A good friend is a current C 54 pilot and a very experienced aircraft mechanic. He said on his C 54 you cannot simultaneously unfeather two props as shown in the SAAF video. He also noted that the gear retraction seemed much faster than can be accomplished in his plane. It made him even wonder if the video shows a giant scale RC model but I think its a real DC 4. He doesnt see how the rapid and simultaneous unfeathering of two props could be done without substantial mods to the hydraulic accumulator system.

Comments?

Interesting video, I hadn’t seen it before.
I don’t know anything specific about the C-54, but I know that the props are 23-E-50 Hydromatic types which use a simple electric feathering pump which utilises the engine oil system, so the aircraft hydraulic system and accumulator would not be involved in the feathering / un feathering operation unless the current aircraft are using a different propeller maybe?

Pete