List of surviving Curtiss C-46 Commandos

C-46 Commando in flight

This is a list of surviving Curtiss C-46 Commandos, including both airworthy and on display or stored aircraft.

As of January 2016, there are five aircraft known to be regularly flown in active revenue service; 2 with Everts Air Cargo, 2 with Everts Air Fuel and 1 with Buffalo Airways. In addition, there is 1 airworthy example; Tinker Belle (N78774) which is occasionally flown for museum events.

There are two airworthy examples in Bolivia, 1 of them (CP-1655) owned by Eco Express Cargo Services, was being brought back to serviceable condition prior to 2012,^[1] and 1 more (CP-973) is set up for passenger configuration, however it is reportedly now up for sale.^[2] The future use of these two Bolivian examples is uncertain as apparently the Bolivian government grounded the C46 after the crash of CP-1319 (Skyteam Flight Training^[3]) in 2012.

There is one additional airworthy example which is stored serviceable, but with the Certificate of Registration cancelled,^[4] at Gimli, Manitoba, Canada. This aircraft was tied up in receivership, however according to First Nations Transport, as of Jan 2016, the aircraft is claimed to be airworthy with two new engines and available for sale with the fire bottles and props needing updates. One last example; China Doll (N53594) was airworthy, but is currently grounded due to Federal Aviation Administration regulations regarding propeller time as well as having corrosion issues. She is scheduled to be restored back to airworthy status by 2019.^[5][6] Everts has several mothballed air-frames which they hold mainly for spare parts, but some of them could possibly be returned to service if the need arose.

Survivors

Argentina (January 2016)

• 42-96729 - Donated to the Loreto municipality originally in 1980 to become part of an Argentina Air Force theme park.^[7] Re-located to a Public Square at Loreto (Santiago del Estero) representing the City of Loreto^[8] - LQ-IYV 30391 C-46A-45-CU - Mounted on concrete pedestals and on static display.^[9] Aircraft does not show well with corrosion and areas of damage and poor repair visible.

Bolivia (January 2016)

• 42-3638 - Lineas Aereas Canedo,^[10] located at La Paz, El Alto Airport - CP-1080 26771 C-46A-35-CU - Stored^[11]
• 42-107410 - (Formerly Air Beni^[12]) Current owner unknown, located at La Paz, El Alto Airport - CP-987 27079 C-46A-45-CU - Stored^[13]
• 44-77545 - Lineas Aereas Canedo,^[10] Cochabamba - CP-973 32941 C-46D-10-CU - Stored Serviceable (Currently the only C46 in Passenger configuration)
• 44-77572 - (Formerly Aerovias Las Minas) Wreck at San Borja - CP-1077 32968 C-46D-10-CU - Wreck/Parts (January 2016, unconfirmed if this wreck is still in existence)
• 44-77898 - Eco Express Charter Services,^[14] located at La Paz, El Alto Airport - CP-1655 33294 C-46D-15-CU - Stored Serviceable^[1]
• 44-78605 - 100% Camba - Sky Team, La Paz, El Alto Airport - CP-1319 22428 C-46F-CU - Aircraft Crashed at Santa Cruz, Bolivia April 21, 2012 and was completely destroyed.
• 44-78678 - (Formerly NEBA North East Bolivian Airways) Current owner unknown, located at Trinidad Airport - CP-1616 22501 C-46A-45-CU - Stored Derelict

Brazil (January 2016)

As of January 2016, the Brazilian Register lists PP-BTP PP-BTZ PP-ITE PP-NAO PP-NMH PP-VCE PT-AYA PT-LBP^[15] All show cancelled airworthiness certificates. PP-VCE & PT-LBP are confirmed preserved, PP-NMH exists derelict, however it is not known if any of the other 5 listed still survive.

