Curtiss C-46

The C-46 Commando is a twin-engine, piston-powered military transport aircraft developed and manufactured by Curtiss-Wright, an American aviation company. The Commando took its maiden flight in March of 1940 and entered service with the United States Army Air Forces in 1941. The aircraft quickly became renowned for its versatility and ruggedness in multiple theaters of World War II. It performed several types of missions, including freighter, medical evacuation, and glider towing. Due to its robust build and powerful engines, it could operate out of unimproved airfields and carry heavy loads.

The C-46 traces its roots to Curtiss-Wright’s CW-20, a twin-engine airliner created based on the quickly growing airline industry in the 1930s. The company began development of the CW-20 in 1937, designing it to compete with the four-engine Boeing 307 Stratoliner, the world’s first airliner with a pressurized cabin. The CW-20 boasted several advanced design characteristics. These included a pressurized cabin, a high-strength fuselage designed specifically to maintain pressurization at high altitude, a refined aerodynamic shape to minimize drag, and a high-strength wing. The CW-20, which could carry up to 36 passengers, took its maiden flight on March 26, 1940.