Canadair North Star

Overview

The Canadair North Star was a unique Canadian development of the Douglas C-54/DC-4 aircraft. Instead of radial piston engines found on the Douglas design, Canadair selected Rolls-Royce Merlin engines to achieve a cruising speed 35 mph faster. The prototype flew on July 15, 1946, and the type was selected by various airlines, including the RCAF. The RCAF North Stars were unpressurized and were used on a wide variety of general transport duties. They were, unfortunately, also infamous for the high level of interior cabin noise caused by the Merlin engines. The North Stars were assigned to 426 Transport Squadron, which was initially deployed to Dorval, Quebec and then to Trenton, Ontario. During the Korean War, from 1950 to 1952, RCAF North Star aircraft were employed ferrying supplies to Korea across the Pacific. They flew 599 round trips over the Pacific and delivered seven million pounds of cargo and 13,000 personnel both ways. North Stars were also employed by 412 Squadron from Ottawa on various VIP transport duties and, overall, the aircraft provided the RCAF valuable and reliable long-range transport services.

Source: Canadian Combat and Support Aircraft: A Military Compendium by T.F.J. Leversedge © 2007. Translated and reproduced with permission of the author.

Technical specifications

Source: Canadian Combat and Support Aircraft: A Military Compendium by T.F.J. Leversedge © 2007. Translated and reproduced with permission of the author.