• 41-12381 - SAVA - Serviços Aéreos do Vale Amazônico, Itacoatiara - PP-NMH 26508 C-46A-10-CU - Abandoned Derelict (very poor condition with damage and corrosion throughout)^[16]
• 42-101201 - Museu Eduardo André Matarazzo,^[17] Bebedouro, São Paulo - PP-VCE 30656 C-46A-50-CU - Display
• 43-47084 - Museu Aeroespacial (MUSAL) - Campo dos Afonsos - Rio de Janeiro - PT-LBP 2058 155 C-46A-55-CK - Display
• 43-47368 - (Formerly Royal Taxi Aereo), Belem - PP-ITE 439 C-46A-65-CK - Stored (January 2016, unconfirmed if this air-frame is still in existence)

Canada (January 2016)

According to the Transport Canada database there are four C46's currently registered.^[18] One remains active, two are stored and one was recently withdrawn from use after crash landing.

• 44-78028 - Buffalo Airways, Yellowknife, NT - C-FAVO 33424 C-46D-15-CU - Active^[19]
• 44-78649 - SASCO Ltd (First Nations Transportation), Gimli, Manitoba - C-GIBX 22472 C-46F-CU - Stored Serviceable (Certificate cancelled)^[4]
• 44-78733 - Buffalo Airways, Yellowknife, NT - C-GTPO 22556 C-46F-CU - Stored^[20]

Known surviving wrecks in Canada

• 42-96724 - Buffalo Airways, Yellowknife, Northwest Territories (NT) - C-GTXW 30386 C-46A-45-CU - Wreck at Deline, NT September 25, 2015 (likely damaged beyond economical repair)^[21]
• 44-78552 - Miss Piggy - (Formerly Lambair) Wreck at Churchill Manitoba - 22375 (ex C-GYHT) - Wreck in 1979 - Abandoned
• 44-78692 - (Formerly North Coast Air Services) Wreck near Bryce Bay, Thompson Manitoba - 22515 (ex CF-CZH) - Wreck in 1977 - Abandoned
• 42-96804 - (Formerly Reindeer Air Service) Wreck near Sachs Harbour, Northwest Territories - 30466 (ex CF-HQI) - Wreck in 1973 - Abandoned
• 43-47378 - (Formerly Wheeler Airlines) Wreck on the DEW line (site 28), Kugaaruk (Formerly Pelly Bay), near Scarpa Lake, Nunavut - 448 (ex CF-IHQ) - Wreck in 1960 - Abandoned
• 44-78596 - (Formerly Nordair) Wreck on the DEW line (site 28), Kugaaruk (Formerly Pelly Bay), near Scarpa Lake, Nunavut - 22419 (ex CF-HEI) - Wreck in 1961 - Abandoned
• 44-78586 - (Formerly Flying Tiger Line) Wreck on the DEW line (site 28), Kugaaruk (Formerly Pelly Bay), near Scarpa Lake, Nunavut - 22409 (ex N9995F) - Wreck in 1956 - Abandoned

China (January 2016)

• 4?-????? - Lushan Air Pavilion, Luyang Ranghe Zhen Airbase - (Possibly 00508) Dark green with medium blue undersides, massive yellow white lightning stripe, bold yellow leading edges and red Chinese lettering on the nose.^[22][23] - Display
• 4?-????? - Lushan Air Pavilion, Luyang Ranghe Zhen Airbase - (Possibly 00508) Grey finish.^[23][24] - Display
• 4?-????? - Chinese Air Force - China Aviation Museum,^[25] Xiaotangshanzhen, Changping, Beijing - White with light grey undersides, code faded (impossible to read, possibly s/n 36044, 36045, or 36047) - One of two displayed as a pair with below.
• 4?-????? - Chinese Air Force - China Aviation Museum,^[25] Xiaotangshanzhen, Changping, Beijing - White with light grey undersides, code faded (impossible to read, possibly s/n 36044, 36045, or 36047) - Two of two displayed as a pair with above.
• 4?-????? - China Civil Aviation Museum,^[26][27] Xie Dao, Beijing - White with light grey undersides, code faded (impossible to read, possibly s/n 36344, 36044, 36045, or 36047) C46A - Display

