Curtiss C46 Commando
- CountryUnited States of America
- TypeFreighter
- PowerplantsC46 - Two 1495kW (2000hp) Pratt & Whitney R280034 Double Wasp piston radial engines driving three blade constant speed propellers. C46R - Two 1565kW (2100hp) Pratt & Whitney R2800 C or CA series radial pistons.
- PerformanceC46 - Typical cruising speed 300km/h (162kt). Range with 2585kg (5700lb) payload 1880km (1017nm). C46R - Max speed 435km/h (235kt), max cruising speed 378km/h (204kt). Service ceiling 22,000ft. Range with max fuel 2897km (1564nm).
- WeightsC46 - Operating empty 14,970kg (33,000lb), max payload 5265kg (11,630lb), max takeoff 21,772kg (48,000lb). C46R - Empty 13,290kg (29,300lb), max takeoff 22,680kg (50,000lb).
- DimentionsWing span 32.92m (108ft 0in), length 23.27m (76ft 4in), height 6.60m (21ft 8in). Wing area 126.2m2 (1358sq ft).
- CapacityFlightcrew of two pilots and optional flight engineer. Typical accommodation for freight, but in an airliner configuration can seat 36, or in military configuration 50 troops.
- Production3182 Commandos built for US armed forces (as the C46 for the USAAF and R5C for the USN). Many hundreds subsequently converted for civil service. Approximately 16 remain in service as of late 1998.
The Curtiss Commando came into boundless non military personnel benefit as both a carrier and a vessel after a vast number were constructed as transports for the US military amid World War 2, in spite of the fact that the first Curtiss outline was expected as an air transport.
Initially proposed as a contender to the exceedingly effective Douglas DC-3, which was the prevalent air transport of the time, the Curtiss Cw20 was intended to work on courses of up to 1000km (540nm), which at the time represented 90% of the US household carrier framework. The CW-20 emphasized two 1270kw (1700hp) Wright R2600 Twin Cyclone spiral motors, twin vertical tails and a pressurized twofold flap, or `double bubble' fuselage. Settlement would have been for 36 travelers in addition to four team.
Later in timing than the DC-3, the Cw20 first flew on March 26 1940. In July that year an awed US Army Air Force requested 20 unpressurised Cw20s, which it named the C46 Commando. The main creation air ship was finished in May 1942, by which time the powerplant decision had been exchanged to P&w R2800s, and the first conveyances to the US Army happened that July.
At first the C46 was messed with dependability issues in military administration, yet these were soon overcome and the Commando ended up being a valuable transport with its generally deep set cargo hold.
A proposed after war business adaptation was the Cw20e, yet it neglected to draw in client investment and hence all Commandos to enter regular citizen administration were ex military airplane. Most were obtained by American administrators for cargo work. One after war form however was the Riddles Airlines C46r which had all the more influential motors and better execution. Thirty or thereabouts were changed over.
In late 1998 five Commandos were accepted to be operational in Alaska, four in Canada, and upwards of seven in Bolivia.
Pictures of Curtiss C46 Commando
