The Curtiss C-46 Commando is a twin-engine transport aircraft derived from the Curtiss CW-20 pressurized high-altitude airliner design.
Early press reports used the name “Condor III”, but the Commando name was in use by early 1942 in company publicity.
It was used as a military transport during World War II by the United States Army Air Forces and also the U.S. Navy/Marine Corps, which called it R5C.
The C-46 served in a similar role to its Douglas-built counterpart, the C-47 Skytrain, but it was not as extensively produced as the latter.
After World War II, a few surplus C-46 aircraft were briefly used in their original role as passenger airliners but the glut of surplus C-47s dominated the marketplace and the C-46 was soon relegated to cargo duty.
The type continued in U.S. Air Force service in a secondary role until 1968.
The C-46 continues in operation as a rugged cargo transport for arctic and remote locations with its service life extended into the 21st century.
Variants
CW-20
Original passenger airliner design.
CW-20T
The original passenger airliner prototype, fitted with a dihedralled tailplane and endplate fins, powered by two 1,700 hp (1,268 kW) Wright R-2600 Twin Cyclone radial piston engines.
CW-20A
Company designation of the C-55.
CW-20B
Company designation of the C-46A.
CW-20B-1
Company designation of the XC-46B.
CW-20B-2
Company designation of the C-46D.
CW-20B-3
Company designation of the C-46E.
CW-20B-4
Company designation of the C-46F.
CW-20B-5
Company designation of the C-46G.
CW-20E
Company designation of the AC-46K.
CW-20G
Company designation of the XC-46C.
CW-20H
Company designation of the XC-46L.
C-55
Modification to the original CW-20T prototype, tail redesigned with a large single tail fin and rudder and an elevator with no dihedral and other improvements, including a change to Pratt & Whitney R-2800-5 radials.
It was used as a C-46 military transport prototype aircraft, also designated XC-46. Later sold to BOAC
C-46 Commando
Twin engined military transport aircraft, powered by two 2,000 hp (1,500 kW) Pratt & Whitney R-2800-43 radial piston engines.
C-46A Commando
Twin-engined military transport aircraft, powered by two 2,000 hp (1,500 kW) Pratt & Whitney R-2800-51 radial piston engines, fitted with a large cargo door on the port side of the fuselage, equipped with strengthened cargo floor, a hydraulic winch and folding seats for up to 40 troops.
TC-46A
Three C-46As converted to crew trainers.
XC-46A
A C-46A used for development tests; converted back to C-46 after tests were completed.
XC-46B Commando
One C-46A was converted into a test aircraft to evaluate a stepped windscreen design, it was powered by two 2,100 hp (1,567 kW) R-2800-34W radial piston engines with water injection.
XC-46C Commando
Redesignated from C-46G, later redesignated XC-113.
C-46D Commando
Twin-engined personnel, paratrooper transport aircraft, fitted with an extra door on the port side; 1,610 built.
TC-46D
15 C-46Ds converted to crew trainers.
C-46E Commando
17 C-46Ds modified with a large single cargo door on the port side of the fuselage, fitted with a stepped windscreen and 2,000 hp R-2800-75 engines with 3-bladed Hamilton Standard propellers.
ZC-46E
Redesignation of C-46Es in 1946.
C-46F Commando
Twin-engined cargo transport aircraft, equipped with single cargo doors on both sides of the fuselage, fitted with square cut wingtips; 234 built.
C-46G Commando
This one-off aircraft was fitted with a stepped windscreen and square wingtips, one built.
C-46H
More powerful version of C-46F, equipped with twin tail wheels, 300 ordered but later cancelled.
One C-46A was modified to C-46H standard after WWII.
C-46J
Planned update for C-46E with stepped windscreen; never ordered.
AC-46K Commando
Unbuilt version, intended to be powered by two 2,500 hp (1865-kW) Wright R-3350-BD radial piston engines.
XC-46K
Conversion project for C-46F with two 2,500 hp Wright R-3350-BD engines.
XC-46L
In 1945 three C-46As were fitted with Wright R-3350 radial piston engines.
XC-113
Engine change: One C-46G, s/n 44-78945, was converted into an engine testbed; the aircraft was fitted with a General Electric T31 turboprop in place of right-hand side R-2800.
The aircraft handled so poorly on the ground that it was never flown.
R5C-1
Twin-engined military transport aircraft for the U.S. Marine Corps. Similar to the C-46A Commando; 160 built.
C-46R
Riddle Airlines, of USA, conversion, with modification kit (mid-1950s) which added 40mph (64kmh) to cruising speed and 2,204 Ib (1,000 kg) to the payload.
Riddle subsequently converted its own fleet of 32 to have 2,100 hp Pratt & Whitney engines.
This conversion was also referred to as the Super 46C.