Colombia (January 2016)

• 42-3679 - Danny - Private Owner Bogota, El Dorado - HK-3150 26812 C-46A-35-CU - Stored Servicable^[28][29]

Haiti (January 2016)

• 41-12369 - (Formerly Air Haiti), stored at Port au Prince - HH-AHA 26496 C-46A-10-CU - Derelict Fuselage (Wings removed, broken windows, overall poor condition with damage and corrosion)
• 42-96792 - (Formerly Air Haiti), stored at Port au Prince - HH-AHD 30454 C-46A-45-CU - Derelict Fuselage (Wings removed, broken windows, overall poor condition with damage and corrosion)

Honduras (January 2016)

• 44-78447 - (Formerly LANICA) Abandoned at Tegucigalpa, Toncontin Airport - AN-BPN 22270 C-46D-20-CU - Abandoned Derelict Fuselage (Wings removed, broken windows, overall poor condition with damage and corrosion, dumped into a ditch and abandoned)
• 44-78708 - Museo del Aire de Honduras - AN-BRX 22531 C-46F-1-CU - Preserved Derelict Fuselage (Wings removed, broken windows, overall poor condition with damage and corrosion)

Israel (January 2016)

• 4?-???? - An article exists in The Algemeiner from January 2015 that states a C46 Commando was being acquired from a scrap metal dealer in Argentina to be saved and re-located to Israel for display at the Atlit detainee camp Museum ^[30] (Possibly? 43-47190 c/n 261 HI-495CT ??)^[31] Confirmation needed.

Japan (January 2016)

• 42-107366 - JASDF - Gifu Air Field, Kakamigahara, Gifu Prefecture - 91-1141 27053 C-46A-40-CU - Display
• 42-101098 - JASDF - Hamamatsu Air Base, Hamamatsu, Shizuoka Prefecture - 91-1138 30553 C-46A-50-CU - Display
• 42-101115 - JASDF - Miho Air Base, Tottori Prefecture - 91-1139 30570 C-46A-50-CU - Display
• 43-47222 - Tokorozawa Aviation Museum - Tokorozawa, Saitama Prefecture - 91-1143 293 C-46A-60-CK - Display
• 43-47225 - Hijiri Aviation Museum - Omi, Nagano Prefecture - 91-1144 296 C-46A-60-CK - Display (Nose only)
• 43-47328 - JASDF - Iruma Air Base, Saitama Prefecture - 91-1145 399 C-46A-65-CK/EC-46D - Display
• 44-77859 - Kawaguchiko Motor Museum, Kawaguchiko, Yamanashi Prefecture - 61-1127 33255 C-46D-10-CU - Display
• 44-78480 - Private collection - Tokyo Prefecture (Nose only) - 61-1130 22303 C-46D-20-CU - Stored (January 2016, unconfirmed if this Nose is still in existence)

Kenya (January 2016)

• 44-78672 - (Formerly Air Manitoba) Crashed near Lokichoggio - C-GIXZ 22495 C-46F-CU - Wreck (January 2016, unconfirmed if this air-frame is still in existence)

Mexico (January 2016)

• 42-101231 - Explora Museum in Leon, Guanajuato - TEC-6047 30686 C-46D-5-CU - Display^[32][33][34]

Philippines (January 2016)

• 44-78748 - (Formerly USAF, Flying Tiger & Astro Air Transport) - Cut up for scrap with the wings and cockpit/nose salvaged and preserved as part of restaurant theme^[35][36] at Cagayan de Oro - RP-C1132 22571 C-46F-CU

South Korea (January 2016)

• 44-77592 - Korean AF, displayed at Pusan - 44-77592 32988 C-46D-10-CU^[37] - Display (January 2016, unconfirmed if this air frame is still in existence)
• 44-78053 - Republic of Korea Air Force Academy, Cheongju - 33449 C46D-20B-2^[38] - Display
• 44-78541 - War Memorial Museum, Seoul - 10-541 22364 C-46D-20-CU - Display

