City of Monroe’s C-46 Commando “The Tinker Belle”

History:
The Curtiss C-46 Commando is a transport aircraft used as a military transport during World War II by the United States Army Air Forces and also the U.S. Navy/Marine Corps, which used the designation R5C. The C-46 served a similar role to its counterpart, the Douglas C-47 Skytrain, but was not as extensively produced. At the time of its production, the C-46 was the largest twin-engine aircraft in the world, and was the largest and heaviest twin-engine aircraft to see service in World War II. After World War II, a few surplus C-46 aircraft were briefly used in their originally designated role as passenger airliners, but the glut of surplus C-47s dominated the marketplace and the C-46 were soon relegated to primarily cargo duty. The type continued in U. S. Air Force service in a secondary role until 1968. However, the C-46 continues in operation as a rugged cargo transport for Arctic and remote locations with its service life extended into the 21st century.

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Specifications

Registration Number	Date of Manufacture
478-774	1944
Aircraft Role	Nickname
Cargo Troop Transport	The Whale, Dumbo, The Curtiss Calamity
Aircraft Type:	Wingspan:
Curtiss Wright C-46 Commando	108 feet 11 inches
Overall length:	Empty weight:
76 feet	29,899 pounds
Gross weight:	Fuel capacity:
45,000 pounds	1400 gallons
Oil capacity	Engine type:
	Pratt and Whitney R2800 x2
Propeller type:	Max Speed
3 blade constant speed propellers	264 mph
Rate of Climb	Cruise Speed
1,300 feet per minute	173 mph
Service Ceiling	Number of Crew
27,600 feet	3-6
Armament	Bomb Load

Number Built	Number Surviving
3,200	fewer than 5 still flying