Slick Airways Curtiss C-46E Commando

The Slick Airways Curtiss C-46 “Commando” is a twin-engine transport aircraft derived from the Curtiss CW-20 pressurized high-altitude airliner design. Slick Airways used the Curtiss C-46 for heavy cargo hauling after World War II. Very similar to the DC-3/C-47 which was the more well-known aircraft, it could not carry the amount of freight as the C-46. The C-46 became a very popular cargo plane for many other private carriers. A large number of C-46’s brought freight into and out of Albuquerque for many years. The US Air Force had contracts to many of these small freight haulers to carry cargo to and from Kirtland AFB. Companies such as Logair, Quicktrans, and Zantop would change names frequently to conform to government contracts beginning in 1947. Some of the planes that were documented servicing Kirtland AFB include NC67933, NC59486, and NC62528.

A Slick Airways C-46 is seen on the ramp at the Albuquerque Municipal Airport.