Taiwan (January 2016)

• 4?-???? - Republic of China Air Force Museum,^[39][40] Gangshan, Kaohsiung. Tail has the numbers stenciled C46-045^[41] - Display

Thailand (January 2016)

• 44-78738 - Located at Chonburi, Thailand - HS-SKD 22561 C-46F-CU - Stored Derelict - Formerly located at Lad Phrao, Bangkok and set up as 'Apichart' coffee shop in 1985; moved to Chonburi 2001^[42]
• 4?-????? - Located at the Police Training Camp on Highway 22, Udon Thani, Thailand^[43] - Stripped fuselage^[44] (Basic shell only; brought by helicopter to Udon Thani in 1973)^[45]

United States (January 2016)

• 42-101198 - Museum of Aviation in Warner Robins, Georgia - 30653 C-46A-50-CU - Display^[46]
• 43-47202 - Dumbo - Everts Air Cargo Express, Fairbanks, Alaska - N7848B 273 C-46A-55-CK - Active
• 43-47218 - Yanks Air Museum in Chino, California - N74173 289 C-46A-60-CK - Display^[47]
• 43-47350 - National Naval Aviation Museum in Pensacola, Florida - (ex N611Z) 421/CK398 C-46A-65-CK - Display
• 44-77424 - Hurlburt Field, Hurlburt Field AFB, Florida - 32820 C-46D-5-CU - Display
• 44-77559 - Planes of Fame Museum in Chino, California - 44-77559 32955 C-46D-10-CU - Stored Derelict (Unrestored & missing parts)^[48]
• 44-77575 - Honey Gal - Castle Air Museum in Atwater, California - 32971 C-46D-10-CU - Display
• 44-77635 - Syracuse Shackrat - Pima Air & Space Museum, Tucson, Arizona - 33031 C-46D-10-CU - Display
• 44-77889 - Maid in Japan - Everts Air Cargo Express, Fairbanks, Alaska - N54514 33285 C-46D-10-CU - Active
• 44-78018 - National Museum of the United States Air Force in Dayton, Ohio - 33414 C-46D-15-CU - Display^[49]
• 44-78019 - Joe Davies Heritage Airpark, Palmdale, California - N33415 C-46D-15-CU - Display
• 44-78394 - Everts Air Fuel, Fairbanks, Alaska - N54584 22318 C-46D-20-CU - Derelict for parts
• 44-78565 - Hot Stuff - Everts Air Fuel, Fairbanks, Alaska - N1837M 22388 C-46F-CU - Active
• 44-78573 - 82nd Airborne Division War Memorial Museum in Fort Bragg, North Carolina - 22396 C-46F-CU - Display
• 44-78576 - Everts Air Fuel, Fairbanks, Alaska - N1651M 22399 C-46F-CU - Stored
• 44-78628 - Everts Air Cargo Express, Fairbanks, Alaska - N23AC 22451 C-46F-CU - Stored
• 44-78663 - China Doll - CAF Southern CA Wing, Camarillo, California - N53594 22486 C-46F-CU - Restoration (Planned to be airworthy by 2019)^[5]
• 44-78674 - Everts Air Cargo Express, Fairbanks, Alaska - N1845M C46 22497 - Derelict for parts (Partially broken up)
• 44-78698 - Salmon Ella - Everts Air Fuel, Fairbanks, Alaska - N1822M 22521 C-46F-CU - Active
• 44-78725 - Everts Air Cargo Express, Fairbanks, Alaska - N1663M 22548 C-46F-CU - Derelict for parts (Badly damaged by a mini-tornado at Laredo, TX in 2003. Everts cut it up into pieces and moved the pieces to their storage yard at Fairbanks)^[50][51]
• 44-78772 - Owned by Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum, on loan to Glenn H. Curtiss Museum in Hammondsport, New York - N800FA 22595 C-46F-CU - Display
• 44-78774 - Tinker Belle - Warriors & Warbirds Museum, Monroe, North Carolina - N78774 22597 C-46F-CU - Active
• 44-78778 - Everts Air Fuel, Fairbanks, Alaska - N801FA 22600 C-46F-CU - Derelict for parts.
• 42-96578 - Everts Air Cargo Express, Fairbanks, Alaska - N4860V C46 30240 - Derelict for parts (Partially broken up) - Part of rear fuselage acquired by Buffalo Airways for repair of C-FAVO 33242 C46D which was critically damaged on May 26, 2004.^[52][53][54]
• 4?-????? - Fuselage only (minus wings and tail structure) originally bought by Cheryl Williams and Jean Sutherland as US Army surplus in 1947. It was moved on Sutherland's property at Rubidoux Ave in Riverside California and converted into a home.^[55][56][57] Still exists as of Jan 2016.

