Airplanes

C-46 Commando may be most difficult plane in the world to fly as it navigates some of the harshest environments on Earth

Published on Mar 05, 2026 at 4:01 AM (UTC+4)
by Ben Thompson

Last updated on Mar 04, 2026 at 3:16 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by Mason Jones

When it comes to planes, C-46 Commando may be the most difficult to fly – and understandably so, as it navigates some of the most extreme environments on Earth.

The Curtiss C-46 Commando is a low-wing twin-engine aircraft that started life in the 1940s as a WW2 cargo train.

These days, it’s used in limited operation for cargo transport in remote locations.

One crew that flies onboard these planes belongs to Buffalo Airways.

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What is it like to fly a C-46 Commando?

The Buffalo Airways crew operate in one of the most hostile environments on Earth – the icy landscapes of Canada’s Northwest Territories.

If you happen to be one of the 42,000 people living there, your travel options are extremely limited.

In that sense, aviation is a lifeline – and that’s where the Buffalo Airways crew come into play.

C-46 Commando may be most difficult plane in the world to fly as it navigates some of the harshest environments on Earth
Bzuk/Wikimedia Commons

Buffalo Airways, based in Yellowknife, is something of an aviation museum with its World War II-era planes.

But don’t be fooled – these old planes are still as sturdy as new-builds and they ought to be, traveling through sub-zero temperatures.

Autopilot isn’t a word that is banded around a lot at Buffalo Airways; these pilots thrive on ‘pure adrenaline’.

C-46 Commando may be most difficult plane in the world to fly as it navigates some of the harshest environments on Earth
On The Move

“I don’t want to be flying computers,” new recruit Alex Wagner said.

“I want to have my hands on the controls of a 50,000 anti-aircraft machine.”

For pilots aspiring to fly the C-46, there’s no easy way in.

Before they even get a chance to touch the controls, they have to put several hours of physical labor.

That means loading cargo at 5am, de-icing wings, and fueling up the planes.

C-46 Commando may be most difficult plane in the world to fly as it navigates some of the harshest environments on Earth
On The Move

Plenty of pilots are vying for the opportunity to be sat in the main seat.

And the tough times don’t stop once they’re in that position.

In one incident, a C-46 suffered a major engine failure mid-flight, which forced the crew to shut down one engine.

This prompted a nerve-wracking emergency landing back in Yellowknife.

Fortunately, other planes were on hand to deliver the food, mail and Christmas gifts that the residents of Deliné, Fort Good Hope, and Norman Wells depend on.

C-46 Commando may be most difficult plane in the world to fly as it navigates some of the harshest environments on Earth
On The Move

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Time and time again, pilots have gone above and beyond

It may seem like another day at the office to pilots, but the rest of us are in awe of what they do.

And there’s not a day goes by on the internet without some incredible aviation skills being put on full display.

Remember this Boeing C-17 Globemaster which was reversed as if it were a car?

Then there was this Airbus A400M that did a ‘backflip’.

But planes don’t have to do fancy manoeuvres to be valuable – being a lifeline for people in remote regions is more than enough.

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Following stints at LadBible, The Sun, The New York Post, and the Daily Mail, Ben joined the team full-time in February 2025. In his role as Senior Content Writer, his sparkling copy, the ability to sniff out a good story at 100 paces, and a GSOH quickly led to him becoming an integral and invaluable member of the writing staff.