California Classic's C-46

Paul K · Post by **Paul K** » 23 Mar 2007, 20:05

Here she is in all her glory, set against Glacier Bay V2. Well done to all involved, she is simply gorgeous! :dance:

jonesey2k · Post by **jonesey2k** » 23 Mar 2007, 20:23

She does look rather nice indeed.

DispatchDragon · Post by **DispatchDragon** » 23 Mar 2007, 22:43

Flew her around the out back today - marvellous model - but shes a bit of a handful

Leif

Brian Franklin · Post by **Brian Franklin** » 23 Mar 2007, 22:54

Now that is a nice looking model

Paul K · Post by **Paul K** » 23 Mar 2007, 23:05

DispatchDragon wrote:Flew her around the out back today - marvellous model - but shes a bit of a handful

Leif

In what way, Leif ?

Chris Trott · Post by **Chris Trott** » 24 Mar 2007, 00:25

I think it's a handful in the way the real one is. It's not an easy aircraft to fly. The thread on the C-46 on the CalClassic thread has several entries about the aircraft and how it had some less-than-forgiving traits that made it less well liked than the C-47.

airboatr · Post by **airboatr** » 24 Mar 2007, 01:03

DispatchDragon wrote:Flew her around the out back today - marvellous model - but shes a bit of a handful

Leif

PHSF doable Guv'nor :tab:

DispatchDragon · Post by **DispatchDragon** » 24 Mar 2007, 06:32

Chris, Paul
Ive been fortunate enough over the years to meet some hump pilots, and new a couple of the guys at Challenge who flew them.

flying the model I found things that they remarked on about the C46 to be true

1/. Its laterally unstable - tends to yaw if the engines are not sync'd - Which of course if not corrected leads to roll etc etc (hello trees, hello flowers, hello grass)

2/. you do NOT let it get slow on the approach especially after the first flap setting and gear is down - I had to use max power to correct the rate of sink.

3/. It climbs like a tired crow - especially at weights approaching MTOW

4. HOWEVER - Once you have it in cruise and on the step and the power set correctly it will motor along faster than a DC3 (I saw 175 KIAS at 2800
squared)

Im assuming the guys at CalClassic did theyre sums correctly and have produced as far as is possible in FS an accurate flight model

In its defence I can see how those who mastered the real thing preferred flying it to the DC3/C47 - the visibilty from the cockpit is far superior, the pure bulk of the aircraft would have made it very stable in turbulent air
and it would appear from the wide stance of the main gear that it is a lot easier to handle on the ground , I think a lot of people make the comparison with the C47 a little unfairly - The C46 was a much larger aircraft and as it was originally planned to be pressurised a more complex aircraft.

Leif

Sorry, didnt mean to make it a Lecture

Post by **Garry Russell** » 24 Mar 2007, 07:35

Hi Leif

I have also heard that it had difficulty maintaining height with an engine out but I can't vouch for it's authenticity.

Garry

DispatchDragon · Post by **DispatchDragon** » 24 Mar 2007, 08:44

I didnt dare cage one of the donkeys Garry, and yes I heard the same thing - The way one old fellow put it was "The only place a C46 with one engine would take you was to the scene of the accident"

I feel ashamed - Joe flew it tonight and said it flew like a dream :brick:

Leif