The Douglas DC-6 is an American civil four-engine aircraft that was designed in 1946 by the aircraft manufacturer Douglas C-54 based on its predecessor. Series production lasted from 1947 to 1958, during which more than 500 civil aircraft were produced. Starting in 1952, the Douglas DC-6 began operating transatlantic flights for economy class passengers, significantly contributing to the growth of aviation in general. With the emergence of the more modern Douglas DC-7 in the late 1950s, it gradually began to fade into the background. Some aircraft in third countries continued to be used until the mid-1980s. The Douglas DC-6 is considered one of the most elegant and classic passenger aircraft in the history of aviation.