Finding visuals...
  • The Locator
  • Airframes Database

    Social media...
    Follow AV on facebook
    Follow AV on Twitter @aerial_visuals
    Follow the AV YouTube Channel

    Site navigation...
  • Home
  • Desktop Calendar
  • The Racers
  • FAQs
  • About Aerial Visuals
  • Comment on this Dossier

  • Search For Airframes Now
    Search - Index - Gallery - Reports - Lists - AV Needs You!

    This page documents a history of a specific aircraft. The details provided vary from aircraft to aircraft and are dependent on the research and amount of data uploaded to the Aerial Visuals database.

    Airframe Family: Douglas DC-6 / C-118/R6D Liftmaster
    Latest Model:VC-118A Liftmaster
    Last Military Serial:51-3826 USAF
    Construction Number:43573
    Last Civil Registration:9Q-CGZ {1}
    Compressed ID:Douglas VC-118A sn 51-3826 USAF cn...
    Latest Owner or Location:South African Airways Museum Society, Rand Airport, Johannesburg, Gauteng

    EDIT THE HISTORY HERE
    If you can add to the history or would like to submit a correction please use the editor to do so.

    UPLOAD A PHOTO
    If you have a photo of this airframe to share then use the photo upload tool.

    The Airframes Database depends on user contributions to stay current.
    If you have any news about this airframe or photos which you would like to share please do so
    by using the links above.
    The more you and others share the better the database becomes!

    Dates

    Event

    1952

    Constructed as a C-118A.

    8 October 1952

    Taken on Strength/Charge with the United States Air Force with s/n 51-3826.

    Converted to a VC-118A.

    19 August 1975

    To United States Department of Agriculture with new c/r N203GB.

    October 1977


    Photographer: Geoff Goodall
    Notes: US Department of Agriculture based five C-118s and a large fleet of ex-military Beech 18s at Douglas, Arizona for an extensivescrew-worm eradication program across southern US states and Mexico air-spreading millions of sterile flies.USDA C-118A N203GB, still in USAF paintwork, was at Ryan Field, Arizona for maintenance in October 1977

    April 1981

    To Florida Aircraft Leasing Corporation keeping c/r N203GB.

    12 April 1982

    To H T T Inc, Bend, OR keeping c/r N203GB.

    9 June 1982

    Civil registration, N203GB, cancelled.
    Exported to Jamaica.

    1982

    To unknown owner with c/r 6Y-JKM.

    August 1982

    To Lineas Aereas Mayas with new c/r TG-SAS.

    19 December 1989

    To Rubi Inc, Wilmington, DE with new c/r N54G.

    19 April 1991


    Photographer: Larry Johnson
    Notes: At Tamiami Airport

    To Services Air with new c/r 9Q-CGZ {1}.

    1999

    Op by Kiki Lamere. Fled from Congo 1999 during fighting arrived FAGM with 4 others of fleet without logbooks documentation etc. Grounded by SA CAA.

    Markings Applied: 5H-264
    One side of the aircraft painted with fake registration - applied for filming of a movie.

    To Rand Airport, Johannesburg, Gauteng.
    View the Location Dossier

    Withdrawn from use.

    23 April 2009

    Based at South African Airways Museum Society, Rand Airport, Johannesburg, Gauteng.
    View the Location Dossier

    27 October 2014

    Civil registration, N54G, cancelled.

    10 November 2015


    Photographer: Mike Ward
    Notes: 2015 photo at Rand Airport, Johannesburg - wears fake registration - applied during the making of a movie


    This dossier is waiting for review by an editor.This airframe dossier is based on
    unreviewed imported data.
    If you can verify the documented history or add to it with additional text and/or photos please feel free to do so by using the upload tool and the history editor.

    Credits
    Data for airframe dossiers come from various sources. The following were used to compile this dossier...

    Internet Sources
    Aerial Visuals - The Locator by Mike Henniger, Senior Editor
    Airbus, Boeing, Convair and Douglas Production List
    Federal Aviation Administration in the United States of America
    RZJets

    Individual Contributors
    Terry Fletcher

    Tell Others About this Airframe Dossier
    Forum Link: [URL=https://www.aerialvisuals.ca/AirframeDossier.php?Serial=116700][IMG]/home/users/web/b1393/nf.aerialvisuals/public_html/AV/Support/Logo_20x20.jpg[/IMG]Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - Douglas VC-118A Liftmaster, s/n 51-3826 USAF, c/n 43573, c/r 9Q-CGZ {1}[/URL]
    Direct Link: https://www.aerialvisuals.ca/AirframeDossier.php?Serial=116700

    Copyright 1993-2025 AerialVisuals.ca
    The Aerial Visuals pages are best viewed with a screen at least 800 pixels wide.
    In case you are wondering Aerial Visuals is a huge fan Google Chrome. If you do not have Chrome installed why not?
    Aerial Visuals requires cookies and Javascript to function correctly. Please ensure these features are enabled in your browser.
    Aerial Visuals is powered by Netfirms.