RCAF Canadair North Star C-5 VIP Transport

The North Star was a Canadian development of the Douglas C-54/DC-4, with some features of the DC-6. The aircraft were equipped with Rolls-Royce Merlin engines. The North Star served dependably with Trans-Canada Air Lines, Canadian Pacific Airlines, British Overseas Airlines Corporation (BOAC), and the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF). Many North Stars continued to fly with small commercial operators after retirement from major carriers. RCAF North Stars were retired in 1966.
Civilian North Stars were pressurized while RCAF versions were not. Passengers found them vey uncomfortable because of the noisy exhaust system of the original in-line engines. A special crossover exhaust was developed by TCA in a partially successful attempt to lower noise levels. The RCAF made no attempt to quiet its North Stars.
Of the 71 North Stars built by Canadair, only the example shown in this video was outfitted with Pratt and Whitney's Double Wasp radial engines. It served as a RCAF VIP transport (C-5) and is shown here as part of Air Transport Command in 1951.
As of 2012, only one example survives at the Canadian Aviation and Space Museum in Ottawa and is undergoing restoration.

[@BBHC2012]

Great video, but it should have some notes: The aircraft on the ground at the beginning of the video is a C47, not a North Star. The balance of the video is of the sole North Star C-5. This version had Pratt and Whitney R2800 engines, similar to the DC-6. The other 70 North Stars built had Merlin engines. The RCAF operated 12 North Stars, 11 Merlin, and 1 P&W R2800 powered. The others were operated by civilan companies.

[@CanadaHistory]

Thanks for the comment, Bill. I'm always impressed with how quickly viewers are able to spot aircraft that don't belong in a clip!

[@viscount757]

23 Merlin-powered unpressurized North Stars were built for the RCAF, not 11. Six of the RCAF aircraft were initially built with passenger interiors and operated by Trans-Canada Air Lines for about 2 years while waiting for their own pressurized North Stars to be delivered. The prototype North Star was also later delivered to the RCAF. Of the 46 pressurized airliner versions built, 22 went to BOAC, 20 to TCA, and 4 to Canadian Pacific Air Lines. CPA sold 3 of their 4 aircraft to TCA in 1951/52. The 4th was written off in a non-fatal accident at Tokyo in 1950. As you mention, a total of 71 were built including the prototype and the one-off Pratt & Whitney-powered C-5.

[@BBHC2012]

Thanks for the update!