A Modulift-designed and manufactured MOD® 12 spreader beam was used to lift a Douglas DC-6 military aircraft that was used towards the end of World War II.

The historic plane was relocated from Coventry to South Wales by specialist transportation company Kyles Transport, where it now resides at its destination in South Wales Aviation Museum.

“Modulift’s below-the-hook products are our go-to pieces of equipment for lifting. In this case, the MOD® 12 was used at a 4m span to allow us to lift the fuselage at its correct pick points along the aircraft” said Kyle Hourihane, Managing Director at Kyles Transport.

The task at hand involved transporting the cockpit section and main body of the aircraft, known as the fuselage. The plane measured 11m in length, with a width and height of 2.3m and 3.6m respectively.

It is believed the DC-6 was intended for military use at the end of the second World War. Built by the Douglas Aircraft Company from 1946 to 1958, it was reworked after the war to be used in the commercial aviation market. The fuselage will join a collection of static aviation pieces and potentially undergo restoration to its full-size DC-6 aircraft form.

To facilitate the lift, the MOD® 12 spreader beam was used with a PM65 lorry loader crane, mounted to a DAF XF lorry. Slings and shackles were attached to the beam to ensure the safe lifting of the 4000kg aircraft.

Modulift is globally recognised as the market leader below-the-hook. The MOD® spreader beam is the linchpin in Modulift’s product offering. A versatile foundation that seamlessly modifies into the shackle-free Trunnion, and CMOD® & TriMOD spreader frames. The MOD® is available from 6t to 2000t at a span of 0.4m to 36m.

“The MOD® spreader beam is lightweight, easily assembled and takes up a small footprint when stored. The components are interchangeable and can be re-used for all sorts of different lifts making it an invaluable asset across various industries, including construction, lifting gear and cargo, transport & logistics” continued Hourihane.

Sarah Spivey, Managing Director at Modulift added “Our spreader beams offer unrivalled versatility, making them ideal for diverse lifting requirements. Each MOD® spreader beam comprises end units, drop links, and struts that can be configured to achieve spans ranging from 0.4m to 36m, catering to a wide range of project needs. We are pleased to see Modulift's equipment facilitated the safe and efficient relocation of this historic aircraft component.”