A contemporary of the Curtis Commando and the DC3/C47, the welded stainless steel Budd Conestoga first flew in October 1943. Not surprisingly, the stainless steel construction used in the Conestoga resulted in a very heavy aeroplane. Perhaps it is no coincidence that Budd was primarily a manufacturer of railway carriages!
Employing the same engines as the C47, but weighing considerably more, the Conestoga was not a lively performer and its consequent high fuel burn meant a very limited range.
The Conestoga featured a long, unobstructed cargo bay and over 800 were initially ordered, 600 for the US Army Air Force, the remainder for the US Navy.