Last operator was Germanair

The oldest surviving DC-6 started life as Flagship California, NX90702 of American Airlines in November 1946. In the early 1960s she also worked from Jordan and Panama, to end up in Germany in 1965. Bad Laer is its second preservation location, intially with regi still applied. She now promotes the local commercial centre. Bad Laer Center spent some € 5 mio. on improvements during 2018-2020, including refurbishing and retitling of the Six.

The oldest existing DC-6 (first flown in 1946) still looks quite proud in front of the Sanicare Medical complex in Bad Laer, the aircraft finished its active life in spring 1969, by the time operating for Germanair, it was transferrred into the countryside to be used as a cafe near Preussisch-Oldendorf, where some lovely cakes were served, and since 2003 it became kind of landmark of the little German town.

Early DC-6 wearing an experimental registration. It is the oldest surviving DC-6, as D-ABAH. Photo from: Nationaal Archief (Netherlands)

Douglas DC-6 with line number 4, in use as a restaurant from 1969 until 2003.

This very early DC-6 survives in Germany but deserves to be preserved in an environment that would guarantee its survival well into the future.