References

1. http://www.aviacionboliviana.net/civil/sllpspotting/CP-1655.htm
2. http://www.platinumfighters.com/#!curtiss-c-46d/ca6p
3. http://www.skyteambolivia.com/index.php/en/
4. Canadian Civil Aircraft Register: Aircraft Details GIBX
5. http://commemorativeairforce.org/airplanes/sponsorship/12planesofchristmas/c-46-china-doll
6. http://www.tripadvisor.com/LocationPhotoDirectLink-g32147-d7309425-i119326784-Commemorative_Air_Force_Southern_California_Wing_Museum-Camarillo_Califor.html
7. http://pasionaeronauticaargentina.blogspot.ca/2008/09/c-46-de-loreto-se-traslada.html
8. http://aerospotter.blogspot.ca/2008/09/trasladaron-el-curtiss-de-loreto.html
9. http://aerospotter.blogspot.ca/2015/08/sobre-los-aviones-de-loreto.html
10. http://www.michaelprophet.com/LAC.html
11. http://www.aviacionboliviana.net/civil/sllpspotting/CP-1080.htm
12. http://aviation-safety.net/database/operator/airline.php?var=6718
13. http://www.aviacionboliviana.net/civil/sllpspotting/CP-987.htm
14. http://www.aviacionboliviana.net/civil/perfil_eco.htm
15. http://www2.anac.gov.br/aeronaves/cons_rab.asp
16. http://spottermanaus.blogspot.ca/2011/03/especial-curtiss-c-46-da-sava.html
17. http://www.museueduardoamatarazzo.com.br/
18. Canadian Civil Aircraft Register: Quick Search Result
19. Canadian Civil Aircraft Register: Aircraft Details FAVO
20. Canadian Civil Aircraft Register: Aircraft Details GTPO
21. Canadian Civil Aircraft Register: Aircraft Details GTXW
22. http://luftwaffeas.blogspot.ca/2012/02/eye-catching-afb-ranghe-zhen-china.html
23. http://www.oldwings.nl/st/foreigners.pdf
24. http://survincity.com/2013/08/assessment-of-capabilities-of-the-underground-2/
25. http://www.aviationmuseum.eu/World/Asia/China/Beijing/China_Aviation_Museum.htm
26. http://www.caacmuseum.cn/Museum/NewsFrame.aspx?Type=2&&ClassifyID=9&&ID=157
27. http://www.aviationmuseum.eu/World/Asia/China/Crab_Island/China_Civil_Av_Museum.htm
28. "Commando/42-3679". Warbird Registry. Warbirds Resource Group. Retrieved 2 April 2015.
29. https://www.planelogger.com/Aircraft/View?Registration=HK-3150&DeliveryDate=10.95
30. "Historic Aircraft Used to Rescue Iraqi Jews to be Brought to Israel". Algemeiner.com. Retrieved 2016-02-12.
31. http://warbirdinformationexchange.org/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=55001
32. "Commando/42-101231". Warbird Registry. Warbird Resource Group. Retrieved 3 April 2015.
33. http://www.laahs.com/content/114-Mexican-Smugglies/view/2
34. http://www.panoramio.com/photo/39276921
35. http://www.airliners.net/photo/Curtiss-C-46F-Commando/1148427/&sid=90b5ea137339e9c2abe1c30a7b2ec2bc
