Summary The Curtiss-Wright C-76 Caravan was a WWII transport aircraft made of wood. Over 142,000 components for WWII were built by the Curtiss-Wright Corporation. The Baldwin Piano company became a contractor for Curtiss-Wright Despite the horrors of war, World War ll saw many inventions that showed the good things humanity can do.
In a previous article on Simple Flying about legendary aircraft, some of them were included not because they saw battle but because they contributed to the world’s knowledge about aircraft design, fabrication, and overall Engineering excellence. Aircraft that changed the name of the game with advancements that go beyond the war and change history forever. However, an idea that looks great on paper could prove to be a failure in real life.
Such is the story of the Curtiss-Wright C-76 Caravan. The Curtiss-Wright C-76 Caravan was a military transport aircraft intended for use by the United States Army Air Forces during World War ll. The Curtiss-Wright Corporation was created on July 5th, 1929, through a merger between 12 companies.
The company became the country's largest aviation firm, building a whopping 142,000 engines and other components during the Second World War. The C-76's first flight was on May 3rd, 1943. It was made entirely of wood because the possibility of a metal shortage was a real concern at the time.
The National WWll Museum in New Orleans says, "As the United States accelerated production of everything from planes and ships to ta.