Curtiss-Wright C-76 Caravan

Overview

The Curtiss-Wright C-76 Caravan (company designation CW-27) was an American all-wood military transport aircraft. The C-76 was intended as a substitute standard aircraft in the event of expected wartime shortages of light alloys. However, both prototype and production aircraft failed several critical flight and static tests, and after U.S. aluminum production proved sufficient for wartime defense requirements, orders for the C-76 were cancelled and it did not enter production. Although it did not go into its main production, 25 pre-production and prototype aircraft of various types were constructed during development. The factory where it might have been produced made more C-46 Commandoes for which the C-76 would have been a substitute.