market. More than 700 were built and many still fly today in cargo, military and wildfire control roles.
This film is part of the Periscope Film LLC archive, one of the largest historic military, transportation, and aviation stock footage collections in the USA. Entirely film backed, this material is available for licensing in 24p HD. For more information visit http://www.PeriscopeFilm.com
