Curtiss C-46A Commando

1942 military subtype, essentially the initial production version of the Commando.

1,493 Commandos produced for the USAAF

After the pre-production run of 25 "straight" C-46s, Curtiss went on to produce 1,493 C-46As. These were similar to the pre-production C-46s, albeit with Pratt & Whitney R-2800-51 engines of identical horsepower and a 45,000 lbs MTOW. Initial aircraft came with Hamilton Standard 3-bladed propellers, but these were in use on many other aircraft and thence came in short supply. Production switched early on in the C-46A's life to Curtiss Electric 4-bladed propellers. Despite being slightly more efficient, these proved troublesome to in operation: their mechanism was highly sensitive to corrosion, which made them go into fine pitch for no reason. Other features also made the A-variant more suited to military transport duties: a special 95.5-in. wide double cargo door, a strenghtened cabin floor and a hyraulically-operated cargo handling winch. The cabin, fitted with 40 folding seats, was adapted to the carriage of cargo as well as troops.

Several blocks of C-46As went on to be produced, featuring minor variations:

• C-46A-1 (prod. 47): the last 21 "straight" C-46s, completed to include the above modifications and thus redesignated C-46A-1, plus 26 built as such;
• C-46A-5 (prod. 110): same as C-46A-1 except for: General Electric landing gear and flap position indicator, radio static elimination, type B-5 ignition switch, removal of tell-tale system;
• C-46A-10 (prod. 50): same as C-46A-5 except for: rudder booster and gust lock removal, installation of electric propeller, 200-amp generator and other minor changes;
• C-46A-15 (prod. 50): same as C-46A-10 except for: auxiliary electric powerplant, removal of lower cowling, long range fuel provisions, addition of wing walkway, airspeed blowout system and other minor changes;
• C-46A-20 (prod. 50): same as C-46A-15 except for: oil quantity gauge, removal of alcohol windshield anti-icer and other minor changes;
• C-46A-25 (prod. 50): same as C-46A-20 except for: redesigned instrument panel, oxygen system installation, pitot mast alcohol de-icer, adapter for low impedance handset and other minor changes;
• C-46A-30 (prod. 50): same as C-46A-25 except for: electric suits rheostat, two 100,000 and one 40,000 BTU surface combustion heaters, auxiliary hydraulic system boosters & brake, double row of rivets added to fuel tank ends and other minor changes;
• C-46A-35 (prod. 96): same as C-46A-30 except for: engine cowl service change, new type intake manifold hose shields, increased vapor vent lines and other minor changes;
• C-46A-36 (prod. 10): same as C-46A-35 except for: *unavailable*;
• C-46A-40 (prod. 105): same as C-46A-35 except for: redesigned fuselage skin with larger sections, AN/ARR-1 radio, portable oxygen cylinder brackets, stud-type terminal assembly for attachment of leads and other minor changes;
• C-46A-41 (prod. 139): same as C-46A-40 except for: *unavailable*;
• C-46A-45 (prod. 287): same as C-46A-40 except for: *unavailable*;
• C-46A-50 (prod. 77): same as C-46A-45 except for: *unavailable*;
• C-46A-55 (prod. 172): same as C-46A-50 except for: *unavailable*;
• C-46A-60 (prod. 200): same as C-46A-55 except for: *unavailable*.

The C-46A was mainly delivered to the Air Transport Command and XX Bomber Command's Air Transport Squadrons (Mobile).