Impressions in the Air

At an all-up weight of 63,000 lbs. the aircraft left the ground after a run of only 13 seconds and climbed at more than 1,700 ft per min. Reaching 8,000 ft, one of the Merlins was stopped but the remaining three held the rate of climb at 1,500 ft per min. At 9,000 ft both port airscrews were feathered and, with the Merlins each running at 2,650 revs, a climb of 200 ft per min was still maintained. Finally a third engine was stopped and at that altitude, height was lost at the rate of only 150 ft per min. Capt. Lilly said that the DC-4M will hold its height on one Merlin, running at 2,850 r.p.m., at any altitude below 6,000 ft.
Demonstrating the viceless stall under landing conditions, the wheels and flaps were lowered and the nose pulled up. A distinct tail buffeting could be felt as the A.S.I. fell to 80/82 m.p.h. At 75 M.P.H. the nose went down sharply but there was no tendency for a wing to drop. It is said that if a pilot is quick with the throttles no more than 20 ft need be lost in a stall.

Level flight, at a normal cruise power, provides very pleasant travel. Speech between passengers can be made without straining either voice or ears.
Good piloting, together with the tricycle arrangement and the attitude which the DC4 takes up when the flaps are lowered, makes landing appear to be a very simple operation for a machine of its weight and speed. The end of the runway remains a steady picture in the pilot’s windscreen during the whole of the approach and only disappears underneath as the stick is pulled back for the hold-off. Even then the tail-up attitude of the Canadair Four ensures for the pilots a good field of vision, both forwards and downwards.
At the weight at which the 4M was flying – 63,000 lb. – and cruising at 240 M.P.H., fuel consumption during the flight worked out at 196 Imp. Gallons per hour.

Flight, June 26 1947, p. 609-610