Curtiss C-46 Commando

Curtiss C-46 Commando
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Name	C-46 Commando
Caption	A C-46 in flight
Type	Military transport aircraft
Manufacturer	Curtiss-Wright
First flight	26 March 1940
Introduction	1942
Status	Limited service
Primary user	United States Army Air Forces
More users	United States Navy, United States Marine Corps, Civil Air Transport
Produced	1940–1945
Number built	3,181
Developed from	Curtiss CW-20

Curtiss C-46 Commando was a twin-engine military transport aircraft developed from the commercial Curtiss CW-20 design. It was primarily used by the United States Army Air Forces during World War II and the Korean War, where it earned a reputation as a rugged, high-altitude cargo carrier. The aircraft is most famously associated with the perilous supply route over the Himalayas known as "The Hump." While it was larger and could carry a heavier load than the more famous Douglas C-47 Skytrain, it was also more complex and had a higher accident rate.

Design and development

The design originated as a private venture by the Curtiss-Wright Corporation, intended to compete with the Douglas DC-3 and the Boeing 307 Stratoliner in the commercial airliner market. The prototype, designated the Curtiss CW-20, first flew on 26 March 1940, featuring a unique "double-bubble" fuselage cross-section that provided two cargo decks. The United States Army Air Corps showed immediate interest, ordering a modified version as the C-46. Key design challenges involved adapting the airframe for military cargo duty, which led to the installation of large cargo doors, a strengthened floor, and more powerful Pratt & Whitney R-2800 Double Wasp engines. The development process was protracted due to the need to rectify numerous technical issues with the hydraulics, fuel system, and cabin pressurization, which was eventually deleted from production models.

Operational history

The C-46 entered service with the United States Army Air Forces in 1942, initially seeing action in the Pacific Theater of Operations. Its most critical and celebrated service was with the Air Transport Command flying the "Hump" route from India to China, where its powerful engines and high-altitude performance were essential for traversing the eastern Himalayas. It carried vital supplies to support Chinese forces and the Fourteenth Air Force under Claire Chennault. After World War II, it served extensively in the Berlin Airlift and the Korean War, often operated by Civil Air Transport, a covert airline run by the Central Intelligence Agency. The type remained in military service with various nations for decades and saw extensive use as a civilian cargo hauler in remote areas like Alaska and South America.

Variants

The primary production model was the C-46A, which introduced a large cargo door and a strengthened floor. The C-46D featured a redesigned nose with an additional door for paratroop operations. The United States Navy and United States Marine Corps operated the aircraft under the designation R5C. Post-war, many surplus C-46s were converted for civilian use by companies like Remmert-Werner, often with increased fuel capacity and updated avionics. A specialized cold-weather research version, the C-46J, was proposed but not built. Experimental modifications included tests with Westinghouse J34 turbojet engines mounted under the wings.

Operators

Primary military operators included the United States Army Air Forces, United States Navy, and United States Marine Corps. Post-war, it was widely exported to allied air forces, including those of Nationalist China, Argentina, Brazil, Peru, and the Dominican Republic. Major civilian operators included Civil Air Transport, Air America, Línea Aeropostal Venezolana, and numerous small cargo airlines across North America and Latin America. The Soviet Air Forces also evaluated several aircraft obtained through Lend-Lease.

Specifications (C-46A)

* **Crew:** 4 * **Capacity:** 50 troops or 33 stretchers or 10,000 lb (4,500 kg) cargo * **Length:** 76 ft 4 in (23.27 m) * **Wingspan:** 108 ft 0 in (32.92 m) * **Height:** 21 ft 9 in (6.63 m) * **Empty weight:** 30,669 lb (13,911 kg) * **Max takeoff weight:** 56,000 lb (25,401 kg) * **Powerplant:** 2 × Pratt & Whitney R-2800-51 Double Wasp 18-cylinder air-cooled radial piston engines, 2,000 hp (1,500 kW) each * **Maximum speed:** 270 mph (430 km/h, 230 kn) * **Range:** 3,150 mi (5,070 km, 2,740 nmi) * **Service ceiling:** 27,600 ft (8,400 m)

Accidents and incidents

The C-46 had a notably high accident rate during its service life, attributed to its complex systems and demanding flight characteristics. A significant early crash occurred on 21 January 1943, when a C-46 crashed near Medellín, Colombia, killing all on board, including the American singer and actress Jane Froman. During the "Hump" operations, adverse weather and mechanical failures led to the loss of many aircraft. On 6 December 1952, a Royal Canadian Air Force C-46 disappeared on a flight from RCAF Station Rockcliffe to Alert, Nunavut, in the Arctic. A notable post-war incident involved a Línea Aeropostal Venezolana C-46 that crashed into the Atlantic Ocean in 1956, killing 74 people, one of the deadliest aviation accidents in Venezuelan history.