Perk transport aircraft - Curtiss C-46 Commando

[oboe]

I'm sure this would be way down on the list, but I've been thinking it might be interesting to have an additional cargo plane - larger and faster, and perked.   Resupplying bases seems to be a common tactic now, though it can take a few loads to bring a town back up after capture.   I don't mind doing it, its a fun diversion, but it might be good to have a choice-- a big and fast transport.  Take a look at the comparison to the C-47.  Its almost twice the plane:

                       

I don't know if C-46s were used in airborne assault the way C-47s were.   Proportionally it would probably carry 14 troops to the C-47s ten.  Might be cool too, if the troops were organized into two separate squads that took two different routes to the map room...

I have a friend whose dad was a Navigator on B-17s (384th BG) and after the War before he got out of the service, he was aircrew on C-46s.  It definitely has the Curtiss tail - looks alot like the Helldiver's.   And the pinched fuselage is pretty unique.   They are still in use today - the show "Ice Pilots" about Buffalo Air in northern Canada shows one flying often.

Its just got a different kind of look to it:

[icepac]

Hard plane to taxi.

Had one at AMSA.

Maintenance wasn't top notch in corrosion corner.

[Vraciu]

My TINKER BELLE got sold!!!     

[oboe]

Hard plane to taxi.

Had one at AMSA.

Maintenance wasn't top notch in corrosion corner.

(Image removed from quote.)

That damage looks like a prop flew off while spinning?

Also I just realized I can create two infantry squads now with the C-47, by setting .salvo to 5 and having them jump at different locations around the town.   Not sure how much difference it would make though, and I haven't seen an airborne assault capture a field in some time.  Ground assault accompanied by M3s seem to be de rigueur.

[Mister Fork]

Great idea Oboe. +1

[colmbo]

Cool airplane.  Longer wingspan than a B-17. 

[Vraciu]

Only two feet shorter wing than a B-24. 

Big machine. 

https://www.cafsocal.com/our-aircrafts/our-aircraft-and-history/c-46-china-doll/flying-the-c-46/

[lyric1]

Really need some Axis cargo aircraft first.

[oboe]

Ju52 or Me323 perhaps?

[oboe]

Only two feet shorter wing than a B-24. 

Big machine. 

https://www.cafsocal.com/our-aircrafts/our-aircraft-and-history/c-46-china-doll/flying-the-c-46/

Great stories about flying the C-46 Vraciu, thanks.  Now I want one in game even more!

[Vraciu]

Great stories about flying the C-46 Vraciu, thanks.  Now I want one in game even more!

Glad to share.  This thread reminded me of that stuff.   

[Butcherbird702]

Yep got my vote too. I like this idea.

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[oboe]

Thanks for bumping this thread - I recently expanded the aircraft comparison, adding two more planes:



It'd be cool to have more game uses for cargo planes - for example, maybe delivering airfield supplies to a field could effect ENY for aircraft at that field only, allowing the use of P-51s and other ENY-lmited planes at a resupplied field even though they are unavailable everywhere else for your side.

Or, maybe a smattering of small fields across the map could start unowned ("neutral") and show in gray color on the clipboard map.  It could take a few cargo trips to this field to activate it and "own" it for your side.  Must deliver troops to man the field, airfield supplies to build up fuel and ammo stocks, etc.  Then it becomes a fully activated field owned by your side.

Still pondering but I think expanding the roles and aircraft available to haul cargo might add more things to do in our sandbox, without taking away anything from other players. 

I'd also like to see the effect of the M3-resupplying towns limited more.  It just seems like this small little vehicle can deliver supplies that have an out-sized effect on the defense of the town.  Now, a C-54 flying over the town and dropping 4 pallets of supplies would be a different story....and look very cool in films besides.

The C-54 could also be very effective at resupplying strats; carrying 4x the cargo tonnage of the C-47.  Its the B-29 of transport aircraft...

[RedBeard]

If you want to see a C-46 & C-47 in action, take a look at Ice Pilots on Netflix.  They also have some info on the net: http://www.buffaloairways.com/index.php?page=curtiss-c-46

The series had some interesting comments on how the C-46 was one of the more difficult planes to fly and it certainly had some reliability issues (makes good TV).

Buffalo Airways uses a C-47 for passenger transport and C-46 for cargo hauling on a regular basis.  Ice Pilots is a documentary series of their business. 

If we start seeing larger cargo planes in AH, I'd like resource management to become a more strategic aspect with supply lines that can be damaged and larger transports being a possible counter and limited resources at destinations if the counter is not put in play.

[AAIK]

It would be an easier conversion with less work on HTC's side if they just had cargo load-outs for planes with bomb-bays.