PP-VCF  Curtiss C-46                       (c/n  30283)

                                    

                                        As you can see, I never did receive a satisfactory photograph of a C-46 from VARIG.   This
                                        one is interesting, however, in that it is one of the aircraft which was fitted with Turbomeca
                                        Palas turbojets under the wings which provided increased take power for take-off.  PP-VCF
                                        had led a varied career before joining VARIG.  After WW II this C-46A-45-CU 42-96621
                                        found itself in North Africa,  It was sold, from war surplus to the Egyptian carrier SAIDE as
                                        SU-AFS.  It was brokered in1951 by Air Carrier Service Inc to REAL where it became
                                        PP-YQE.  VARIG purchased it in July of 1952.  PP-VCF crashed at Bage, RS, Brazil on
                                        7 April 1957.  A fire had somehow developed in the port main undercarriage wheel well.
                                        Unfortunately the pilot thought (somewhat understandably in my judgement) that the fire had
                                        started in the engine, and hence feathered the No.1 engine. He then returned to the traffic
                                        pattern for a landing circuit. Needless to say, the port wheel would not lower.  To avoid a
                                        belly landing, the pilot applied full power and tried to go around for another approach to land.
                                        Over the intersection of runways  05 and 23 the port wing separated from the fuselage, causing
                                        the plane to lose control and crash.  All 40 souls on board were killed.