36. http://www.airliners.net/photo/Curtiss-C-46F-Commando/1017920/&sid=90b5ea137339e9c2abe1c30a7b2ec2bc
37. "Commando/44-77592". Warbird Registry. Warbird Resource Group. Retrieved 3 April 2015.
38. http://www.airliners.net/photo/South-Korea--/Curtiss-C-46D-Commando/2721415/L/&sid=b3ce20399bd6f432735c39648dffbee8
39. http://www.aviationmuseum.eu/World/Asia/Taiwan/Gangshan/ROCAF_Museum.htm
40. https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/05/C-46_taiwan.jpg
41. http://www.airliners.net/photo/Taiwan---Air/Curtiss-C-46A-Commando/2628152/&sid=90b5ea137339e9c2abe1c30a7b2ec2bc
42. "Commando/44-78738". Warbird Registry. Warbird Resource Group. Retrieved 3 April 2015.
43. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Curtis_C.46_%2813925764879%29.jpg
44. "Curtiss C-46". Flickr - Photo Sharing!. Retrieved 2016-02-12.
45. "Curtiss C-46 en route Udon Thani 1973 (Air America Log)". Flickr - Photo Sharing!. Retrieved 2016-02-12.
46. "CURTISS C-46D Display "COMMANDO"". Museum of Aviation. Museum of Aviation. Retrieved 2 April 2015.
47. "Curtiss-Wright CW-20B-4 Commando (C-46F)". Yanks Air Museum. Yanks Air Museum. Retrieved 2 April 2015.
48. http://planesoffame.org/index.php?mact=staircraft,m5c7c8,default,1&m5c7c8what=stplanes&m5c7c8forcelist=1&m5c7c8orderby=&m5c7c8detailpage=aircraft-details&m5c7c8nbperpage=20&m5c7c8pageindex=6&m5c7c8returnid=81&page=82&order_aircraft_by=
49. "Fact Sheets : Curtiss C-46 Commando". National Museum of the United States Air Force. Retrieved 23 August 2015.
50. http://radialenginespecialties.com/services
51. http://www.ruudleeuw.com/alaska95-p2.htm
52. CADORS REPORT 2004C0883
53. Transportation Safety Board of Canada investigation #A04W0102
54. Management, Application Development and Technology (2013-01-24). "Civil Aviation Daily Occurrence Report System". Retrieved 2016-02-14.
55. "UCLA Library | Digital Collections". digital2.library.ucla.edu. Retrieved 2016-02-14.
56. "Warbird Information Exchange • View topic - Strange civilian uses of warbird parts". www.warbirdinformationexchange.org. Retrieved 2016-02-14.
57. https://www.google.com/maps/place/5107+Rubidoux+Ave,+Riverside,+CA+92504/@33.9678118,-117.4096473,3a,37.5y,47.56h,91.12t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sEi2BE4Ik2rP5AY4gxOBMAg!2e0!6s%2F%2Fgeo1.ggpht.com%2Fcbk%3Fpanoid%3DEi2BE4Ik2rP5AY4gxOBMAg%26output%3Dthumbnail%26cb_client%3Dsearch.TACTILE.gps%26thumb%3D2%26w%3D392%26h%3D106%26yaw%3D52.470718%26pitch%3D0!7i13312!8i6656!4m2!3m1!1s0x80dcb175ed930b27:0x68b9950171023755!6m1!1e1

External links

• The Survivors List - DC3PUBLISHING
• Curtiss C-46 Commando Survivors - Air-and-Space.com
• Curtis C-46 Commando Registry - Warbird Registry