C-46D Commando

The Curtiss‑Wright C‑46D Commando was a rugged, twin‑engine transport aircraft that first entered service in the early 1940s. Developed initially as a high‑altitude cargo plane for the commercial market, the type was quickly adapted for military use during World War II, where its large, pressurised fuselage and powerful Pratt & Whitney R‑2800 radials gave it the ability to carry up to 15,000 pounds of freight or 40 troops across the Himalayas on the famed “Hump” route. The D variant, introduced in 1944, incorporated strengthened wing spars, enlarged fuel tanks, and a redesigned cockpit that improved visibility and reduced pilot fatigue. Its high wing, wide landing gear and robust undercarriage allowed operations from rough, unpaved airstrips, while the large cargo door facilitated rapid loading of supplies, vehicles, and parachute drops. After the war the C‑46 continued service with civilian airlines, the U.S. Air Force, and numerous foreign operators, proving especially valuable in remote regions of South America and Asia. The aircraft’s durability, payload capacity, and versatility cemented its place as a workhorse of mid‑century transport aviation, influencing the design philosophy of later tactical airlifters.

Curtiss-Wright

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Design & Classification