Delivered to the USAF as 51-3826 in 1952. To the US Department of Agriculture as N203GB in 1975. Sold as 6Y-JKM then to Lineas Aereas Mayas as TG-SAS in 1989. Sold as N54G in 1989 then reregistered as 9Q-CGZ in 1997 and parked at Rand, South Africa. To the South African Airllines museum by 2009. Marked with fake reg 5H-264 on this side only. Applied for filming.

Delivered to the USAF as 51-3826 in 1952. To the US Department of Agriculture as N203GB in 1975. Sold as 6Y-JKM then to Lineas Aereas Mayas as TG-SAS in 1989. Sold as N54G in 1989 then reregistered as 9Q-CGZ in 1997 and parked at Rand, South Africa. To the South African Airllines museum by 2009.

Delivered to the USAF as 51-3826 in 1952. To the US Department of Agriculture as N203GB in 1975. Sold as 6Y-JKM then to Lineas Aereas Mayas as TG-SAS in 1989. Sold as N54G in 1989 then reregistered as 9Q-CGZ in 1997 and parked at Rand, South Africa. To the South African Airllines museum by 2009.

Delivered to the USAF in 1952 as 51-3826 and transferred to the US Dept of Agriculture in 1975 as N203GB. Bought by Florida Aircraft Leasing in April 1981, registered as 6Y-JKM in 1982 and to Lineas Aereas Mayas of Guatemala as TG-SAS later the same year. Seen here still wearing its former USAF colour scheme, by late 1989 it was registered as N54G and after a re-paint continued to fly freight out of the Miami area until sold as 9Q-CGZ in 1996. Impounded at Rand Airport in South Africa in by 1997, it remained stored there for over 23 years, finally being scrapped in October 2021

Delivered to the USAF in October 1952 as C-118A 51-3826. Later converted to VC-118A. To the US Department of Agriculture in August 1975 as N203GB. Exproted to Jamaica in June 1982 and became 6Y-JKM. To Lineas Aereas Mayas in August 1982 as TG-SAS. In December 1989 the aircraft was reregistered N54G (DC-6A). To 9Q-CGZ between April 1991 and 1999. The aircraft fled Congo due to fighting and arrived at Rand without documentation, it was subsequently grounded by the SA CAA. The '5H-264'is fake and was applied for the filming of a movie. Moved to the museum in April 2009.

Ex N54G, registered Dec 1996 and arrived with 4 other aircraft from Congo in 1999 without any logbooks/paperwork and never flew again. Presently preserved FAGM (Rand) with fake registration 5H-264

A visit to Johannesburg isn't complete without going to Rand airport and the aviation museum that is next to it. On our last day of the trip, we we able to go to the museum and it turned out to be one of the highlights of the trip. Just walking around amongst the DC-4, DC-6, B742, B747SP (and others) is so cool. We were able to go into this old DC-6 and also had a look into the cockpit. The old-school vibe will hit you when you walk into the aircraft, but it's even greater once you get up front.

Registered to Rubi Inc., obviously between the time Gerard Helmer and I photographed it, someone decided it was in need of sprucing up and it got a paint job! Note that in the older photos the reg is painted as N-54G. In this photo the dash has been removed leaving a space between the N and the 5. I read that this a/c was withdrawn from use between 1989 and 1996. This would appear to be incorrect as it was noted operating, at least for some of that period.

9Q-CGZ painted on one side, as the last actual registration, and large marking 5H-264 painted on for a movie a long time ago.

Sold in the US as N54G in December 1989

Sold in Jamaica as 6Y-JKM in 1982. Ultimately ended up in the South African Airways Museum.

Arriving at the customs apron after a cargo-flight from the Caribbean.

Paint keeps this one together!

Has been parked in the SAA Museum compound between two 747s since late 2006, with a false 5H- reg on the other side. Had been stored at Rand since 1997