C-46 Commando

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Lamb Air C-46

The Curtiss C-46 Commando was a transport aircraft used by the United States Army Air Forces during World War II.

Also known to the men who flew them as "The Whale". The C-46 served a similar role as its brother the Douglas C-47 Skytrain, but was not quite as famous or as heavily produced. The Navy/Marine Corps version was known as the R5C.

This aircraft had a patented fuselage conventionally referred to as a "figure of eight" which enabled it to better withstand the pressure differential at high altitudes. This was done by having the sides of the fuselage creased at the level of the floor that not only separated the two portions but shared in the stress of each, rather than just supporting itself. Production models were unpressurized, but retained the figure eight fuselage configuration. The C-46 could carry more cargo higher than other Allied aircraft, and was used to carry cargo over the Himalayas.

In the late 70s and early 80s, the Canadian airline Lamb Air operated several C-46s from their bases in Thompson and Churchill, Manitoba.

Between 1993 and 1995, Relief Air Transport operated three Canadian registered C-46s on Operation Lifeline Sudan from Lokichoggio, Kenya. These aircraft also transported humanitarian supplies to Goma, Zaire and Mogadishu, Solomia from their base in Nairobi, Kenya.

Variants

C-46A
CX-46B
XC-46C
C-46D
C-46E
C-46F
C-46G
C-46H
C-46J
AC-46K : Unbuilt version.
XC-46K
XC-46L
C-55 : Original CW-20 prototype
XC-113: Engine change. General Electric T-31 turboshaft engines in place of R-2800s
R5C-1 : Military transport version for the US Marine Corps.

Units Using the C-46

Chinese People's Liberation Army Air Force
Haitian Air Corps
Japan Air Self-Defense Force
United States Army Air Forces
United States Air Force
United States Marine Corps
United States Navy

Specifications (C-46)

C-46 Commando

C-46 Commando

Variants

Units Using the C-46

Specifications (C-46)

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