Curtiss C-46 Commando

Curtiss C-46 Commando
国	米国
役割	軍用輸送機
初飛行	1940年3月26日
構築	3181

ザ カーチス C-46 コマンドー は、カーチスCW-20与圧高高度旅客機の設計から派生した輸送機です。初期の報道では「コンドルIII」という名称が使われていたが、1942年初頭にはコマンドーの名称が会社の宣伝に使われていた。第二次世界大戦中、アメリカ陸軍航空軍とアメリカ海軍/海兵隊によって軍事輸送機として使用され、R5Cという名称が使用されました。C-46はダグラスが製造したC-47スカイトレインと同様の役割を果たしたが、後者ほど広範囲に生産されたわけではない。

ソース：カーチス C-46 コマンドーオンウィキペディア

Curtiss C-46D Commando Walk Around
カメラマン	セス・ヘンドリックス
ローカライズ	知りません
写真	63

Curtiss C-46D Commando 01

Curtiss C-46D Commando 02

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Curtiss C-46D Commando 06

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Curtiss C-46D Commando 08

Curtiss C-46D Commando 09

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待って、検索カーティスC-46コマンドー.

Curtiss C-46D-10-CU Commando Walk Around
カメラマン	Vladimir Yakubov
ローカライズ	キャッスル AFB ミュージアム
写真	279

カーチス C-46D-10-CU

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A Giant in the Shadows of the Dakota

ザ カーチス C-46 コマンドー was the largest and heaviest twin-engine aircraft used by the U.S. Army Air Forces during WWII. While the Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3) received more fame, the C-46 was a far more capable machine, able to carry twice the payload and fly much higher. The C-46D variant was the most-produced version, featuring a modified nose and extra cargo doors specifically designed for paratroop operations. It was the backbone of the “Hump” airlift, flying over the Himalayas in conditions that would have grounded lesser aircraft.

Attribute	Technical Specification (C-46D)
役割	Military Transport / Cargo Aircraft
乗組員	4 (Pilot, Co-pilot, Navigator, Radio Operator)
First Flight (CW-20)	March 26, 1940
パワープラント	2 × Pratt & Whitney R-2800-51 Double Wasp radials
Horsepower	2,000 hp (1,500 kW) per engine
最高速度	270 mph (435 km/h) at 15,000 ft
Service Ceiling	24,500 feet (7,468 m)
Max Payload	15,000 lbs (6,800 kg)

Engineering for High-Altitude Logistics

Double-Bubble Fuselage: The C-46 utilized a unique “figure-eight” or double-bubble cross-section. This allowed the cabin floor to be placed at the widest point of the fuselage, maximizing internal volume for bulky cargo like Jeeps and light artillery.
High-Altitude Radials: Powered by the massive 18-cylinder R-2800 Double Wasp engines, the Commando had the power to maintain flight even with one engine failed while fully loaded—a critical safety feature when flying over the 20,000-foot peaks of the Himalayas.
The “Hump” Modifications: Flying the “Hump” meant dealing with extreme icing. C-46s were fitted with advanced de-icing boots on the wings and tail, and specialized heaters to keep the fuel from waxing in the sub-zero temperatures.
C-46D Paratrooper Door: Unlike the standard cargo version, the “D” model featured a dedicated personnel door on the left side, allowing it to drop paratroopers more efficiently than the earlier cargo-only variants.

The “Curtiss Calamity” and Beyond

A Reputation for Danger: Early C-46s suffered from mysterious mid-air explosions. It was eventually discovered that fuel leaks in the unvented wing roots were being ignited by sparks. This led to a massive retrofitting program that eventually made the aircraft safe.
The Hump Legend: In the China-Burma-India (CBI) theater, C-46s delivered hundreds of thousands of tons of supplies to Chinese forces. It was here that the aircraft earned its nickname “The Whale” and proved its worth as a high-altitude heavy lifter.
Post-War Commercial Life: After 1945, the C-46 became a favorite of “non-sked” cargo airlines in Latin America and the Arctic. Its ability to haul heavy loads out of short, high-altitude strips made it a legend in the Andes and the Canadian North.
Survivors: A surprising number of C-46s remain in existence. Buffalo Airways in Canada famously operated them commercially well into the 21st century, and “Tinker Belle” remains a popular star on the U.S. airshow circuit.