Consolidated Commodore

The Consolidated Commodore was a twin‑engine, low‑wing transport introduced in the early 1940s by Consolidated Aircraft of San Diego. Developed from the company's earlier Model 16 series and sharing the same airframe as the B‑24 Liberator bomber, the Commodore entered service in 1942 as a civilian airliner and cargo carrier. Its 37‑foot‑10‑inch wingspan and 76‑foot‑6‑inch length accommodated up to 30 passengers or equivalent freight, while the Pratt & Whitney R‑1830 Twin Wasp radials delivered 1,200 hp each, giving a cruising speed of 225 mph and a range of 2,500 miles. The aircraft featured a retractable tricycle landing gear, a fully pressurized cabin, and a spacious cargo door, making it adaptable for wartime troop transport and post‑war commercial routes. Though only a few dozen were built before production shifted to the more powerful Liberator variants, the Commodore demonstrated the versatility of the B‑24 platform and helped cement Consolidated’s reputation for robust, multi‑role designs. Its reliable performance also made it a preferred platform for early aerial photographic surveys, expanding the reach of cartographic work. Its legacy lives on in the development of later medium‑range transports that combined military durability with civilian comfort.