Curtiss CW-20T C-46T Commando

Curtiss CW-20T C-46T Commando

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08/31/2006. Remarks by Jack McKillop: "Built as a Model CW-20B C-46A-55-CK, USAAF s/n 43-47074, at the Curtiss Louisville, Kentucky, USA plant, and delivered to the USAAF on December 6, 1944. On January 7, 1945, the aircraft arrived at Karachi, India, and was assigned to the India-China Wing, Air Transport Command.

On April 10, 1946, the aircraft was sold to the Indian Government. Eventually placed in storage, it was sold to Aircraft Modifications Inc. in April 1957 and registered N7864B. On June 6, 1957, the aircraft was sold to Caribbean Aircraft Supply in Miami, Florida, USA and leased to Venezuela's RANSA (Ritas Aereas Nacionales SA) of Caracas from July 12 to October 9, 1957. This CW-20B was converted to a Model CW-20T, the Model number used by the L.B. Smith Aircraft. The conversion consisted of about 30 airframe and engine improvements the most important being the improvement in engine cooling.

After conversion, it was sold to Transcontinental SA (TSA) of Buenos Aires, Argentina, in January 1958 and registered LV-PHN; it was re-registered LV-FTT on April 17, 1958. TSA purchased 16 CW-20Ts and used them on flights from Buenos Aires to seashore resorts. The aircraft was leased to Austral - Compania Argentina de Transportes Aeros Saci of Buenos Aires from December 22, 1961 to July 1963. TSA sold this CW-20T to Austral in July 1964. The aircraft was withdrawn from service and placed in storage at Buenos Aires in 1971 and subsequently scrapped.

02/12/2005. Remarks by Alfred Damen: "This photograph shows a crowded airfield with an unidentified B-25 Mitchell in the far background."


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08/31/2006. Remarks by Jack McKillop: "Built as a Model CW-20B C-46A-55-CK, USAAF s/n 43-47074, at the Curtiss Louisville, Kentucky, USA plant, and delivered to the USAAF on December 6, 1944. On January 7, 1945, the aircraft arrived at Karachi, India, and was assigned to the India-China Wing, Air Transport Command. On April 10, 1946, the aircraft was sold to the Indian Government. Eventually placed in storage, it was sold to Aircraft Modifications Inc. in April 1957 and registered N7864B. On June 6, 1957, the aircraft was sold to Caribbean Aircraft Supply in Miami, Florida, USA and leased to Venezuela's RANSA (Ritas Aereas Nacionales SA) of Caracas from July 12 to October 9, 1957. This CW-20B was converted to a Model CW-20T, the Model number used by the L.B. Smith Aircraft. The conversion consisted of about 30 airframe and engine improvements the most important being the improvement in engine cooling. After conversion, it was sold to Transcontinental SA (TSA) of Buenos Aires, Argentina, in January 1958 and registered LV-PHN; it was re-registered LV-FTT on April 17, 1958. TSA purchased 16 CW-20Ts and used them on flights from Buenos Aires to seashore resorts. The aircraft was leased to Austral - Compania Argentina de Transportes Aeros Saci of Buenos Aires from December 22, 1961 to July 1963. TSA sold this CW-20T to Austral in July 1964. The aircraft was withdrawn from service and placed in storage at Buenos Aires in 1971 and subsequently scrapped. 02/12/2005. Remarks by Alfred Damen: "This photograph shows a crowded airfield with an unidentified B-25 Mitchell in the far background."