B-1006
Douglas DC-6B
(c/n 45550)

Civil Air Transport acquired this sole DC-6B in 1958
and with it established their "Mandarin" flights,
complete with
chic hostesses and unique Chinese decor. "Service" was the key
word. The DC-6B
was used mainly
on flights to Tokyo from Taipei and catered heavily to Japanese
businessmen. This
custom and service was retained
after the Convair 880 replaced the DC-6B. B-1002 went to
Royal
Air Lao in 1968 becoming
XW-PFC. It wound up as a freighter with Air Atlantique as G-SIXC
but
may now be
withdrawn from use. Current status, someone?