Curtiss CW-20 Commando
The Curtiss C-46 Commando was a large, twin-engine cargo transport that carried significantly more freight than its more famous contemporary, the Douglas C-47/DC-3. It became legendary for flying 'The Hump' — the dangerous supply route over the Himalayas from India into China during the Second World War, when overland routes were cut off. Its distinctive, rounded double-bubble fuselage cross-section gave it more usable cargo volume than a simpler circular design. A handful remain airworthy today, flown by warbird enthusiasts and preserved as flying memorials to that wartime airlift.
Did you know?
The C-46 Commando's rounded 'double-bubble' fuselage cross-section gave it more cargo volume than the DC-3, and it became famous flying the Himalayan 'Hump' supply route.
Specifications
| Length | 23.3 m (76 ft) |
|---|---|
| Wingspan | 32.9 m (108 ft) |
| Height | 6.6 m (22 ft) |
| Maximum passengers | 40 |
| Persons on board | 36-53 |
| Maximum take-off weight | 22.6 t |
| Range | 1,200 NM (2,222 km) |
| Maximum speed | 217 kt (402 km/h) |
| Service ceiling | 24,500 ft (7,468 m) |
| Optimum ceiling | 24,000 ft (7,315 m) |
| Rate of climb | 600 ft/min (3 m/s) |
| Engines | 2x Pratt & Whitney R-2800 |
| Units built | 3,181 |
Curated by CatchFlights from manufacturer documents, ICAO Doc 8643 and reference works; values are left out where no source could confirm them. Sources are listed on our credits page.
In CatchFlights
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