Curtiss-Wright C-46 Commando. A photo. Characteristics.

2014-10-13

other

USA

A type: twin-engine transport aircraft

Capacity: a crew of two and up to 60 passengers

The Commando C-46 airplane began its life in the 1936 year as a CW-20 project. It was built by Curtis-Wright as an attempt to return from Boeing, Douglas and Lockheed companies a part of the airliner market that was lost. The first flight of the aircraft made in the early spring of the year 1940. Its flight performance impressed both civil and military operators - US Air Force placed an order for 200 copies in September of the same year. To perform the military tasks sealed cabin CW-20 was transformed into a leaky, and the seats were replaced with linen. The fuselage have built a large dual cargo door, strengthened floor and installed the high-revving engine.

Serial specimens began to arrive in the US Air Force transport aircraft in the autumn of 1942 years. This type almost immediately established himself in the transportation of people and goods over long distances in North Africa on the eve of "Operation Torch» (Torch - Torch). But the high point to the C-46 arrived in the Far East, where the Indian-Chinese aircraft wing formed the basis for the transportation of goods by air over the Himalayas in "Operation Hump» (Hump - fracture) in 1943-1944 years.

Features Commando aircraft towing gliders have also been widely used in Europe during the crossing of the Rhine River, C-46 towing two gliders at the same time. It was built more than 3000 aircraft in five different versions. Aircraft remained in operation the US Air Force during the wars in Korea and Vietnam. Many former military aircraft C-46 were sold to owners of companies on cargo transportation, especially in Central and South America, and today more than 50 copies of this aircraft is still profitable mainly used in the same places.

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