Curtiss-Wright CW-20 / C-46 Commando

1940

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Curtiss-Wright CW-20 / C-46 Commando

The Commando was evolved from the Curtiss-Wright CW-20 which was originally laid out as a 36-passenger pressurised commercial transport in 1937. The prototype CW-20 first flew on 26 March 1940 and, because the US Army was impressed with its possibilities, authorisation was obtained for the purchase of a large number as cargo transports. In the meantime the prototype was bought, modified and given the Army designation C-55. It was later re-converted for civil use and sold to the British government.

The Army production model of the CW-20, designated C-46, was a redesign not only to suit it to the duties of a military cargo or task-force aircraft but to allow easy large-scale production. It was produced in three large manufacturing plants and was put into widespread use by the US Army Air Transport Command, Air Service Command and Troop Carrier Command, and by the US Naval Air Transport Command and Marine Corps. The main compartment of the C-46 could accommodate (in addition to general cargo) 40 fully equipped troops, up to 33 stretchers, five Wright R-3350 engines or their equivalent weight of other goods.

Profiting from the experience of the C-46, the Curtiss company in 1944 prepared designs and a mock-up of a commercial version of the aircraft for immediate post-war production. Interestingly, by the end of that year at least two American airlines had ordered the type as the CW-20E. Several hundred of the 3,000 or so Commandos built survived the war and served in a commercial capacity for many years.

C-46A

Specification 
 CREW3-5
 PASSENGERS62
 ENGINE2 x P+W R-2800-51 M-1, 1495kW
 WEIGHTS
  Take-off weight21770 kg47995 lb
  Empty weight13562 kg29899 lb
 DIMENSIONS
  Wingspan32.9 m108 ft 11 in
  Length23.3 m76 ft 5 in
  Height6.6 m22 ft 8 in
  Wing area126.3 m21359.48 sq ft
 PERFORMANCE
  Cruise speed370 km/h230 mph
  Ceiling6700 m22000 ft
  Range w/max.fuel2770 km1721 miles

Curtiss-Wright CW-20 / C-46 Commando

Comments1-20 21-40 41-60 61-80 81-100
James B Bertero, e-mail, 28.06.2008 02:15

Cordova Airlines in Alaska had two of these birds in the early '60s and used them to fly men and cargo in and out of many DEW line radar sites. One had a tail # ending in "45M". I've wondered what became of her.

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Jack Lamberty, e-mail, 25.05.2008 03:09

In the 1959-60 era, our reserve squadron used the C-46 to transition from F-84s to C-119s. I guess the logic was if you could land a C-46, the C-119 would be a piece of cake. Because of the large vertical stabilizer, the C-46 was grounded in a 30 knot crosswind.

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Lawrence Varick, e-mail, 19.05.2008 18:51

Flew them between Japan and Korea during the Korean ?.
Big Piper Cub. Nasty in gusty crosswinds ,but manageable.
Great airplane to fly.

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Ronald E Ciura, e-mail, 17.05.2008 07:15

Zantop Air Transport operated a large number of these
through the 1960's. Used extensively to move automobile parts.

reply

Yoash Tsiddon-Chatto, e-mail, 21.02.2008 10:53

Interested to purchase for museum in Israel. Flyable condition may offset surface transport costs.
Any propodal?
Thanks- Yoash Tsiddon-Chatto

reply

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